Brussels to host the World Cycling Championships in 2030

The World Cycling Championships of 2030 will be held in Brussels, the organisers confirmed at a press conference at Brussels City Hall on Friday. The International Cycling Union (UCI) gave a favourable response to the bid submitted by the City of Brussels in 2023.

“It was important for us to get the organisation, it's very symbolic,” said the mayor of Brussels, Philippe Close.

In six years' time, Belgium will be celebrating its bicentenary, a symbolic occasion that the UCI was not insensitive to. The world championships will return to Belgium for the eleventh time in history, but will be held in Brussels for the first time. Five years ago, the start of the Tour de France was given in the capital, in honour of the 50th anniversary of legendary Belgian cyclist Eddy Merckx's first victory in the Tour.

Three years ago, the World Championships were held in Flanders, attracting over a million spectators for the time trials between Knokke-Heist and Bruges, as well as for the road races starting in Antwerp or Leuven, with a finish in Leuven.

“This is rather exceptional, normally there is more time between two editions,” stated prime minister Alexander De Croo. “I think there are several reasons. First of all, it's a special date: 200 years of Belgium, a country that has had a big impact on cycling. Then there's our know-how. I don't think there are many countries in the world that can organise these events the way we do. So we're looking forward to another cycling festival. The whole world watched with admiration what we did in Leuven.”

^{Belgian world champion Remco Evenepoel during a celebration on the balcony of Brussels city hall, 02 October 2022 © BELGA PHOTO LAURIE DIEFFEMBACQ}