March 2017 | 65
Having won silver in the women ’ s team pursuit and omnium at the 2015 UCI Track Cycling World Championships , Laura Trott will be hoping to go one better and match her performance at Melbourne 2012 when she claimed rainbow jerseys in both events .
Trott said : “ This year ’ s UCI Track Cycling World Championships will be spectacular . It would be amazing to compete in my home city and with the backing of so many fans . “ I ’ m 100 % focussed on making the team and winning gold in the omnium and women ’ s pursuit . It would be the perfect way to start what is hopefully going to be a fantastic year .”
Legacy Programme Announced
The organisers of the event have announced a £ 200,000 legacy programme to bring cycling to local schools and hard-to-reach communities and get East London pedalling towards improved fitness . The inclusive programme , which is funded by Sport England through the Major Events Engagement Fund and provided by Lee Valley Regional Park Authority in conjunction with British Cycling , London Sport and London Legacy Development Corporation ( LLDC ), aims to encourage people of all ages to take the first steps towards an active , healthier lifestyle .
The legacy programme rides on the back of the world championships and aims to maximise the opportunity that this major sporting event provides for increasing activity in cycling . The sport will be made more accessible to disability groups , young people , older residents and community groups in the Boroughs of Hackney , Newham , Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest .
Key components include :
• A targeted approach to increasing the number of young people in the sport with the Cycling Ambassador Programme .
• Development of the next generation of track stars with the appointment of a qualified British Cycling Go-Ride coach .
• Partnerships with local health providers and a wide range of activities aimed at improving general fitness via Cycling for Health .
• Investment in adapted cycles and sessions at Lee Valley VeloPark for people with disabilities .
Research has shown that communities around the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park are some of the least active in London with 46.8 % of adults inactive , compared with 43.9 % for London . The inspiration and focus of a worldclass cycling event in the heart of East London will be harnessed with a programme that aims to leave a lasting legacy of sports participation and improved health to those residents .
Jonny Clay , Cycle Sport and Membership Director at British Cycling said , “ We are sure that the legacy programme will be a tremendous success and a valuable source of advice and knowledge for the growing numbers of people who want to take part in the sport .
“ Ensuring a participation legacy is a key part of British Cycling ’ s major events strategy . That is to say , we judge the value of events on their capacity to inspire people to get more active by getting on their bikes more often .”
Cycling is an excellent activity for improving general fitness and for providing a focus for social activity .
Many people are set to benefit from the inclusive programme with targeted recruitment through community groups , GPs and primary care as the start of the pathway into cycling . In partnership with Bikeworks and Lee Valley VeloPark , residents of all ages and abilities will be able to access a wide range of bicycles including recumbent , tricycles and traditional two wheelers . The thrill of cycling is fully accessible at the Lee Valley VeloPark with a pool of specially adapted bikes for those with disabilities , part of their ‘ disability cycling hub ’.
• Tickets for the 2016 UCI Track Cycling World Championships provided for participants in the legacy programmes .