The UCI Track Cycling Nations Cup - formerly known as the UCI Track Cycling World Cup and the UCI Track Cycling World Cup Classics - is a key event in the track cycling calendar organised by the sport's governing body, Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). As of 2021, the Nations Cup has consisted of 3 rounds held in different locations across the year. Teams amass points over the 3 rounds and whoever has the most at the end of the final round wins the Nations Cup trophy.
Glasgow will be hosting the first round of the 2022 Track Nations Cup from 21-24 April and Scotland’s biggest city is primed to present a thrilling opener. It may still be chilly in Scotland in April but in the heated velodrome with the warm anticipation of competition, it’s getting Scot in here! The city and the surrounding areas are quietly preparing for the huge but honoured task of holding a range of UCI World Championship events in August 2023 including the World Championships in track cycling, road cycling, BMX racing, BMX freestyle, mountain bike events, trials, indoor cycling, and para-cycling.
Before we reach the impressive 2023 cross-discipline event, however, Glasgow gets to show off its state-of-the-art Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome at the UCI Track Cycling Nations Cup. Scottish rider and world-class cyclist Katie Archibald is thrilled her home country will be hosting a round of the popular series saying that she “know[s] the crowd will enjoy it.”
The series is open to national teams and registered trade teams who compete over a number of track cycling disciplines. The overall classification is decided on a points system with riders or teams amassing points in each discipline during each round of the series. The rider or team that has the greatest number of points in each discipline wears a white jersey in that discipline in the following round to denote their status as leader. The World Cup trophy is presented to the nation with the greatest number of points in each discipline at the end of the final round of the series.
The future rounds for 2022 are set to be held at the Mattamy National Cycling Centre in Toronto, Canada (Round 2 from 12-15 May) and at the Velódromo Alcides Nieto Patiño in Cali, Colombia (Round 3 from 7-10 July). Expect to see the best track cyclists in the world in the saddle competing for points across all 3 events.
Get those wheels in motion and check out the UCI Track Cycling Nations Cup events here!