“I feel utterly thrilled and unbelievably excited, at today’s formal confirmation (Tuesday September 29th, 2020) of the City of Wolverhampton: being announced as the host, for the 22nd Commonwealth Games Road Cycling Time Trials, as part of Birmingham 2022!

The area in and around West Park – which will be at the trial’s very heart with the start and finish, is one of the city’s and region’s most beautiful areas and will provide a spectacular backdrop, to the beginning and end of a challenging, dynamic and lung-busting route, which no doubt and I hope - will be filled by supporters to its brim.

We have a rather rich cycling history, created by the outstanding racers of Andy Tennant, Hugh Porter, Percy Stallard and Trevor Gadd.

All three have multiple national titles, global titles and medals to their names and our citizens showed that passion, when the 2006, 2007 and 2008 Tour of Britain had some thrilling stages start and end within the City Centre.

Even the legendary music composer Sir Edward Elgar, very craftly linked his love for bikes and Wolverhampton Wanderers; by cycling to and from most games at Molineux from his (and my) birthplace of Worcester!

The effects of COVID-19 have challenged Wulfrunians to its very core and even meant the planned award of the 2020 HSBC British Cycling Road Championships, sadly didn’t come to fruition. However, even if it's a year later than billed, the Road Race between Birmingham's Centenary Square and Wolverhampton City Centre via The Black Country, will still be very much enjoyed in June 2021.

And when a once in a generation opportunity lands at the city’s feet, the chance of an enormous boost economically, socially and through tourism is something City of Wolverhampton Council was never going to say no to and I fully congratulate the whole bidding team; regardless of political persuasions, who have been able to bring one of the game’s best events, right to our very doorstep!

Knowing that Wolverhampton have more than £4 Billion of investment in the pipeline or currently happening, our ever evolving and diverse place of more than 265,000 people can look forward to the future it deserves.

Being able to showcase ourselves to the world; on a scale never seen before - will be the most positive and jubilant sign, of such a superb and most progressive story: emerging from our very fine patch of earth!”