UCI Bike Region Fyn, in Denmark, is celebrating two international awards in recognition of cycling opportunities offered to its population and tourists from abroad.
Denmark’s N8 Baltic Sea Route has been named Cycling Route of the Year 2019 by a jury at the international Bicycle and Hiking Fair (Fiets en Wandelbeurs) held in the Netherlands. The award winners were announced on the opening day of the three-day fair in Diemen, which welcomed 43,000 guests for workshops, presentations and stands dedicated to the outdoors and riding.
The 820km Baltic Sea Route runs over twelve of Denmark’s islands, including Fyn, with liaisons made via bridges and ferries. The coastline route forms a figure of eight and takes cyclists between sandy beaches and rugged cliff terrain.
“A large part of the route is very peaceful,” according to the jury’s report. “New cycle paths have been laid which are far away from the motorways. The signposting is excellent. Facilities have been thoughtfully provided with picnic places, coffee kiosks, B&B’s and camping sites.”
The N8 Baltic Sea Route won the award ahead of four other routes that received honourable mentions: Ciro Bike Trail (Bosnia-Herzegovina), La Véloscénie (France), Romeinse Limesroute (the Netherlands) and the Sydostleden (Sweden).
Meanwhile, Fyn has also been voted Best Outdoor Destination in Scandinavia at the international Travel Trade Show, ITB Berlin (Germany). The Scandinavian Outdoor Awards recognised the Danish island for its outdoor offers, including its bicycle-friendly roads and opportunities for cycling.
Fyn received the UCI Bike Region label in 2017 thanks to its commitment to cycling at all levels, from Elite through to riding a bike for leisure and transport.
This year the island’s small coastal city Bogense hosted the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships, having already welcome the world’s best cyclo-cross athletes for a round of the 2017-2018 Telenet UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup.
The region of Fyn also hosts numerous elite and recreational cycling events every year, including the Fyen Rundt, the Bissen mountain bike race, track cycling events and stages of the Tour of Denmark.
On a more popular level, the regions of Fyn, Langeland and Ærø have launched an ambitious cycling tourism strategy called Bike Island 2020. Improved cycling infrastructure and transport safety are other focuses of the 10 municipalities on the island of Fyn.
Isabella Burczak, UCI Manager of Advocacy and Mass Participation events welcomed the recognition of the UCI Bike Region: “The UCI is thrilled to see members of our UCI Bike City and Region network being recognised internationally thanks to the ambitious projects they have delivered in the areas of tourism, infrastructure, health and mobility. UCI Bike Region Fyn is a great example to follow in terms of tourism development through cycling, particularly with the launch of the N8 Baltic Sea Route and the Bike Island 2020 strategy, which I am certain will inspire other cities and regions aiming to promote the wider use of the bicycle for both inhabitants and visitors alike.”