British Cycling today confirmed the UCI Track Cycling World Cup is coming to the UK with the opening round of the 2013/14 season taking place in Manchester in November.
The event will be the first time the city has hosted the series since 2011. The 2013 event will take place between 1 and 3 November.
Speaking on behalf of British Cycling, Cyclesport and Membership director Jonny Clay said: “We’re very happy that the UCI have again awarded our stakeholder group a round of the Track Cycling World Cup recognising the ongoing support of our venues, UK Sport and British Cycling for the UCI’s series and the sport of cycling as a whole.
"Returning to Manchester marks the start of a journey to Rio that we hope will culminate in welcoming the UCI Track Cycling World Championships to London in 2016 and we await positive news on the outcome of that bid.”
"Returning to Manchester marks the start of a journey to Rio that we hope will culminate in welcoming the UCI Track Cycling World Championships to London in 2016."
British Cycling, Cyclesport and Membership director Jonny Clay
The build up to the event will feature a pre sale of tickets to British Cycling members giving them an opportunity to book their seat for an event that is certain to be in high demand. the previous Track World Cup in Glasgow having sold out in a very short space of time.
2013’s Track World Cup in Manchester forms part of larger programmes of sport for both of British Cycling’s partner event Stakeholders Manchester City Council and UK Sport, which is aiming to bring 70 world class sporting events to the UK over the next six years through its National Lottery funded Gold Event Series.
Speaking on behalf of UK Sport Esther Nicholls, Head of Major Events said: “We’re so pleased that the UCI Track Cycling World Cup will once again be returning to the Manchester Velodrome, which has played host to so many fantastic track cycling events since 2002.
"Through our £27million Gold Event Series we’ve been working hard to build an incredible programme of major international sporting events for the UK to host after London 2012 and hope this is the first of a number of major international cycling events to be staged in the UK in partnership with the UCI.
"In partnership with British Cycling and London we look forward to the decision in relation to our bid to stage the 2016 Track Cycling World Championships in the London Velodrome, the legacy venue from London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games."
Speaking on behalf of Manchester City Council Sir Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “The UCI Track Cycling World Cup will see the world’s best cyclists compete at the National Cycling Centre in Manchester, the proud home of British Cycling.
“Having recently hosted the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup, the National Cycle Centre will once again treat cycling fans to an international competition of the highest calibre.
“The event is a very welcome addition to Manchester’s packed 2013 sporting programme, that also features NBA Europe Live, Bupa Great Manchester Run, Superleague Magic Weekend, the men’s World Squash Championship and Rugby League World Cup Final - and once again shows that Manchester truly is a world class city of sport.”
The event will once again receive substantial BBC coverage across the weekend with some live free to air coverage of the event planned alongside red button coverage of the event.
Barbara Slater, Director of BBC Sport said: “We’re delighted to be continuing our broadcast relationship with British Cycling through the Track World Cup in Manchester in November. We look forward to seeing the event return to the home of British cycling for the first time since 2011.”
