UCI World Championships: Business gives mixed response to cycle race

Dozens of roads were closed during the nine-day event, which finished on Sunday

The UCI Road World Championships had a negative impact on some local businesses, it has been claimed.

All of the bicycle races, which took place from 22 to 29 September, finished in Harrogate, where there were dozens of road closures.

Some businesses reported a sharp drop in takings due to regular customers staying away from the town centre.

However, others in the town and surrounding villages said business had been boosted by the influx of visitors.

Ian Coumont, who owns a burger restaurant in Harrogate, said: "It's been a complete disaster from what we anticipated and what we were told."

He said his takings were down by 70% and that he had bought extra stock, which was wasted.

A charity that sells plants said it would normally take more than £2,000.

But Phil Airey, operations manager for Horticap Limited, which helps adults with learning disabilities learn about plants, said he only took £30 during the whole event.

"That was from my wife who bought a load of plants," he said.

Harrogate Chamber of Commerce chief executive Sandra Doherty said a lot of businesses "never opened a till for the whole nine days".

She said businesses which sold items such as furniture were badly affected by regular shoppers avoiding the town centre.

Pie-eating boost

However, others said the event had been a great success.

Vicky Wild, who runs a fair trade shop in the town, said sales almost tripled as result of selling items made specially for the event.

She said they sold badges and jewellery made in Kenya and purses and wallets made from recycled inner tubes in Malawi.

"It's been really good and given the projects more publicity," she added.

Guest houses and cafes also reported brisk business.

Paul Kendall, from Kendall's Farm Butchers, based in nearby Pateley Bridge in Nidderdale, said there were a lot of "pie eaters" in the town.

"It's been buzzing - the UCI has brought a lot of new customers into the dale," he said.

Organisers said the town would benefit in future from the global exposure

Andy Hindley, chief executive of Yorkshire 2019, which organised the UCI Road World Championships, said he appreciated there had been some disruption.

"It's a shame the locals didn't come in all the time - the town was open. We did close roads around the town but only one was closed for the duration," he said.

The event was seen by a TV audience of 250 million and attracted people from all over the world, Mr Hindley added.

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