Track cycling World Cup returns to London after four-year absence

The Lee Valley VeloPark will play host to the fourth round of the Series from December 14-16 in the Olympic Park complex in Stratford, looking to fill a Velodrome that has a capacity of nearly 7,000.

But beyond that comes a chance for British riders to impress on home boards, a challenge six-time Olympic champion Jason Kenny is already relishing.

He said: "The Velodrome at Lee Valley Velopark is an historic venue and it's amazing that we're able to go back there again for the TISSOT UCI Track Cycling World Cup.

"Home World Cups are always incredibly special for the riders, and I'm sure that I'm not the only one who can't wait to get back on those boards and make even more memories in December."

Other events in the competition are taking place in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines in France, Milton in Canada, Berlin in Germany, Cambridge in New Zealand and Hong Kong.

British Cycling director Jonny Clay said: "The past 18 months have seen us host fantastic TISSOT UCI Track Cycling World Cup events in both Glasgow and Manchester and we are thrilled to be able to confirm that the series will return to London in December.

"The Lee Valley VeloPark is iconic, and will hold great memories for British riders, coaches and supporters alike. Tokyo 2020 will be firmly in focus once this year's TISSOT UCI Track Cycling World Cup series begins, and we are delighted that British supporters will once again get the chance to watch the world's best riders in such a special venue."

It will be the first time the premier track series returns to London since December 2014, when Lee Valley hosted the first round of the 2014/15 competition, one of a number of prestigious competitive events the venue has held, including the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012 and the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in 2016.

In 2012, Great Britain claimed eight gold medals during the home Track World Cup, a precursor to their runaway success at the Olympic and Paralympic Games later that year, with Sir Chris Hoy, Laura Kenny, Jason Kenny, Victoria Pendleton and Dame Sarah Storey contributing to a tally of eight Olympic and eight Paralympic titles.

Four years later, Lee Valley hosted the 2016 UCI Track Cycling World Championships where Great Britain stormed the medal table once more, as Laura Kenny claimed an omnium victory, Jason Kenny took a dramatic sprint gold and Sir Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish won the Madison title.

Sportsbeat 2018