4 November 2021

COP26 hears about the power of the bike

The power of the bike will take centre stage at a special event hosted by the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships in Glasgow during COP26.

The Glasgow city centre skyline with the People Make Glasgow branding on show

power of the bike felt at cop26

The power of the bike will take centre stage at a special event hosted by the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships in Glasgow during COP26.

The event, which will be held on 10 November during the official transport day at the global summit, will focus on how the humble bike can be a powerful tool to combat climate change and how the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships can act as a catalyst for behavioural transformation in Scotland.

A graphic outlining the details of the COP26 event with a happy cyclist in the background.

Maree Todd MSP, Minister for Women’s Health, Public Health and Sport, will give a keynote address while the audience will also hear from Paul Bush and Trudy Lindblade, Chair and CEO respectively of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships about the innovative policy ambitions for the inaugural Championships.

The day, which will be hosted by renowned sports broadcaster Orla Chennoaui, will also feature two thought-provoking panel sessions with experts across sport, cycling, politics, environment and sustainability. The full programme for the day is listed below.

Paul Bush OBE, Chair of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, said: “Cycling represents one of the planet's great hopes to shift towards lower or zero-carbon methods of transport and address some of the greatest threats to humanity; climate change, air pollution and premature death from inactivity. It is hugely significant that we have this platform against the backdrop of transport day at COP26 to outline our ambitions for the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships and how it can be a platform to inspire real and lasting change in Scotland’s race to Net Zero.

“We have a range of extremely knowledgeable, experienced and passionate speakers and panel members participating and I hope that our partners, stakeholders and wider audience are inspired to the ambitions of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships.”

Guests can sign up to the Power of the Bike: Sustainable 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships online.

The event will be delivered in collaboration with key partners including the Scottish Government, the UCI, British Cycling and Glasgow City Council.

Cycling represents one of the planet's great hopes to shift towards lower or zero-carbon methods of transport and address some of the greatest threats to humanity.
Paul Bush OBE Chair, 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships

Schedule

14:30 Livestream begins

Opening remarks from

  • Orla Chennaoui

  • Paul Bush OBE, Chair, 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships

  • Trudy Lindblade, CEO 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships

  • Maree Todd MSP, Minister for Public Health, Women’s Health and Sport

15:15 Panel 1 - The power of sport for sustainable development

  • Maree Todd MSP, Minister for Public Health, Women’s Health and Sport

  • Enrico Della Casa, UCI Vice-President

  • Nick Chamberlin, Policy Manager, British Cycling

  • Dan Reading, Head of Sustainability, Right Formula

  • Peter Crowson, Scottish Cycling Young People’s Panel

  • Hannah Dines, Paralympic Cyclist

16:15 Chris Boardman, British Cycling Policy Advisor and Transport Commissioner

16:25 Short break

16:45 Henk Swarttouw - European Cyclists’ Federation President

16:50 Panel 2 - Leading cycling cities enhancing the power of the bike

  • Councillor David McDonald, Glasgow City Council

  • Isabella Burczak, Advocacy & Development Manager, UCI

  • Henk Swarttouw, President, European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF)

  • Heather Thompson, CEO, Institute for Transportation & Development Policy (ITDP)

  • Stephen Loftus, CCO, Brompton Bicycle

17:45 Paul Bush – Chair, 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships

17:50 Livestream ends