A big Glasgow welcome to the Vatican cycling team, arriving for the World Championships!

Athletica Vaticana will take part in the UCI World Cycling Championships in Glasgow – from the 2nd to 6th of August - in spiritual communion with Pope Francis and the young people who, at the same time, will be in Lisbon for World Youth Day.

This is the second participation of the “Pope's team”, after their debut at the 2022 UCI World Cycling Championships in Australia.

On Thursday 4th August, two Vatican athletes (Rino Alberto Bellapadrona and Marcus Bergmann) will participate in the Gran Fondo World Championship and on Sunday 6th August an athlete (Rien Schuurhuis) will take part in the elite road race competimng against the strongest cyclists in the world such as Pogačar, Evenepoel, Van Aert and Van der Poel.

Vatican Cycling, the Vatican’s Cycling Federation within Athletica Vaticana, has been an official UCI member since September 2021.

While in Glasgow the Vatican Cycling delegation will do more than just cycling. On Saturday 5th of August they will visit the Ozanam centre a reference point for people living in difficult conditions to bring the Holy Father's support and solidarity.

In addition, the white and yellow Vatican bicycle used in the championships (donated by the great Italian cycle manufacturer Pinarello), will be auctioned and the proceeds will be entirely donated to the Vatican paediatric Dispensary “Santa Marta” which assists 500 poor families with young children.

Welcome to Glasgow guys!  Benvenuti a Glasgow!