Great Britain finished top of the medal table at the 2026 UCI Para Cycling Track World Championships in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, following four days of memorable competition and record-breaking exploits. The British team went home with 27 medals, including eight gold, topping the medals table for the first time since 2023. Australia, China, New Zealand and France also enjoyed considerable success.
The Championships, held at the Omnisport Apeldoorn velodrome from Thursday 29 October to Sunday 1 November, saw 48 UCI world titles awarded across the Cycle (C) and Tandem (B) divisions.
Great Britain revel in gold
Great Britain’s gold rush was led by Kadeena Cox, who claimed two gold medals, breaking two world records along the way.
The 35-year-old first won the women’s C4 1km time trial in a world-record time of 1:09.545, with pre-race favourite Tara Neyland (AUS) in second.
Cox then returned to the track for the sprint, where she produced another world record during qualification, recording 11.409 seconds. She subsequently progressed through the knockout stages before once again defeating Neyland in a closely contested final to claim her first individual sprint UCI World title after several in the time trial in the last 10 years.
“The last time I had 24 hours this crazy was Tokyo 2021,” the five-time Paralympic gold medallist wrote on Instagram. “And honestly I did not see it coming because I’ve been so under the weather and not feeling like myself… I’m buzzing to have also broken the Kilo world record.”
In the men’s B 1km time trial, Great Britain’s James Ball successfully defended his UCI world title, taking gold alongside new pilot Aaron Pope. The British duo unleashed a dominant performance in the final, recording a time of 59.563 seconds.
But that was just the beginning as the relatively new partnership went on to win the men’s tandem sprint and the mixed tandem team sprint – the latter alongside Lizzi Jordan and Anna Whitworth-Hay – giving Ball three rainbow jerseys during the Championships and taking his career tally to 10.
The mixed team sprint victory was particularly impressive, with Great Britain recording 49.830 seconds to defeat Germany, who finished in 51.178 seconds.
The women’s tandem sprint brought further British success, with Sophie Unwin and pilot Jenny Holl winning gold after claiming silver in the women’s tandem pursuit.
Finlay Graham racked up five medals, with his gold in the men’s C3 scratch race providing the highlight. He also secured silver in the elimination race and later joined Kadeena Cox and Jody Cundy to win silver in the mixed C1-5 team sprint.
More success came from Rebecca Newark, who delivered a superb ride in the women’s C5 1km time trial final, stopping the clock at 1:13.09 to secure her first UCI world title. In an incredibly close contest, Newark beat Italy’s Claudia Cretti by just 0.020 seconds and burst into tears on confirmation that she’d won gold.
Depth of global talent
Australia finished second overall in the medals table in Apeldoorn with seven golds and 21 medals in all.
Korey Boddington ended Briton Jody Cundy’s 20-year unbeaten streak in the men’s C4 1km time trial, taking gold in a time of 1:02.672. “Huge respect to you and everything you’ve [Cundy] done for the sport,” Boddington wrote on Instagram. “I’m still scared of what you can do on a bike so bring it on.”
Boddington proved Australia’s star performer, also winning gold in the men’s C4 sprint and mixed C1-5 team sprint gold alongside Caitlin Ward and Maxwell Sudholz.
China finished third with six golds and 13 medals. They made an immediate impact in Apeldoorn, with Weicong Liang winning the men’s C1 1km time trial, the opening medal event of the Championships. That was the start of Liang’s successful campaign as he won further gold medals in the sprint and elimination.
Countrywoman Wangwei Qian matched Liang’s impressive haul with three UCI world titles of her own in the women’s C1 sprint, 1km time trial and scratch race.
New Zealand enjoyed their most successful campaign at the UCI Para Cycling Track World Championships, finishing fourth with six gold, three silver and one bronze. Leading the way was 22-year-old Devon Briggs, who took victory in the men’s C3 sprint, 1km time trial and elimination race. His sprint victory was arguably the standout, as he set a world record of 10.740 seconds in qualifying, lowering his previous mark of 10.793 set at the 2025 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Briggs also won silver in the scratch race.
Tandem pairing Emma Foy and pilot Jessie Hodges added a further two golds in the women’s B 1km time trial and 4km pursuit. Their pursuit victory came via a world-record time of 4:29.672.
Nicole Murray completed New Zealand’s gold medal collection by winning the women’s C5 elimination race, adding to her silver in the sprint.
France rounded out the top five in the medals table with six golds and eight medals in all. C3 rider Tifany Huot-Marchand was the headline act, winning the scratch race, elimination race and individual sprint.
France also enjoyed success through Alexandre Léauté, who claimed gold in the men’s C2 scratch race and later added victory in the C2 elimination event for his 29th UCI world title. Mathis Tiphaigne also contributed a UCI world title to the French tally by winning the men’s C5 elimination race.
Away from the leading five nations, Switzerland’s Flurina Rigling claimed an incredible four gold medals in the women’s C2 sprint, 1km time trial, scratch and elimination races. She also set a world record in sprint qualifying. Spain’s Alfonso Cabello Llamas secured gold in the men’s C5 sprint and 1km time trial, while compatriot Ricardo Ten Argilés won the C1 scratch race. Italy also celebrated a victory through Andrea Biancalani, who won the men’s C4 scratch race.
Para cycling sport divisions for track
C – Cycle: conventional bike with adaptations if necessary
B – Tandem: for visually impaired athletes with sighted pilot
The C division is divided into different sport classes (1-5), with the lower number indicating a higher level of impairment.