UCI Track Champions League lights up Lithuania

Round Two of the UCI Track Champions League saw 72 of the world’s top track cyclists taking to the boards in Panevėžys, Lithuania to deliver another evening of action and unpredictability as rivalries across the field reached boiling point.

After dazzling performances in front of a sold out velodrome, Harrie Lavreysen (Netherlands) and Emma Hinze (Germany) retained their lead of the men’s and women’s Sprint League, respectively. In the men’s Endurance League, Sebastian Mora (Spain) now leads, while Katie Archibald (Great Britain) tops the women’s Endurance standings. Each will wear the coveted UCI Track Champions League Leader’s Jersey at round three at the Lee Valley Velodrome, London on 3 December.

The Cido Arena welcomed a raucous crowd supporting the league’s trio of Lithuanian riders Simona Krupeckaitė, Vasilijus Lendel and Olivija Baleisyte. Fans were treated to a technology-driven spectacle breaking new ground in cycling, as TV viewers around the world tuned in via discovery+, Eurosport, GCN+ and a wealth of international broadcast partners.

Hinze, winner of the Women’s Sprint Final, said: “It was hard racing tonight, the same as in Mallorca. I’m exhausted. The crowd is great – it’s a great place to ride. It feels good to extend my lead in the category and I’m proud to win this one again.”

Mora, winner of the Men’s Scratch, said: “I think the race was very controlled, it looked very different from Mallorca. It was a good result, it is very important for the final result and I am looking forward to continuing. It feels very good to race in this event. It feels very different. I like the race, I like the UCI Track Champions League, and I think it’s very important for track cycling.”