UCI says Ponferrada in Spain to keep 2014 Road Worlds

The UCI has confirmed that the 2014 Road World Championships will be staying in Spain as originally planned. In September, the governing body had given organisers in Ponferrada in the northwest of the country 30 days to provide guarantees related to their staging the event.

There had been fears that the event would fall victim to Spain’s ongoing economic crisis, but the UCI is satisfied for now at least that the championships, due to take place from 20-28 September 2014, are no longer at risk.

“I am delighted to confirm that the Ponferrada organisers have responded quickly and efficiently to our request, providing us with the financial and organisational guarantees that we required,” said UCI President Mr Pat McQuaid.

“We can now look forward with confidence to the 2014 UCI Road World Championships in one of our traditional cycling nations.”

However, the UCI added that today’s confirmation was made “on the condition that remaining guarantees are forthcoming.”

Spain last hosted the world championships in 2005 in Madrid, where Belgium’s Tom Boonen and Australia’s Michael Rogers won, respectively, the men’s road race and time trial.

The women’s road race was won by Regina Schleicher of Germany, while Karin Thürig of Switzerland was victorious in the time trial.

Spanish riders took silver in three of those four events – Alejandro Valverde in the men’s road race and Ivan Gutierrez in the time trial, and Joane Somarriba in the women’s time trial.

Great Britain’s Nicole Cooke won silver in the women’s road race.