f Follow us on Facebook t Follow us on Twitter w Visit goskyride.com LOVECYCLING e Email us Working together to help more people have fun cycling December 2012 2012 highlights including Sky Ride Birmingham and Southampton, Bradley Wiggins winning gold at London 2012, and Big Breeze Bike Ride Hull A wonderful year for cycling at all levels We’d like to say a big thank you for helping us make 2012 the most amazing year for cycling. We couldn’t have done it without your hard work and support. Together we’ve inspired more people to get on their bikes and we hope to continue this inspiration through 2013 and beyond. Our council partners were recently sent copies of our 2012 Local Authority Partner Review. If you’d like to order more copies, or if you’re interested in finding out more about how we work with local authorities, email [email protected] Thank you for your continued support, and best wishes for Christmas and the New Year. Stewart Kellett Director, Recreation & Partnerships, British Cycling More people cycling, more often… Our legacy in action Last week British Cycling celebrated the latest results from Sport England’s Active People survey. The findings show that over 200,000 more people are cycling at least once a week than were in October 2011. This exceeds the target set by Sport England four years ago by over 75,000 and brings the total number of people in England now cycling at least once a week to just under two million. The results also found the number of women cycling more regularly has risen dramatically over the last 12 months to almost 63,000. Participation amongst the number of people with a long term disability has also increased by almost 15,000 in the last 12 months. The latest results from Sport England’s Active People survey covers the 12 month period from October 2011 to October 2012, and measures participation rates for all sports. Find out more about the research. Sport England boost for grassroots cycling This week saw Sport England announce its funding for 2013-2017 and British Cycling is delighted to be awarded £32 million to grow grassroots cycling over the next four years. British Cycling’s Chief Executive Ian Drake said: ‘The Sport England funding announcement is recognition of the good work done by British Cycling, its partners, members and volunteers in driving grassroots participation and is a challenge for us to do even better in the next four years. ‘Whether it is for winning medals or for getting people active, we are proud of our record of delivering value for lottery funding and we take the responsibility very seriously. There is still a great deal of work to do in making cycling in this country better. We’re looking forward to getting stuck in.’ British Cycling’s Whole Sport Plan ambitions for 2013-2017 will build on the success and growth experienced over the past four years across all aspects of cycling as a sport, recreational activity and sustainable transport. Yorkshire to host Tour de France in 2014 We’re thrilled that the world’s biggest bike race is returning to this country in 2014. After an outstanding 2012 for British cycling, marked by Bradley Wiggins’ historic victory in the Tour de France, the UK will again host the start of race in 2014. The Grand Depart of the 101st edition of the Tour will take place on 5 July in Leeds, followed by a second stage in the county on 6 July. The race will then head to London, which staged the start of the race in 2007, for a final stage on British Soil. British Cycling’s President, Brian Cookson OBE, said: ‘Like every other cycling fan, I am thrilled the world’s biggest bike race is coming back to this country. The huge numbers who turned out to support the 2007 Grand Depart and the London 2012 road races show the passion we have for cycling. I’m sure Yorkshire will give the 2014 Tour de France a welcome which will stand out in the race’s rich history.’ Cycling is top sport at Sports Personality of the Year 2012 Bradley Wiggins won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2012 on Sunday, making it the third time in five years a cyclist has received the award. He won the award in recognition of his historic achievements in the Tour de France and his subsequent gold in the 2012 Games time trial, beating stiff opposition from other British superstars of sport, including Andy Murray and Jessica Ennis. British Cycling Performance Director and Team Sky boss Dave Brailsford also won the Coach of the Year award. Wiggins was one of three British cyclists nominated for the award, with Sir Chris Hoy and Sarah Storey joining him on the shortlist, while young BMX world champion Quillan Isidore made the shortlist for Young Sports Personality of the Year, proving cycling is the sport that is redefining our national sporting identity. British Cycling © 2012 [email protected] goskyride.com.