Follow all the action as the 2024 UCI Track Champions League heads to Apeldoorn for rounds 2 and 3

• The UCI Track Champions League continues this weekend with a double-header of racing in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands. 
• The Omnisport Apeldoorn will host the series leaders and their challengers for Rounds 2 and 3, sponsored by BetCity, on Friday 29 November and Saturday 30 November. 
• Key information including start lists, broadcast partners, the race programme and more. 

The UCI Track Champions League was back with a bang on Saturday night, as Katie Archibald (Great Britain), Dylan Bibic (Canada), Emma Finucane (Great Britain) and Matthew Richardson (Great Britain) soared to the top of the standings in their respective categories with some powerful performances. 

This weekend in Apeldoorn (the Netherlands) they’ll take to the track wearing the prestigious blue leaders’ jerseys as they look to defend their leads – and for Archibald and Bibic, to continue their 2023 title defence. 

Richardson blew the field away with his incredible dominance of the Men’s Sprint league, winning both the Sprint and Keirin races in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (France). But longtime rival and defending champion Harrie Lavreysen (the Netherlands) will be buoyed by home support as the UCI Track Champions League comes to Apeldoorn for the first time, and the 16-time UCI World Champion will surely be back with a vengeance. 

Archibald also had a brilliant start to the 2024 edition, winning both the Scratch and Elimination races to top the Women’s Endurance standings. Veterans and debutants alike were in fine form, with Alina Lysenko (AIN) taking a well-deserved win in the Women’s Keirin on her first appearance in the UCI Track Champions League, and Will Perrett (Great Britain) outlasting his rivals to win the Men’s Elimination.  

Finucane enjoyed victory in the Sprint and a second place in the Keirin to firmly take hold of the Women’s Sprint leader’s jersey, while Bibic was dominant in the Scratch race, winning a reduced sprint on the line, and backed that up with fourth place in the Elimination to get himself back in blue.  

But in an incredibly high-quality field of the world’s elite riders, no-one’s place at the top is guaranteed. And as the league heads to the Netherlands for the first time, expect the likes of Harrie Lavreysen, Steffie van der Peet, Jeffrey Hoogland, Hetty van de Wouw, Philip Heijnen and Roy Eefting-Bloem (all from the host nation) to make their mark. 

Click HERE to read all about how Round 1 of the 2024 UCI Track Champions League played out.

Alina Lysenko (AIN) 

Alina Lysenko was something of a dark horse going into Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, with most observers focused on Emma Finucane and Ellesse Andrews (New Zealand) as favourites for the Women’s Sprint leader’s jersey. But the 21-year-old rider has already made her mark on the competition and sits in second overall after a dream UCI Track Champions League debut. After reaching the Sprint semi-finals she went one better in the Keirin, where she motored away from her rivals to take an easy win, and the youngster will no doubt be hungry for more after her incredible start.  

Harrie Lavreysen (the Netherlands)

The opening round was hotly anticipated as another meeting of great rivals Harrie Lavreysen and Matthew Richardson, but in both the Sprint and the Keirin, the Brit simply ran away with the win. Whether Lavreysen didn’t have the legs, was conserving energy, or was just on an off day, viewers can expect a strong comeback from the five-time Olympic gold medallist. The Dutchman isn’t used to defeat and will have the advantage of competing in front of packed crowds in his home country for Rounds 2 and 3. 

Yareli Acevedo (Mexico)

Yareli Acevedo was another surprise package in Round 1 but she more than delivered. The Pan-American Omnium medallist came sixth in the Scratch race but still had more left in the tank, surprising all her rivals by sprinting from long range in the closing laps of the Elimination. Her unusual tactics and phenomenal strength were rewarded with second place, propelling her up the leaderboard to second overall going into Round 2. If she can hold onto that form, she’ll be a force to be reckoned with.  

Oscar Nilsson-Julien (France) 

The French crowd may not have had many track victories to celebrate at their home Olympic Games this summer, but there were certainly reasons for optimism during Round 1 of the UCI Track Champions League last Saturday. Oscar Nilsson-Julien had a stunning debut, finishing a strong eighth in a competitive Scratch race, before executing a near-faultless race in the Elimination. He outlasted league leader Dylan Bibic and just ran out of steam in the final lap, finishing second behind Will Perrett. At just 22, the UCI Track Champions League debutant has a bright future in the competition. 

Click HERE for the full list of riders competing in the 2024 UCI Track Champions League.

During the press conferences with the leaders of the 2024 UCI Track Champions League after the opening round, here’s what the riders had to share as they look ahead to Rounds 2 and 3:

Women’s Sprint leader Emma Finucane (Great Britain): “It’s my first time in the leader’s jersey so for me it’s really exciting – I didn’t think I’d be up there, after riding the Olympics and the UCI World Championships. Paris was amazing, I loved it, I love going back to that track and I’m looking forward to Apeldoorn, seeing how I can race and how I can hold onto the jersey. There’s some really good rivalries in this category and I’m excited to be part of it, it’s going to be really tough.”

Men’s Sprint leader Matthew Richardson (Great Britain): “It was a really special feeling. Hearing the announcer call my name representing Great Britain gave me chills. Getting through rounds I got to hear it again and again! I’ve been living out of a suitcase for a few months, so it’s been quite stressful, not the perfect preparation, but ultimately I’m just happy to be racing. The Sprint [race] was the one that really stood out to me, I’d never beaten Harrie [Lavreysen] in such a way. Normally it’s come down to really fine margins. I’ll try and use that as confidence for this weekend, I think he’s going to come out swinging.”

Women’s Endurance leader Katie Archibald (Great Britain): “I think I might have embarrassed myself with all of the pessimistic interviews I made [before Round 1], I went in pretty low on confidence, now I can go best foot forward into the next week. From a stability point of view, I feel most at ease when we are racing, and [having back-to-back rounds] actually helps with that momentum. When I’m in a good headspace, as racing tends to put me in, it’ll be a case of balancing the scales and I’ll see what I can do.”

Men’s Endurance leader Dylan Bibic (Canada): “It’s good, I can’t complain. I’m in the leader’s jersey – it might be a bit annoying to race in the leader’s jersey, they might [team up] on me, but I’ll just try my best and race offensively. Tobias [Aagard Hansen] for sure is a big rival, he’s really quick. Both French guys [Oscar Nilsson-Julien and Clement Pétit] are really strong, they both got second place in each race, and Lindsay de Vylder is up there too. All the top six are really good and I have to watch out for them.” 

The televised race schedule is as follows:

ROUND 2 - FRIDAY, 29 NOVEMBER

19:00 CEST: Live digital broadcast starts

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

 20:00 CEST: 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 CEST: Live broadcast ends

ROUND 3 – SATURDAY, 30 NOVEMBER 

16:00 CEST: Live digital broadcast starts

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

17:00 CEST: 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

 20:00 CEST: Live broadcast ends

The 2024 UCI Track Champions League will be 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), Canada (CBC / FloBikes), the Caribbean (Rush Sport), Colombia (Señal Colombia), China (Zhibo TV), Greece (ERT Sports), Japan (Speed Channel), Latin America (Claro), Middle East and North Africa (BEIN Sports), South Africa (Supersport), Spain (RTVE Play) and Switzerland (SRF). 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), RTLZ (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.

For detailed information on where to watch each round in your country, click 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 OMNISPORT APELDOORN 

The Omnisport Apeldoorn is making its debut in the UCI Track Champions League this season, but it is no stranger to elite track cycling competition. It has been a regular host of top international events since it opened in 2008, including the 2011 and 2018 UCI Track World Championships, and the 2024 UEC European Track Championships earlier this year.  

The velodrome is also home to star of the UCI Track Champions League, two-time champion Harrie Lavreysen. The track, which sits at seven metres wide and 250 metres long, has capacity for over 5,000 spectators – and we expect it to be packed with support this weekend for Harrie Lavreysen and his fellow Dutch UCI Track Champions League athletes.  

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. The Men’s Endurance category will be one rider short, as Eiya Hashimoto has withdrawn from competition due to a heavy crash shortly before the start of the UCI Track Champions League. This means the Men’s Endurance is contested by 17 riders. 

The Sprint Category races: 

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 last weekend in the the Vélodrome National of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, just outside Paris (France). Round 1, sponsored by CIC, is followed by a double-header as the riders head to the Netherlands for Rounds 2 & 3, in Apeldoorn, sponsored by BetCity, before returning to the iconic Lee Valley VeloPark in London for Round 4 and sold-out Grand Finale.  

• Round 1: Saturday 23 November | Velodrome National de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France.
• Round 2: Friday 29 November, 19:00 CET | Omnisport Apeldoorn, the Netherlands – BUY TICKETS
• Round 3: Saturday 30 November, 16:00 CET | Omnisport Apeldoorn, the Netherlands – BUY TICKETS
• Round 4: Friday 6 December, 20:00 CET | London, Lee Valley VeloPark, UK – BUY TICKETS
• Round 5 / Grand Finale: Saturday 7 December, 18:30 CET | London / Lee Valley VeloPark, 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.