It's official! Haute-Savoie, France has secured the 2027 UCI World Championships

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The 'mega' World's 2027 are coming to the French Alps

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On a cold Saturday in February 2022 Bernard Hinault was back in my home village of Domancy to make the announcement that Haute-Savoie would be a candidate for the 'mega' Worlds - the 2027 UCI World Cycling Championships. An announcement that seemed to go relatively un-noticed by a lot of the cycling press. It didn't even warrant a mention on the GCN show. Fast forward to September 2022 and we are delighted to report that durimng the UCI World's in Austalia it was announced that Haute-Savoie France has secured the 2027 mega UCI Worlds.

 

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1980 UCI World Championships Sallanches

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The last time the UCI Mens world road race was held on our local roads was back in 1980. French hero Bernard Hinault took the win having completed 20 laps of the Sallanches Cote de Domancy course, climbing nearly 6000M. That event is still hailed as possibly one of the toughest UCI World's course on record with only 14 finishers. If you visit the 14km 1980 World's circuit today you will be greeted by a statue to Bernard Hinault as you exit the autoroute from Geneva. Once on the actual course there os a a scuplture of a cyclist at the foot of the Cote de Domancy in Domancy Village which is a fantastic photo opportunity with Mont Blanc in the background. To celebrate Hinaults win, when we had the Tour de France visit in 2016, the Cote de Domancy road was renamed the Route de Bernard Hinault and this coincided with the board in the photo above being repositioned to the foot of the climb. The board previoulsy stood at the point where Hinault attacked on the last lap.

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What will the 2027 UCI World Champioships look like? 19 Gold medals up for grabs

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Similar to the Glasgow UCI Worlds in 2023, the 2027 UCI Worlds will consist of all disciplines and has developed the phrase UCI Mega World's which going forward from 2023 will be held every 4 years. We will have a new velodrome in the region. At the announcement of the Haute-Savoie bid it was mentioned that the Cote de Domancy could feature in the 2027 UCI World's Road Race and this would be a fitting tribute to Hinault's win. The Cote de Domancy has become a Tour de France and Criterium du Dauphine Regular both as an ascent and a descent on road stages. In addition we had the 2016 Time Trial stage of the Tour de France from Sallanches to Megeve. Also in 2016 Chris Froome famously skidded off his bike descending in greasy conditions whilst holding the Yellow Jersey.

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​Journalists and Press Visits for the 2027 UCI World Championships

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I've recently met with journalists visiting the area for the first time and I'm always delighted to talk about cycling in our region. This interest in Haute-Savoie is certain to increase if the candidature is a success. When cyclists think of the Alps its understandable that the first destination that seems to be considered is Alpe d'Huez which continues to be a must do ride for any cyclist. However our region has dramatically improved its cycling infrastructure over recent years and with regular visits from the Tour de France and Criterium du Dauphine, cycling visitors to the region continue to increase. From the roads of the 1980 World's, the Tour de France finishes in St Gervais le Bettex, Megeve, Morzine and Les Grand Bornand, to the famous Cols of the Romme, Colombiere, Ramaz and the mighty Joux Plane, its an amazing region to visit.

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Planning your visit - press trips and journalists

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I'm delighted to help with your visit and can be contacted on mike@breathebike.com or +33 680 926 408 Whether pre-visit or meeting up during your trip please drop me a line.

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Happy cycling

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Mike

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