Glasgow’s Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome will host high octane battles from the very beginning of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, with medals awarded from August 3rd.
Sir Chris Hoy welcomes the world
Six Olympic golds and eleven Elite rainbow jerseys… Scotsman Sir Chris Hoy made history for Great Britain all around the world. Now his successors will light up the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow, Scotland (Great Britain). Each day (3-9 August), 4,000 fans will be able to witness the blazing action over the 250m Siberian timber track that already hosted the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the 2018 European Championships.
“It can be an aggressive track if you want to use it that way,” says Katie Archibald. Her Scottish compatriot Neah Evans describes “quite a challenging track to ride, with steep bankings.”
Para-cyclists open medal proceedings
The first medals to be awarded in the Sir Chris Hoy velodrome on the opening day of competition will be for para-cycling: in the WC3 individual pursuit. The evening session will continue with another 10 medal races including different para-cycling categories of the individual pursuit, the WC5 500 time trial, WB 1km time trial and MC5 scratch race as well as Women Elite individual pursuit, Women Elite team sprint and Men Elite scratch race.
Throughout the seven days of medal racing on the velodrome, 22 UCI World titles will be awarded for track (11 each for women and for men) and 48 UCI World titles for para-cycling track (23 men, 23 women and two mixed gender events).
Local and international stars
The British para-cycling track squad enjoyed its most successful UCI World Championships of all time in 2022 in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France. They will have 16 defending UCI World Champions in their line-up in Glasgow, including UCI World Champion Neil Fachie (MB), Fin Graham (MC3), Jaco Van Gass (MC3), Sophie Unwin piloted by Jenny Hall (WB), Katie Toft (WC1) and Daphne Schrager (WC2).
The home nation’s job won’t be made easy by a glittering array of international talent. On the men’s side, France’s Alexandre Léauté (C2) could be one of the stars of the competition after enjoying an incredible few years that have seen him rack up numerous UCI World titles on the track plus gold at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. Spain’s Ricardo Ten Argiles (C1) will also look to add to his myriad UCI World and Paralympic titles. As for the women, 43-year-old Australian Emily Petricola (C4) is after more of the same after winning the individual pursuit, scratch and omnium in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines last year. And keep an eye on the consistent and successful Flurina Rigling (C2) from Switzerland.
Meanwhile the 32-strong British delegation for the track events is the largest of the 50 registered nations, and includes Katie Archibald, two-time Olympic Champion, four-time Elite UCI World Champion and 20-time UEC European Champion. She will line up in the Madison, the omnium and the team pursuit (and substitute for the scratch).
The British squad also boasts defending UCI World Champions Ethan Hayter (men’s omnium) Neah Evans (women’s elimination race), and the men’s team sprint with a slightly modified line-up (Ethan Vernon, Charlie Tanfield, Daniel Bigham and Josh Charlton) from that which powered to 2022 gold in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France. The Chinese squad is impressive, with 20 riders including the 2020 Olympic Champion (team sprint) Bao Shanju.
French stars from last year’s UCI Worlds also return, led by Taky Marie-Divine Kouamé (women’s 500m time trial) and Mathilde Gros (women’s individual sprint). Defending men’s Madison UCI World Champion Benjamin Thomas will partner with Thomas Boudat.
Almost all the reigning UCI World Champions and Olympic Champions are lining up, with thrilling match-ups such as the battles between Aussie and Oranje sprinters. The cast is completed with versatile and exciting talents including Italy’s Filippo Ganna and Elisa Balsamo, and Belgium’s Lotte Kopecky.
Programme of medal events
Thursday 3rd
Track: women’s individual pursuit, women’s team sprint, men’s scratch
Para-cycling track:; women’s C3 individual pursuit; men’s C1, C2, C4 and B individual pursuit; women’s C5 500m time trial; women’s B kilometre time trial; men’s C5 scratch race.
Friday 4th
Track: women’s 500m time trial, women’s scratch, men’s team sprint
Para-cycling track: men’s C1 and C2 omnium 200m time trial; women’s C1 500m time trial; men’s B, C3 and C4 kilometre time trial; women’s C2 and B individual pursuit; women C4 scratch race
Saturday 5th
Track: men’s team pursuit, women’s team pursuit
Para-cycling track: men’s C1 and C5 kilometre time trial; women’s C5 individual pursuit; men’s C2 and C3 scratch race
Sunday 6th
Track: women’s elimination, men’s individual pursuit, women’s keirin, men’s omnium
Para-cycling track: men’s C3 and C4 omnium; women’s C1 individual pursuit; women’s C2 and C4 500m time trial; men’s C4 scratch race; women’s B sprint; men’s C3 individual pursuit
Monday 7th
Track: men’s elimination, men’s sprint, women’s Madison
Para-cycling track: men’s C1, C2 and C5 omnium, women’s C4 and C5 omnium; men’s C5 individual pursuit; men’s C2 kilometre time trial; women’s C3 500m time trial; women’s C4 individual pursuit; men’s B sprint; men’s C1 scratch race; women’s C5 scratch race
Tuesday 8th
Track: men’s kilometre time trial, women’s points race, men’s Madison
Para-cycling track: women’s C1/2, and C3 omnium; mixed B and C team sprint; women’s C1, C2 and C3 scratch race
Wednesday 9th
Track: women’s sprint, men’s point race, women’s keirin, women’s omnium.