The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and its partner Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports confirm that the UCI Track Champions League was held for the last time in 2024, and that following this, the UCI Track Nations Cup will be revitalised from 2026.
On the eve of a new Olympic cycle that will culminate with the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, the UCI has taken note of the decision of WBD Sports – promoter of the UCI Track Champions League since its launch in 2021 – to redefine its involvement in the promotion of track cycling.
In this context, from 2026, the UCI Track Nations Cup will be renamed the UCI Track World Cup, a competition playing a crucial role in the qualification of nations and their athletes for the UCI World Championships for track cycling and for the discipline’s Olympic events. This series will consist of three rounds, with a programme that will feature the Olympic events as well as the elimination race, a format that is always very popular with the public.
WBD Sports will put its expertise and network at the service of the UCI Track World Cup, which will benefit from extensive pan-European and global exposure through linear, social and digital platforms as well as Warner Bros. Discovery’s wider network that includes free-to-air broadcasters and partners across the European continent.
In all territories where WBD will not be offering coverage of the UCI Track World Cup, it will be possible to follow the event live on the UCI YouTube channel, subject to geo-blocking restrictions. In addition, the event will be covered on all UCI social media channels.
UCI President David Lappartient said: “I would firstly like to acknowledge the involvement of Warner Bros. Discovery Sports in organising and promoting the UCI Track Champions League over the past four years. This event has helped to promote track cycling like never before. With the continuation of our collaboration, which over the next three years will focus on coverage of the UCI Track World Cup, I am confident that track cycling will continue to grow in popularity, leading up to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games and beyond.”
The Vice-President of Cycling Events at Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe, Chris Ball, said: “Track cycling is an incredible spectacle and, as we look ahead to track cycling in Los Angeles 2028, we are delighted to continue our partnership with the UCI, broadcasting world-class men's and women's action from the velodromes, such as the UCI Track World Cup for the first time - in addition to our unrivalled road cycling and mountain bike offering - to millions of fans across the world.”
The UCI is now calling for bids to organise the rounds of the 2026, 2027 and 2028 editions of the UCI Track World Cup. Interested organisers are requested to contact the UCI at [email protected]. The calendar for the 2026, 2027 and 2028 editions of the UCI Track World Cup will be announced after approval by the UCI Management Committee.