Glasgow's Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome to host UCI Track World Cup in November

Glasgow’s Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome is set to become the third venue in the UK to host a round of the UCI Track Cycling World Cup Classics in less than two years when the world’s top track stars race there from 16-18 November.

The venue, built for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, follows the Olympic velodrome in London, which hosted a round of the series earlier this year as a London 2012 test event, and Manchester, last visited in February last year, in staging the event.

The Glasgow round of the 2012/13 competition will also give fans a chance to see some of Great Britain’s track stars in action for the first time after a hopefully successful London Olympics.

A UCI spokesman commented: “The UCI is enthusiastic to be hosting an event in the UK once more, especially in the brand new velodrome in Glasgow as the first International event organised in this magnificent facility.”

Councillor Gordon Matheson, the Leader of Glasgow City Council added: "Glasgow's position as one of the world's leading sporting cities has been built on a record of hosting international events and investing in world-class infrastructure.

"That reputation will continue to grow when the world's top cyclists compete in the UCI Track Cycling World Cup at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodorme in November, in what will be the first major event to be staged in the venue."

As reported previously on road.cc, EventScotland is hoping to bring the Grand Départ of the 2017 Tour de France to Edinburgh, and its chief operating officer, Paul Bush, said: “It is testament to Scotland’s credentials as a major events destination that we have secured the Track World Cup for Glasgow, which will bring the best riders in the world to the new Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.

“Scotland is the perfect stage for major international events and the new venue will undoubtedly contribute to our existing cycling portfolio, while making a significant contribution to the legacy of hosting the 2014 Commonwealth Games.”

Brian Cookson, president of British Cycling, said that the awarding of a round of the UCI Track Cycling World Cup Classics to a third venue in the UK was a reflection of the efforts the organisation has made in helping develop facilities as well as organising events.

“After a successful event in London this year, we’re pleased to see another world-class facility in the UK christened with a round of this prestigious series,” he commented.

“The awarding of this event is a great endorsement by the world governing body for the high standards our team at British Cycling have set in the delivery of major international events, and we hope this world cup will be a fantastic pre-cursor to the city hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2014. We look forward to working closely with the UCI and Glasgow to make it a success.”

Last November, UCI Technical Delegate Colin Clews visited the velodrome and other Glasgow 2014 cycling venues and said afterwards: “This visit to Glasgow and the opportunity to meet with the Organising Committee has been incredibly worthwhile and it’s encouraging to see the levels of progress at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, which will be a spectacular venue for the Cycling in 2014.

“The venue locations for all the Cycling disciplines are in close proximity to both the Commonwealth Games Village and Glasgow city centre, a valuable and fantastic quality that Glasgow 2014 has to offer. In my opinion, Glasgow 2014 has the potential to be the best Commonwealth Games ever staged.”

Tickets will go on sale early in July, with more information being announced in due course on the Glasgow Life website.