The Manchester round of the 2015 UCI BMX Supercross World Cup has been crowned best event of the year.
The event was part of UK Sport’s National Lottery funded #EveryRoadtoRio series, which features over 30 world class sports events the length and breadth of the UK, supporting British athletes’ preparation and qualification for Rio 2016.
The best event was selected by riders, the UCI BMX Commission, sponsors, the UCI, GSX Events and media representatives. The evaluation was based on five criteria: event promotion, organisation, the race, track, venue and atmosphere.
Simon Morton, Director of Major Events at UK Sport, said: “Our #EveryRoadtoRio campaign is always looking at innovative ways to showcase Olympic and Paralympic sport to inspire British athletes and really engage with spectators and the wider television audience.
“The BMX Supercross World Cup is an event that has gone from strength to strength in Manchester and I am delighted the fresh thinking that has been brought to staging the sport has been recognised.”
The event brought record crowds to Manchester’s National Cycling Centre and spectators were treated to a home victory by 2015 and 2014 world cup series winner and 2013 world champion, Liam Phillips. Phillips was victorious in Saturday’s time trials and Sunday’s supercross for the third year in succession, becoming the first man in supercross world cup history to win three times on the same track.
Jonny Clay, British Cycling’s cycle sport and membership director, welcomed the announcement: “We are delighted that the 2015 UCI BMX Supercross World Cup Manchester has received this award, which is testament to the hard work of our event partners UK Sport and Manchester City Council as well as the staff and volunteers whose dedication ensured both athletes and spectators enjoyed an exceptional experience in Manchester.
We are looking forward to bringing the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup back to Manchester in 2016 and delivering another world-class event in the city”
Councillor Angeliki Stogia, Manchester City Council’s assistant executive member for culture and leisure said: “I’m proud that Manchester’s event has been named the best UCI BMX Supercross World Cup event of the year.
“The recognition is a testament to both the quality of our cycling facilities at the National Cycling Centre and the passion and enthusiasm of Manchester’s sports fans.
The UCI BMX Supercross World Cup will return to Manchester for a fourth successive year from 9-10 April 2016. As one of the last chances for riders to gain qualifying points before the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, the event will once again bring the world’s best male and female BMX riders to Manchester.
Tickets for the 2016 event are now on sale via Ticketmaster.