British Cycling and Manchester City Council are pleased to announce that the home of the Great Britain Cycling Team will now be known as the HSBC UK National Cycling Centre.
The venue is home to British Cycling and the Great Britain Cycling Team. It also hosts a hugely popular community programme of track cycling, BMX and mountain bike activities for amateur cyclists with over 200,000 visits to the centre recorded in 2015/16.
The first major event at the newly re-branded venue will see over 11,000 people attend the HSBC UK | National Track Championships from 27-29 January.
British Cycling’s chief operating officer, Jamie Obank, said: “We are delighted that the home of British Cycling and the Great Britain Cycling Team will now be known as the HSBC UK National Cycling Centre.
“As British Cycling’s new lead partner, HSBC UK has made a huge commitment to us and the sport as a whole. The HSBC UK National Cycling Centre has played a huge role in the success we have enjoyed at elite and grass roots level and this new partnership will ensure that continues.”
HSBC’s global head of sponsorship and events, Giles Morgan, said: “We are incredibly proud to have the HSBC UK name above the door at the home of British Cycling.
“The Great Britain Cycling Team has topped the medal table at the Olympics and Paralympics for the last three cycles, and the success of these riders play an important role in inspiring the next generation of cyclists. Our partnership with British Cycling goes much wider and deeper than providing support at the pinnacle of the sport; to us this is also about cycling at grass roots level, whether that is someone jumping on a bike to ride to work, or a ride-out with the family in the local park.
“At HSBC UK we are passionate about getting more people on bikes and creating a healthier, happier nation and facilities like the National Cycling Centre, with impressive community programmes, have a huge part to play in achieving that goal.”
Councillor Luthfur Rahman, executive member for culture and leisure at Manchester City Council, said:
“The HSBC UK National Cycling Centre is one of the jewels in the nation’s sporting crown, with millions of people nationwide inspired by the achievements of the elite athletes who train there.
“The inspiration provided by the success of the Great Britain Cycling Team is evident in the thousands of local cyclists who benefit from the world-class facilities on offer at the venue. This new agreement will generate significant new funds, which will be invested in initiatives to provide even more opportunities for Manchester residents to get involved in sport and leisure activities.”
The National Cycling Centre was built in 1994 and as well as the velodrome it also hosts the only indoor BMX centre in Europe and mountain bike trails for riders of all abilities. The venue has hosted UCI Track Cycling World Championships in 1996, 2000 and 2008, the Commonwealth Games in 2002 and a round of the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup for the last four years.
