Perth, Scotland will host upwards of 8000 amateur cyclists and their entourage in August at the 2023 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships on two just revealed road routes.
Trudy Lindblade, CEO of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships taking place throughout Scotland announced, “We are delighted that the Committee today gave the go ahead for the Gran Fondo Road Race to take place in Perth and Kinross.”
Although the UCI has not officially announced Perth as the host city, local organizers for the 160km long Gran Fondo and 85km Medio Fondo races have already designed routes, received financial backing and approved hosting the world championship races.
On Friday 4 August starting on Tay Street in Perth, the proposed 160km Gran Fondo clockwise road route, with over 6000 feet of vertical ascent, will take racers through Methven, Aberfeldy, Loch Tummel, Pitlochry and Blairgowrie before returning to the finish line in Perth.
The shorter 85km Medio Fondo route for older category riders also begins on Tay Street, initially following the gran fondo route out to Glenalmond, Bankfoot, Murthly, and turning back towards Perth in Carsie just short of Blairgowrie. Riders can expect over 2600 feet climbing on lumpy up-and-down roads.
The UCI Gran Fondo World Championship Time Trial route in Perth has not been revealed.
Not everyone is thrilled about having the world championships and 8000 cyclists in Perth:
Besides disgruntled local residents, cyclists will also clash with 20,000 attendees at the Perth Agriculture Show taking place on same weekend as the world championships. Hotel rooms and accommodations are expected to be in very high demand and sell out quickly.
Photos: DC Thomson
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