BRITISH Cycling and Bradford Council are joining forces for the first time to host the Special Olympics GB National Cycling Competition.

The Road to Berlin 2023 – the first event and first national event to be held at the brand new, state-of-the-art, world-class cycling circuit, Wyke Sports Village in Bradford this Saturday and Sunday.

This is the first time Yorkshire and Bradford have ever hosted a Special Olympics GB National Cycling Competition and it is part of a brand-new format called The Special Olympics GB Summer Series of Sport.

Running from June to September, this competition is one of over 18 events to take part across England and Wales in what will be the largest celebration of intellectual disability sport in Great Britain in 2022.

With 32 Special Olympics GB athletes from squads across England and Wales set to compete at Bradford Council’s brand new Wyke Sports Village, this family-friendly event – which is open to the public - will be the first time for two and a half years that many of the athletes attending will have the chance to compete at an event of this scale due to Covid-19.

With competition running from 9am to 7.30pm on both days, 18 races will be on offer including time trials and road races.

And with The Special Olympics World Summer Games due to take place in Berlin next summer, this competition will also act as the only qualification route for any athletes interested in being selected to represent Special Olympics GB in cycling in Berlin 2023.

Disability groups from across Yorkshire have been invited to come and spectate and they will have the opportunity to try cycling in a Learn to Ride Zone with adaptive bicycles with potential access to the track in between sessions.

Tim Curtis from Special Olympics Yorkshire & Humberside, and organiser of the event said: “To be able to get back to competitions of this scale has been a long time coming and to see our athletes doing what they love to do – competing and being with their friends - will be brilliant and I’m sure emotional.”

Colin Dyer, CEO of Special Olympics GB said: “Covid-19 had a devastating impact on our athletes with increased isolation, anxiety and loneliness as a result. Everyone knows the benefits of regular sport activity both physically and mentally but for our athletes the impact is much more than that.”

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Healthy People and Places, said: “We’re delighted that our fantastic new Wyke Sports village has been chosen to host this amazing event. It will be great to see the facilities being used by these inspirational athletes.”