Watch the high-watt action from the inaugural UCI Track Champions League on SBS On Demand, with the first event coming to you from Mallorca, November 7 LIVE from 0500 AEDT to 0800 AEDT.
Tokyo 2020 gold medalist Katie Archibald (Great Britain), nine-time UCI World Champion Kirsten Wild (Netherlands) and former points race UCI World Champion and 2022 Israel Start-Up Nation rider Corbin Strong are among a star-studded list of pre-qualified ‘endurance’ riders for the upcoming UCI Track Champions League.
Australian star cycling couple Annette Edmondson and Kell O'Brien have also been announced in the group of elite qualifiers, with both looking to add to their past world championship success in the new event on the boards.
Following last week’s announcement of the 12 pre-qualified sprinters, today the league confirms a truly international mix of five male and five female ‘endurance’ riders set to battle it out from November. Joining a list of 22 pre-qualified riders, they will compete for equal prize money in the innovative new series, set to elevate the sport to new levels with short format, high adrenaline racing, broadcast to millions across the world, in Australia on SBS On Demand.
In the men’s line up: Current UCI World Champion in the points race and 2022 Israel Start-Up Nation rider Corbin Strong (New Zealand), Ed Clancy (Great Britain), six-time European Champion Sebastian Mora (Spain), two-time team pursuit UCI World Champion Kelland O’Brien (Australia) and Yacine Chalel (Algeria) – current leader of the UCI Men Elite Elimination Rankings.
There will be an addition of riders following the world championships, with the top place getters from the key endurance events offered spots within the newly formed Champions League.
Men’s Endurance:
Corbin Strong (New Zealand) – Current points race UCI World Champion and team pursuit silver medalist at the 2020 UCI Track Cycling World Championships
Ed Clancy (Great Britain) – Three-time Olympic gold medalist, six-time UCI World Champion and five-time European Champion
Sebastián Mora (Spain) – Former UCI World Champion and six-time European Champion
Yacine Chalel (Algeria) – Current leader of the UCI Men Elite Elimination Rankings
Kelland O’Brien (Australia) – Two-time team pursuit UCI World Champion and Olympic Games bronze medalist
Women’s Endurance:
Katie Archibald (Great Britain) – Two-time Olympic gold medalist, three-time UCI World Champion
Kirsten Wild (The Netherlands) – Eight-time UCI World and European Champion, Tokyo 2020 bronze medalist
Annette Edmondson (Australia) – Three-time UCI World Champion and two-time Commonwealth Games gold medalist
Yumi Kajihara (Japan) – Olympic silver medalist in Tokyo and reigning UCI World Champion
Anita Yvonne Stenberg (Norway) – Norwegian National Champion
UCI Track Cycling World Championships Qualification Places
Qualification places for the final 48 riders will be awarded based on results in the following races (men and women):
ENDURANCE WOMENS– 3 medalists from:
Elimination (3 riders): Letizia Paternoster, Lotte Kopecky, Jennifer Valente.
Omnium (3 riders): Katie Archibald (already qualified), Lotte Kopecky, Elisa Balsamo.
Scratch (3 riders): Martina Fidanza, Maike van der Duin, Jennifer Valente.
Points (3 riders): Lotte Kopecky, Katie Archibald (already qualified), Kirsten Wild (already qualified).
ENDURANCE MENS– 3 medalists from:
Elimination (3 riders): Elia Viviani, Iuri Leitao, Sergey Rovstovtsev.
Omnium (3 riders): Ethan Hayter, Aaron Gate, Elia Viviani.
Scratch (3 riders): Donovan Grondin, Tuur Dens, Rhys Britton.
Points (3 riders): Benjamin Thomas, Kenny de Ketele, Vincent Hoppezak.
UCI Track Champions League - LIVE SBS schedule
Round 1 – Mallorca, Spain
November 6
0500-0800 AEDT on SBS On Demand
Round 2 – Panevézys, Lithuania
November 28
0300-0600 AEDT on SBS On Demand
Round 3 – London, United Kingdom
December 4
0500-0800 AEDT on SBS On Demand
Round 4 – London, United Kingdom
December 5
0500-0800 AEDT on SBS On Demand
Round 5 – Tel Aviv, Israel
December 11
0300-0600 AEDT on SBS On Demand
