Although the bid must still be rubber-stamped, UK Sport representatives, including the Director of Major Events and International Relations Simon Morton, and Sport and Olympics Minister Hugh Robertson held positive discussions about the issue at SportAccord Convention in Québec City last week.

UCI President Pat McQuaid, also at the Convention, revealed that no bid has yet been tabled, but said he is aware of the plan.

"The bid phase for 2016 is still open and I understand that a number of cities are interested in bidding for the event," McQuaid told insidethegames.

"I understand that it is something UK Sport is considering so we will wait and see."

The plan could also include a simultaneous bid for the BMX World Championships on the Olympic venue located opposite the Velodrome on the Velopark, built for London 2012, should the city be put forward.

The Velopark is located at the northern end of Olympic Park and consists of the Velodrome, BMX racing track, a one-mile road course and a mountain bike track, which provides the option of potentially hosting other cycling blue-ribbon events, such as the Road World Championships.


A successful bid would be a major boost for the sport in Britain as its looks to capitalise on London 2012, where cycling is expected to be one of the host nation's most successful sports due to strong gold medal contenders including Sir Chris Hoy (pictured above at the Velodrome) and Mark Cavendish.

Sir Chris competed at the test event at the Velodrome in February and was full of praise for the facility, calling it "one of the best in the world".

The sport has already announced that the first post-London 2012 event in the new Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park will be a two-day cycling festival which, it is hoped, could become an annual London Marathon on wheels.

The proposed event in August 2013 will involve 70,000 participants for a ride around the capital's landmarks on day one, while day two will involve 35,000 riders, including 200 of the world's elite performers, in a 100 mile race.

Both events will take place on traffic free roads and start at the Olympic Park, with the race likely to finish either on The Mall, as the Marathon does, or at another nearby iconic venue.

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