The UCI Track Champions League returns for a second season in 2022, with the world’s top riders set to descend on the velodrome once more.
Katie Archibald (Great Britain), Gavin Hoover (USA), and Harrie Lavreysen (Netherlands) will be tussling it out for Endurance and Sprint honours again, but a new champion will be crowned in the women’s sprint after Emma Hinze (Germany) withdrew from the event to recharge her batteries.
Archibald is joined by British team-mate Laura Kenny in the women’s Endurance field. One of the most decorated athletes to ever grace the sport, Kenny has achieved no less than five Olympic golds, seven rainbow jerseys and 14 European titles in her impressive career to date.
In total, 72 athletes (36 men and 36 women) will compete for equal prize money across five short-format, high-adrenaline meetings.
HOW CAN I WATCH THE UCI TRACK CHAMPIONS LEAGUE?
You can watch all of the action live on the Eurosport app, eurosport.co.uk and discovery+.
WHEN IS IT?
The 2022 series takes place over five rounds across four countries, with each meeting condensed into a fast-paced programme.
Round 1:
Mallorca, Spain – Saturday 12 November
Round 2:
Berlin, Germany – Saturday 19 November
Round 3:
Paris, France – Saturday 26 November
Round 4:
London, UK – Friday 2 December
Round 5:
London, UK – Saturday 3 December
SO HOW DOES IT WORK?
Both the men’s and women’s leagues are split in two, creating a Sprint Championship and Endurance Championship for each. Each league will see 18 riders compete for glory.
SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIP
The league is stripped down to cycling’s two most exciting sprint formats.
Keirin:
The two fastest riders from three heats will qualify for a six-athlete final.
Sprint:
Heats of three riders will culminate in a head-to-head final.
“UCI Track Champions League 2021: The best of the Sprint action”
ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP
Again, it’s boiled down to the two races that promise the most drama, but this time with all the riders competing at the same time.
Scratch race:
A shorter, faster version than deployed at other events.
Elimination race:
One rider eliminated every two laps until just one remains.
HOW DO YOU WIN?
Riders score points in every race for every position – so every point matters. Results are tallied up in the respective leagues, leaving four champions (men’s sprint and endurance; women’s sprint and endurance) after the final round in London on December 3.
WHO ARE THE RIDERS?
Pre-qualified selection was determined by a range of criteria including results at recent major events. Previous palmarès and general status in the sport are also considered.
The remaining athletes were named after the UCI Track Cycling World Championships.
The full list of riders to earn their golden tickets are:
MEN’S SPRINT
Pre-qualified athletes:
Harrie Lavreysen (Netherlands)
Stefan Botticher (Germany)
Shinji Nakano (Japan) [replaced the injured Nicholas Paul (Trinidad & Tobago)]
Kevin Quintero (Colombia)
Matthew Richardson (Australia)
Mikhail Yakovlev (Israel)
Further riders announced:
Jeffrey Hoogland (Netherlands)
Mateusz Rudyk (Poland)
Esow Esow (India)
Jair Tjon En Fa (Suriname)
Rayan Helal (France)
Sergey Ponomaryov (Kazakhstan)
Azizulhasni Awang (Malaysia)
Joe Truman (Great Britain)
Santiago Ramirez (Colombia)
Tom Derache (France)
Thomas Cornish (Australia)
Jai Angsuthasawit (Thailand)
WOMEN’S SPRINT
Pre-qualified athletes:
Lea Friedrich (Germany)
Mathilde Gros (France)
Shanne Braspennincx (Netherlands)
Kelsey Mitchell (Canada)
Martha Bayona (Colombia)
Further riders announced:
Taky Marie-Divine Kouamé (France)
Laurine van Riessen (Netherlands)
Pauline Grabosch (Germany)
Steffie van der Peet (Netherlands)
Hetty van de Wouw (Netherlands)
Sophie Capewell (Great Britain)
Olena Starikova (Ukraine)
Daniela Gaxiola González (Mexico)
Urszula Łoś (Poland)
Kristina Clonan (Australia)
Helena Casas Roigé (Spain)
Emma Finucane (Great Britain)
Miriam Vece (Italy)
MEN’S ENDURANCE
Pre-qualified athletes:
Gavin Hoover (USA)
Roy Eefting (Netherlands)
Matthijs Buchli (Netherlands)
Sebastian Mora (Spain)
Michele Scartezzini (Italy)
Further riders announced:
Moritz Malcharek (Germany)
Dylan Bibic (Canada)
Filip Prokopyszyn (Poland)
Oliver Wood (Great Britain)
Rotem Tene (Israel)
Erik Martorell Haga (Spain)
Claudio Imhof (Switzerland)
Will Perrett (Great Britain)
Grant Koontz (USA)
Gustav Johansson (Sweden)
Mark Stewart (UK)
Matteo Donegà (Italy)
Mathias Guillemette (Canada)
WOMEN’S ENDURANCE
Pre-qualified athletes:
Katie Archibald (Great Britain)
Laura Kenny (Great Britain)
Rachele Barbieri (Italy)
Tsuyaka Uchino (Japan)
Anita Stenberg (Norway)
Further riders announced:
Emma Cumming (New Zealand)
Jennifer Valente (USA)
Silvia Zanardi (Italy)
Lea Lin Teutenberg (Germany)
Michaela Drummond (New Zealand)
Lily Williams (USA)
Sophie Lewis (Great Britain)
Maggie Coles Lyster (Canada)
Sarah van Dam (Canada)
Emily Kay (Ireland)
Chloe Moran (Australia)
Tania Calvo (Barbero Spain)
Michelle Andres (Switzerland)
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The UCI Track Champions League is almost here and you can watch all of the action live on the Eurosport app, eurosport.co.uk and discovery+
