A MUCH-ANTICIPATED mountain bike hub at the site of a former Peeblesshire mill will open in 2025.
The innovation centre, with a bike park and trail lab, will be built at Innerleithen's Caerlee Mill, near Glentress.
Richard Lochhead – Scottish Government minister for small business, innovation and trade – made the announcement last week while formally launching the ‘Strategy for Scottish Mountain Biking 2023-2025’.
It had been hoped that the centre would be completed by December next year.
On the project, leader of Scottish Borders Council Euan Jardine said: “The development of the mountain bike innovation centre is a great opportunity to capitalise on the south of Scotland’s cycling heritage and the world-class reputation of our off-road trails, including Glentress and the rest of the 7Stanes network, and drive inward investment into the region.
“Through the South of Scotland Cycling Partnership we have set some really ambitious goals in our first regional cycling strategy, and through continued partnership working and investment I have no doubt that we can achieve them.”
The three-year mountain biking strategy launched by Mr Lochhead aims to increase participation and help develop more future mountain bike stars to compete on the world stage.
The minister also announced at the Power of the Bike Innovation and Tech Summit, attended by some of the biggest bike brands in the world and many Scottish businesses, that Mountain Bike Centre of Scotland will launch as a new brand – Bike Innovation Scotland.
Mr Lochhead said: “Scotland is benefitting from a growing reputation as an ideal location for mountain biking, with visitors and locals alike enjoying our amazing outdoors.
“This newly updated strategy is very timely. Mountain biking can attract participants and spectators from around the world, drive domestic interest in the sport and encourage our entrepreneurs to develop innovative products to meet increased demand.
“The world’s first innovation centre for mountain biking can help make Scotland one of the most innovative small countries in the world. This could provide fantastic opportunities for inward investment and job creation in the years ahead.
“It has been a great pleasure to attend the UCI Cycling World Championships, meet some of the competitors and see the number of people who are engaged in this thriving sport.”
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