On the final day of the UCI Track World Cup the Manchester Velodrome will play host to a ferocious sprint battle with the giants of track sprinting fighting it out in the 2nd International Keirin. With a £47,000 prize fund there will be no doubting the motivation of the competitors with every rider out for a large slice of the cash.

The bounty has certainly attracted the world’s best with Olympic Keirin Champion Ryan Bayley and current World Keirin Champion Tuen Mulder both signed up. Australian star Bayley was unstoppable in both the sprint and the Keirin at the Athens Olympics and will be the star attraction of the event. Dutch sprinter, Mulder took the World title in the absence of Bayley in Los Angeles earlier this year but won’t be a pushover looking to prove his dominance as the World Champion.

The rest of the rider list reads like a who’s who in track sprinting with numerous past and present Olympic and World Champions. Last year’s International Keirin winner Mickael Bourgain is guaranteed to be in the thick of the action along with French team mate Arnaud Tournant, German star Jan Van Eijden, Dutch powerhouse Theo Bos and 2003 Keirin World Champion José Antonio Escuredo.

The British will also have a strong presence and will be determined to steal the show on home soil. With 2004 Keirin World Champion Jamie Staff confirmed to race as well as Olympic Kilo Champion Chris Hoy, Craig MacLean and Ross Edgar there is every chance the Brits will come out on top.

And let’s not forget the Japanese who will have some of their super stars from the Japanese Keirin circuit in the competition. Takahiro Arai, Narihiro Inamura, Harutomo Watanabe and Takashi Kaneko will all feature in the event which is sponsored by the Japanese Keirin Association. These riders are used to the extreme action of the Keirin event and will demonstrate exactly why it is such a popular sport in Japan.

To spice up the event even more this Keirin will follow a unique formula. Instead of the heats being announced in advance there will be a draw made at the trackside immediately before each round of the event. Riders will not therefore know the likely tactics of their opponents which can only add to the rough and tumble of each heat. Event Director, Alan Rushton, said “all of these riders have proven speed so that the rider who can think fastest on the bike and respond to attacks as each round evolves is likely to be the winner.”

The 2nd International Keirin will take place on Sunday 11th December as part of the Manchester round of the UCI Track World Cup at the Manchester Velodrome. With three action packed sessions between the 9th and the 11th the International Keirin will top of a superb weekend of championship racing.

Tickets and full details of the race programme from each day at the UCI World Cup are available at www.worldtrackcycling.com or by calling 01372 464 666

Tickets
Tickets are available in both standard and premium seating. Standard – is for unreserved seating. Premium – is for reserved, numbered seating in the home straight (Block N) and the back straight (Block E).

1-Day Premium: Adult £18 – Child £9
1-Day Standard: Adult £12 – Child £6

2-Day Premium: Adult £32 – Child £16
2-Day Standard: Adult £20 – Child £10

3-Day Premium: Adult £45 – Child £22
3-Day Standard: Adult £30 – Child £15

Track Centre Hospitality

If you are looking for a unique Christmas party experience or wish to entertain guests, then take advantage of trackside dining at the forthcoming Manchester World Cup.

Enjoy a night at the races like no other; you will have the best seats in the house at your own table from where you will be entertained by some of the greatest cyclists in the world. Soak up the atmosphere and dine in style enjoying a spectacular trackside seat with the finest food and wine. With catering provided on the day by the renowned Heathcotes this will be a unique experience and a rare opportunity to see the stars of the track up close right at the heart of the action.

For more information or to reserve your table please call: 01372 464 666 or, alternatively, e-mail: [email protected]

UCI World Cup – Manchester
December 9th – 11th 2005
Manchester Velodrome – National Cycling Centre – Stuart Street – Manchester – M11 4DQ

Race Programme
Friday 9th December
13.00 – 16.55: Qualifying Session
18.20 – 21.50: Evening Session and Finals
Men – Scratch Race Final (15km)
Women – Points Race Final (20km)
Men – Keirin Final
Men – Individual Pursuit Final
Women – Sprint Final
Men – Kilometer Final

Saturday 10th December
08:45 – 13.10: Qualifying Session
13:15 – 16:15: Afternoon Session and Finals
Men – Team Pursuit Final
Women – 500m Time Trial Final
Women – Individual Pursuit Final
Men – Sprint Final
Men – Points Race Final (30km)

Sunday 11th December
10:00 – 11:40: Qualifying Session
11:45 – 15:30: Afternoon Session and Finals
Women – Scratch Race Final (10km)
Men – Madison Final (40km)
Women – Keirin Final
Men – Team Sprint Final
Men – JKA Japanese Keirin Final