Preparations for the 2022 season are continuing in full swing and over the last few days the Union Européenne de Cyclisme’s technical team and the Portuguese Cycling Federation’s technical team have taken part in a series of meetings to finalise all the details of one of the most important events next year. The city of Anadia (Portugal) will host a unique event for Youth cycling, especially for the Juniors and Under 23 categories, with European Championships in three disciplines: MTB XCO and XCC (30 June/3 July), Road (7/10 July) and Track (14/19 July).
This event is without doubt a great opportunity for the city, which will welcome for three weeks over 1,200 riders who will compete in races on the programme, bringing many people to the area.
Over the years, the city of Anadia has hosted very prestigious sporting events, especially for young people, for example five editions of the Track Championships from 2011 to 2017, a BMX European Cup race (2021), as well as having in its own country the World Cycling Centre Satellite Centre and a range of facilities (velodrome, BMX track, MTB, Modern Penthalon, Judo, Fencing and Gymnastics) which makes it one of the most pioneering and modern centres for sports training, also thanks to the numerous hotels geared towards sports activities. All the technical details for the three Championships will be announced in the next few weeks.
Enrico Della Casa, President of the Union Européenne de Cyclisme: «The organisation of the European Championships in Anadia is undoubtedly one of the most important events on our Confederation’s calendar, whose aim is to promote and develop youth cycling.
In Portugal, a country which has always welcomed and has close connections with our sport, we will experience a great, unprecedented event, not only a sports competition but a celebration of cycling for young girls and boys from all over Europe. For three weeks, Anadia and its country will be the centre of attention for all European cycling fans.
I would like to thank the Portuguese Cycling Federation and its President Delmino Pereira, the city of Anadia and its Mayor Teresa Cardoso as well as all the organisations and institutions who have supported this project since the start and who have shown great organisational abilities over the years, which will guarantee the success of this event».
Delmino Pereira, President of Portuguese Cycling Federation: "“It is with great enthusiasm that we take on, together with Anadia City Council and UEC, this huge challenge of holding a European Championship for the first time for three weeks, integrating road, mountain biking and track cycling.
We managed to attract this great event to the CAR Anadia (Anadia High-Performance Centre) thanks to the sporting infrastructure we have, being at the moment the only high-performance cycling centre with the capacity to hold this type of championships integrated in the same unique region".
Teresa Cardoso, Mayor of Anadia: “The promotion of sport is one of the great bets of the Municipality of Anadia. We value all sports and all levels, from the most amateur to the most professional, in a sport for everyone, but for historical reasons, we have a special appreciation for cycling.
Anadia – European Satellite Center of the International Cycling Union's World Cycling Center – is a municipality with great connection to this sport, currently having Olympic infrastructure for the practice of mountain biking, BMX and track cycling, which are used by national and foreign. We also have road routes, nature trails, highly medaled Anadian cyclists and the Two Wheels Museum, a space that explores Anadia's proximity to bicycles and motorbikes.
For all these reasons, it is with great pride that, in July 2022, the municipality of Anadia will host the European mountain bike, track cycling and road cycling championships. These events, in addition to promoting Anadia as a Municipality of Sports and as a tourist destination, are also an incentive for the practice of cycling, in particular, and sport in general, which, as is known, contributes greatly to the quality of life and for the well-being of the population.”
