Parking and traffic plans for UCI Cycling World Championships

The UCI Mountain Bike Downhill World Championships are taking place at Nevis Range from 3 - 5 August 2023. Scotland, for the first time ever, will host all 13 UCI World Championships across Scotland from 3 – 13 August, with Nevis Range being one of the earliest events on the schedule. Full details can be found at - 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships | Glasgow and across Scotland (cyclingworldchamps.com)

While the ‘Downhill’ element of the event is like the annual World Cup held at Nevis Range over the past 20 years, there will be some key differences – one of the biggest is the volume of visitors which will be in the area in peak summer.

A multi-agency partnership approach has been used to ensure all necessary plans are in place, so that visitors and residents get to enjoy this spectacular event.  Partners include the event organiser Rare Management (who have managed all previous UCI events); emergency services; roads authorities and licensing to ensure safe, well organised event and parking and transport plans are in place and to help mitigate travel disruption.

A summary of arrangements are as follows:

• Park and ride will operate from Blar Mhor and Glen Spean Brewery with greater frequency of shuttle buses in use this year.
• A 30mph speed limit will be in place between Fort William and Spean Bridge.
• Lay-bys will be closed – any cars illegally parked will be removed.
• There will be no parking available at the Rural Complex other than for event teams and officials i.e., no public parking at all at the Rural Complex.  This means that no vehicles, other than those with an official pass, will be allowed to turn off on to the access road. Police will control the A82 / Nevis Range access road junction to ensure traffic is kept moving.  There will be a system in place to reduce impact on businesses at the Rural Complex and the Quarry.
• CCTV will be in operation at the Nevis Range access road junction, and any ‘abandoned’ vehicles will be towed.
• Variable Message Signs will be in use north and south of the event encouraging the use of park and ride.
• An extended bike park has been created at Nevis Range to encourage  people to cycle to the event and Scotrail has launched the Highland Explorer service which provides space on trains for bikes - ScotRail Highland Explorer | ScotRail

Lochaber Are Committee Chair, Cllr Kate Willis said: “It is important for the public to be aware that while this spectacular event will showcase Lochaber and Scotland to the world, capacity at the Nevis Range event is no larger in terms of audience sizes than any previous year.  Friday and Saturday will be at capacity and the general area will be extremely busy with normal August bank holiday visitors.

People travelling to the event or within the Fort William/Lochaber area the weekend of 3-6 August 2023, should plan-ahead and add extra journey time to any travel plans.” 

Information on road closures, park and ride and general event details for the Fort William events, including links to the official UCI Cycling World Championships website can be found here.