Vélo returns in 2019

Velo Birmingham 2017

The Vélo is to return to the region next year with a new route and slot in the calendar.

The 100-mile cycling event on closed roads will take place on May 12, 2019. It will start and finish in Birmingham city centre and the route will take riders through Solihull, Warwickshire, Dudley and Sandwell.

The spring 2019 event will be called the Vélo Birmingham & Midlands and has a capacity of 17,000 entrants.

The September 2017 event had 11,500 finishers from 15,000 entrants, but faced complaints from non-participants for the disruption the significant and long road closures caused.

Lord Sebastian Coe, chairman of organisers CSM, said: “The fantastic support for the event from our local authority partners demonstrates the importance for the Midlands of hosting major events in the build up to the 2022 Commonwealth Games and we thank them enormously for helping us create this stunning 100-mile route.

“The new and improved route really shows off the beauty and diversity of the Midlands and the opportunity to experience cycling through the heart of two major Midlands cities on
closed roads will provide a truly unique experience for the 17,000 riders taking part.”

Organisers have also set themselves the target of having 50% female riders by 2022, having declared themselves “not satisfied” with the number of women taking part in the inaugural event.

Close