UCI BMX WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS - PIETERMARITZBURG 2010
When the rest of the country went to sleep after the FIFA World Cup, The City of Choice was gearing itself for another World Class event, The UCI BMX World Championships. The City of Pietermaritzburg is fast becoming a cycling destination of Choice. In 2008, we hosted our very first UCI rated road cycling event, the Intaka Tech Road Cycling Race, which saw international teams, namely, Milram, Liquigas and Barloworld among others ,participating in the event. This was a first for our City. In 2009, we hosted the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup, and the UCI BMX World Cup, ant Cascades and the Showground respectively.
The UCI BMX World Championships is the biggest BMX Event in the world, after the BMX World Cup. This event, which lasted for four days, from the 29th of July to the 1st of August, was beamed on television networks around the world. It was shown on Universal Sports, Freecaster TV, BBC, ESPN, Sky Sports, British Eurosport2, Supersport and others. We are yet to receive the actual figures in terms of international viewership. What this means, is that for the four days, The City of Pietermaritzburg was the city of interest around the world.
35 Nations took part in the event, including big countries like the USA, Britain and Germany, and 1102 riders took part. An estimated 2500 additional family members and team support crews accompanied riders, and 14000 people watched the competitions at the showground. Figures are still to be verified, but an estimated economic impact of R25million would have been experienced in the city. The UCI has said this event was the best ever in its history.
PIETERMARITZBURG ROCKS!!!!!
