The 2024 UCI Track Champions League reaches a nail-biting conclusion in London

• Another thrilling season of the UCI Track Champions League comes to an end this weekend with a final double-header of racing in London, where the series winners will be crowned.  
• The iconic Lee Valley VeloPark will once again host Round 4 and Round 5, the Grand Finale, held this year on Friday 6 December and Saturday 7 December. 
• Key information including start lists, broadcast partners, the race programme and more. 

There were more twists and turns than ever in the UCI Track Champions League as the riders battled in a spectacular double-header of Rounds 2 and 3, sponsored by BetCity, last weekend. The UCI Track Champions League visited Apeldoorn, the Netherlands for the first time and at the midway point of the series Katie Archibald (Great Britain), Dylan Bibic (Canada), Alina Lysenko and Harrie Lavreysen (the Netherlands) pulled on the prestigious blue leaders’ jerseys.  

But with only two more rounds of racing to go, nothing is settled, and no-one’s lead is safe. The riders will go all-out this weekend as they return to the LeeValley VeloPark in London for one final weekend of racing. It’s their last chance to fight for the coveted UCI Track Champions League trophy, so expect some fireworks. 

Katie Archibald has a 29-point lead at the top of the Women’s Endurance standings and has looked imperious so far, but rivals Anita Stenberg (Norway) and Sarah van Dam (Canada), with a win apiece, and Yareli Acevedo (Mexico), with two second places, have proven how dangerous they can be.

Like Archibald, Dylan Bibic has raced consistently and cleverly and both are in a strong position to defend their 2023 titles. But just nine points separate the Canadian from the recently crowned UCI World Champion in the Elimination race, Tobias Aagard Hansen (Denmark), in second, and it looks like the battle for the Men’s Endurance trophy will go right down to the wire.  

The stakes are even higher and the margins even smaller in the Men’s Sprint league, with Harrie Lavreysen coming out on top on his home turf against biggest challenger Matthew Richardson (Great Britain). But the Brit is just five points off the pace and will have the advantage of the home crowd this time round, setting up a blockbuster conclusion to this chapter in their rivalry.  

In the Women’s Sprint league Alina Lysenko has set the bar incredibly high, making history on her debut appearance in the competition by winning five consecutive races – something no rider has ever done before. With a 29-point lead at the top of the standings, and Ellesse Andrews (New Zealand) and Emma Finucane (Great Britain) off the pace, the league is hers to lose – but there’s still time for any of the riders to stage a remarkable comeback. 

As the UCI Track Champions League returns to London, expect the 11-strong British contingent to come out flying. Finucane, Richardson, Archibald, as well as Jessica Roberts, Neah Evans, Anna Morris, Sophie Capewell, Katy Marchant, Harry Ledingham-Horn, Will Tidball and Will Perrett will have the backing of a sellout crowd at the Grand Finale as they hope to end their 2024 UCI Track Champions League on a high.

Click here to read all about how Round 2 and Round 3 of the 2024 UCI Track Champions League played out.

Martha Bayona (Colombia) 

Martha Bayona didn’t have the Olympic Games she wanted but has bounced back from that disappointment to reach some of her best form at the UCI Track Champions League. The 29-year-old is a veteran at the highest levels of elite cycling and her consistency so far – two second place finishes and two third-places – have seen her rise to second overall and become the closest challenger to runaway leader Lysenko.  

Cristian Ortega (Colombia)

Harrie Lavreysen and Matthew Richardson have won five of the six Men’s Sprint races so far – but Cristian Ortega snatched an impressive and decisive win in the Keirin in Round 2 in Apeldoorn and currently sits third in the overall standings. The Colombian’s raw power and wily racing nous mean he’s one to watch out for in the later stages of the competition, and he could benefit from the two front-runners focusing on the other as the main threat. 

Petra Ševčíková (Czech Republic) 

Katie Archibald looks secure at the top of the Women’s Endurance league but Petra Ševčíková has been steadily climbing the ranks behind her and now sits third overall. The 24-year-old took a resounding victory in the Scratch race in Round 3, a discipline in which she has form as a former U23 Scratch European champion. She backed that up with third place in the Elimination, and with her confidence levels high don’t be surprised to see her build on that this weekend.  

Lindsay de Vylder (Belgium) 

Many observers and Men’s Endurance league leader Dylan Bibic himself might think the battle for the trophy is down to him and Tobias Aagard Hansen, but don’t write off Lindsay de Vylder, currently in third overall. The 29-year-old has finished on the podium twice so far and may be keeping his powdery dry for the Grand Finale this weekend. Recently crowned UCI World Champion in the Omnium and a silver medallist in the Madison, he’s certainly got the form and the pedigree to make it a three-man race for the title.

During the press conferences with the leaders of the 2024 UCI Track Champions League after rounds 2 & 3, here’s what the riders had to share as they look ahead to the two final rounds of the season: 

Women’s Sprint leader Alina Lysenko: “I’m very happy to be part of this competition, and I enjoy competing with a lot of big stars. I don’t know yet if I’ll win in London, but I’ll make it happen – we’ll see how it will be! I’ve taken a lot [from my previous training as a figure skater into track cycling], especially the jumping elements. I trained in figure skating from when I was two and a half years old until I was fifteen, and this training base has been really useful.”

Men’s Sprint leader Harrie Lavreysen: “I definitely enjoyed [racing at home], it was the first time the UCI Track Champions League came to Apeldoorn and I was really happy I could finally race in front of a home crowd - it was amazing. I surprised myself a little bit during the weekend because I think Matthew is in really good form at the moment and it’s really hard for me to beat him. On the Friday he made some mistakes, but on the Saturday I could beat him in the Sprint final, so really happy with that and looking forward to London this weekend! It’s one of the biggest crowds in Europe, and I think London is always sold out –people love track cycling over there, it’s amazing.”

Women’s Endurance leader Katie Archibald: “I feel good going to London. For us, it’s not just the fact that you have a round at home, it’s the fact that it’s the Grand Finale. If you want to pull something out of the bag, if you want to do something special, it’s going to be in front of everybody you love and it’s going to be when it really matters! It’s such a treat that we get that. [With the back-to-back rounds] you notice the sticking points where you’re struggling, but I’m quick to reassure myself that so is everyone else. I think one of the features that makes this league so iconic is its demand for consistency.”

Men’s Endurance leader Dylan Bibic: “I’m going to try my best [to wear the leader’s jersey from start to finish]. Tobias [Aagard Hansen] is really good, I think at this point it’s just between me and him, and I think it’ll make for very entertaining racing. Up until this point I’ve been racing mostly to try to win. In the most recent Scratch race, I bridged up to something and everyone instantly chased, so I’ll definitely have to race it differently and take more gambles on things. I want to put on a show, and I’ll have to beat Tobias by a few places each time.” 

The televised race schedule is as follows:

ROUND 4 - FRIDAY 6 DECEMBER

19:00 GMT (20:00 CET): Live digital broadcast starts

• Sprint / Women / First Round
• Sprint / Men / First Round

 20:00 GMT (21:00 CET): Live linear broadcast starts

•  Scratch / Women
• Sprint / Women / Semi Finals
• Sprint / Men / Semi Finals
• Scratch / Men
• Sprint / Women / Final
• Sprint / Men / Final
• Elimination / Women
• Keirin / Women / First Round
• Keirin / Men / First Round
• Elimination / Men
• Keirin / Women / Final
• Keirin / Men / Final

 23:00 GMT (00:00 CET): Live broadcast ends

ROUND 5, GRAND FINALE – SATURDAY 7 DECEMBER 

17:30 GMT (18:30 CET): Live digital broadcast starts

• Sprint / Women / First Round
• Sprint / Men / First Round

18:30 GMT (19:30 CET): Live linear broadcast starts

• Scratch / Women
• Sprint / Women / Semi Finals
• Sprint / Men / Semi Finals
• Scratch / Men
• Sprint / Women / Final
• Sprint / Men / Final
• Elimination / Women
• Keirin / Women / First Round
• Keirin / Men / First Round
• Elimination / Men
• Keirin / Women / Final
• Keirin / Men / Final

 21:30 GMT (22:30 CET): Live broadcast ends

The 2024 UCI Track Champions League is streamed across the globe via WBD Sports’ network including Max, Eurosport and discovery+, as well as a host of broadcast partners. 

The UCI Track Champions League is available on enhanced streaming service Max for the first time, for viewers in the US, France, Poland, Scandinavia, Spain, Central and Eastern Europe, and on HBO Max for viewers in Belgium and the Netherlands. Max has something for everyone, combining HBO Max’s can’t-miss boxsets, Discovery’s real-life entertainment and Eurosport’s world-class sports, and is the UCI Track Champions League new streaming home, broadening the series’ reach across the world. 

Viewers in Austria, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Ireland can stream all the action on discovery+, WBD Sports’ streaming service in those countries.

In addition to live coverage on WBD Sports' network, including Eurosport across Europe, sublicense agreements will extend the live broadcast to fans in key regions and countries such as Australia (SBS on demand), Canada (CBC / FloBikes), the Caribbean (Rush Sport), Colombia (Claro and Señal Colombia), China (Zhibo TV), Greece (ERT Sports), Japan (Speed Channel), Latin America (Claro), South Africa (Variety 1) and Spain (RTVE Play). Fans in each country hosting rounds of the event will also have access to live and free-to-air coverage via L’Équipe Live (France), Videoland (Netherlands) or S4C (Wales, UK).

Countries that are not covered by WBD Sports' network or another broadcast partner can still experience all the magic and drama of the UCI Track Champions League, as distribution will be provided through streaming platform Staylive. Founded in 2013, Staylive is a Swedish streaming solutions company that delivers over 1,000 live sports events per week to a global audience, and it already partners with WBD Sports to distribute the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, the FIM Endurance World Championship and the FIM Speedway Grand Prix. More information about Staylive and how to access the UCI Track Champions League can be found here.

DIVE DEEPER INTO THE ACTION WITH THE UCI TRACK CHAMPIONS LEAGUE APP

As fans tune in to Season 4 on their TV screens, they can dive even deeper into the UCI Track Champions League action with the official app, offering an immersive experience that goes beyond the broadcast. 

Powered by AWS, the app serves as a comprehensive hub for everything you need to know about the UCI Track Champions League, giving fans a week-by-week guide and a personalized experience. Users can explore rider profiles with exclusive real-time and historical biometric data, giving fans an inside look at the riders' incredible physical performance—tracking speed, watts, cadence, and heart rate. 

The access to onboard camera feeds heightens the multi-sensory experience, making viewers feel like they're right there on the track, racing for UCI Track Champions League glory, all while comparing data between the competing athletes in real-time.

In addition to race results and standings, the app provides round info and the latest league news, along with new interactive features for a more engaging race experience. Fans can set push notification reminders to ensure they never miss the action, whether it’s their favourite rider hitting the track or a specific race about to start.

Before the races kick off, users can visit the Fan Zone feature to make predictions and compete head-to-head with Adam Blythe in special quests and challenges. The Cheer a Rider feature allows fans to show their support for their favourite athletes, while the innovative Feel Heartbeat button lets users feel an athlete’s live heartbeat through their phone’s vibration. Whether it’s a nervous 130 beats per minute at the start line or a blistering 200bpm in the final lap, this unique feature gives unprecedented insight into the intensity of world-class competition, fully immersing fans in the high-octane excitement of the UCI Track Champions League.

The UCI Track Champions League app is available to download for free on the App Store or the Google Play Store.

ABOUT THE LEE VALLEY VELOPARK 

For the fourth year in a row the UCI Track Champions League Grand Finale, hosted at the Lee Valley VeloPark, has sold out, meaning 6,000 fans will watch the winners of each league be crowned on Saturday night.  

The iconic velodrome opened in 2012 and hosted the Olympic Games track cycling events that summer, when host nation Team GB won an incredible seven of the ten available gold medals. Since then, it has hosted the Tissot UCI Track Cycling World Championships, the Commonwealth Games, and witnessed Sir Bradley Wiggins break the UCI Hour Record in 2015.  

It has been a fixture of the UCI Track Champions League since its first season in 2021, and at seven metres wide, 250 metres long, and with a banking of 42° at its highest and 12° at its lowest, it’s built for the fastest and most spectacular of performances.  

The UCI Track Champions League follows a league format with a consistent race programme in every round. Riders earn points in either the Sprint or Endurance category throughout the five rounds. In each category, there are two types of races where competitors can gather points: Sprinters will race in both Sprint and Keirin races, while Endurance riders compete in both Elimination and Scratch races. 

18 riders compete in each category, for a total of 72 riders, evenly split between men and women. 

Sprint: The Sprint race is won by the first rider to cross the finish line after three laps of the track. The first round will comprise six heats of three riders going head-to-head, with the six winners progressing on to the semifinals. Two heats of three riders will then determine the final two competitors to race for the win. 

Keirin: The Keirin race is a mass start sprint over six laps. The first three laps of the track will be behind a pacesetting Derny motorcycle, leaving riders to sprint to the finish over the remaining three after the Derny exits the track. Six riders will take part in three heats, with the top two riders qualifying for the final. In the final, six riders will compete for victory.

The Endurance category races: 

Elimination: In the Elimination race the last rider across the finish line in every other lap will be eliminated from the race. The first lap will be a neutral lap and all 18 riders take part from the start. 

Scratch: The classic Scratch race will be contested over a relatively short distance of 7.5 km and see high-speed action from the start. All 18 riders will be vying for a podium position over 30 laps of the 250m track, with the winner the first to cross the line.

POINTS AND RIDER RANKINGS  

Rankings within the UCI Track Champions League will be determined by points allocated to riders from their performance in each race. Points will accrue in a ranking table and the overall winner in each of the categories will be the rider with the most points at the end of the series. At the end of each round, the current leader will be awarded the UCI Track Champions League leader’s jersey to wear at the next round.

RACE CALENDAR: 

The 2024 UCI Track Champions League got underway with a blockbuster opening in the Vélodrome National in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, just outside Paris (France). Round 1, sponsored by CIC, was followed by a double-header of Rounds 2 and 3 in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands, sponsored by BetCity. The series will reach its conclusion as it returns, as is now tradition, to the iconic Lee Valley VeloPark in London for Round 4 and sold-out Grand Finale.  

• Round 1: 23 November, Velodrome National de St-Quentin-en-Yvelines (Paris, France), sponsored by CIC
• Round 2: Friday 29 November, Omnisport Apeldoorn (the Netherlands), sponsored by Betcity 
• Round 3: Saturday 30 November, Omnisport Apeldoorn (the Netherlands), sponsored by Betcity 
• Round 4: Friday 6 December, Lee Valley VeloPark (London, UK) – BUY TICKETS
• Round 5 / Grand Finale: Saturday 7 December, Lee Valley VeloPark (London, UK) – SOLD OUT 

Since its launch in 2021, the UCI Track Champions League has grown from strength to strength, now taking one of the top spots in the track cycling international calendar alongside such elite company as the Tissot UCI Track World Championships, UCI Track Nations Cup, and the Olympic Games.  

The series – organised in partnership between the events division of Warner Bros. Discovery Sports and the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) – makes track cycling more accessible and exciting than ever before, bringing the sport to new audiences and allowing the world’s best riders another chance to compete for glory in front of millions of viewers.  

Alongside giving fans across Europe the chance to watch incredible feats of athleticism up close inside the velodrome, WBD broadcast network (including Max, discovery+, Eurosport and a host of international broadcast partners) will once again bring the drama into the comfort of viewers’ homes. 

Last season a record 19,600 spectators watched the action in person, while there were over 25 million video views across both the UCI Track Champions League and Eurosport social media platforms.