Stirling Castle was lit up in rainbow colours as the city marks the six months to go landmark before hosting a global cycling event.
The iconic landmark was one of 13 illuminated in the traditional rainbow colours of the UCI as part of the build-up to Glasgow hosting the UCI Cycling World Championships in August.
Stirling will be the host for the road time trial for both men and women during the event, with some of the world’s top pedallers set to cycle across the city’s streets and outskirts for the chance to take home one of the top prizes in the sport.
Other locations lit up as part of the commemoration included Glasgow’s Riverside Museum, the banks of Loch Lomond, Edinburgh Castle and Traquair House in the Scottish Borders.
Stirling Council chief executive Carol Beattie said: “Lighting up the iconic Stirling Castle and these other famous Scottish landmarks is a fitting way to show the countdown is on for the world’s biggest ever cycling event.
“As the host of the time trials, Stirling will take centre stage for this exciting sporting spectacle, providing a fantastic opportunity to showcase the very best of Stirling to a global, TV audience, from our fantastic scenery and heritage assets to our ancient city.
“The championships will reaffirm Stirling’s status as a world-class events destination and attract visitors from many countries, delivering a tourism and economic boost to the area.
“It will also cement Stirling and its surroundings as the perfect cycling destination, where people of all ages and abilities can come to follow the same routes as their heroes. Hopefully, we will also inspire new, local enthusiasts of the sport, improving engagement in healthy activities. “Over the coming months, we’re looking forward to engaging with our communities and businesses to ensure they can seize the opportunities from the special event.”
Chairman of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, Paul Bush OBE, added: “Shining the iconic UCI rainbow jersey colours onto some of the country’s most incredible and well-known locations heralds another significant milestone in the run up to the inaugural UCI Cycling World Championships.
“With six months to go until Scotland hosts the biggest cycling event ever staged, the lighting up of landmarks acts as a celebratory beacon ahead of eleven action packed days in August where UCI World Champions will be crowned, and audiences wowed by must-see moments.
“Having mega events of this size and scale in our calendar further strengthens Scotland’s position as a world-leading events destination and reinforces Scotland’s place as the perfect stage for events.”
