UCI Track World Cup kicks off this weekend

Ed Clancy on front, Britain wins team pursuit, Manchester Track World Cup 2011

The 2011-12 Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Track World Cup commences this weekend (November 4-6), with the first of four rounds taking place in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan hosts a round of the track World Cup for the first time in the capital's newly-built velodrome. After visiting Kazakhstan, the second round takes place in Cali, Colombia, in December.

The final two rounds take place in the 2008 Olympic Games venue in Beijing (January 2012) and the 2012 Olympic Games venue in London (February 2012). It will be the first time that the London 2012 velodrome will be used for top-level competition, and is being hosted as a test event for the Olympics.

This season's track World Cup has particular resonance for many of the

riders as the races represent the last chance for London 2012 Olympic

Games qualification. 

The Olympic disciplines of team sprint, sprint, team pursuit, omnium and keirin will be augmented by several other non-Olympic events, which in the opening rounds includes women's points race and 500m TT and men's individual pursuit, scratch race and Madison.

The UCI has unveiled Korean electronics giant Samsung as sponsor for the series. "UCI Track Cycling World Cup presented by Samsung will now be the official title of the series, whose development potential will be increased thanks to this collaboration agreement between the UCI and the large Korean company," said a UCI statement issued on Tuesday.

UCI Track World Cup 2011-12

4-6 November 2011: Astana, Kazakhstan

1-3 December 2011: Cali, Colombia

13-15 January 2012: Beijing, China

17-19 February 2012: London, Great Britain

Round one finals: Astana, Kazakhstan, with British riders

Friday, November 4

Women team sprint - Jess Varnish and Becky James

Men scratch race

Women team pursuit

Men team sprint - Jason Queally, Jason Kenny, Ross Edgar and Matt Crampton

Women 500m time trial

Women points race

Men team pursuit

Saturday, November 5

Men individual pursuit

Men omnium final - Ed Clancy

Men keirin - Jason Kenny, Sir Chris Hoy (riding for Sky Track Cycling)

Women sprint - Jess Varnish, Becky James

Sunday, November 6

Men Madison

Women omnium final - Dani King

Women keirin

Men sprint - Matt Crampton, Jason Kenny, Sir Chris Hoy (riding for Sky Track Cycling)

Related links

Cycling Weekly's Olympic Games news section

CW's Dummies' Guide to Track Racing

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