{
  "id": 14481054,
  "title": "2026 UCI Track Cycling World Championships: Your complete guide",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/2026-uci-track-cycling-world-championships-your-complete-guide",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-14T12:38:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Cycling Weekly",
    "slug": "cycling-weekly",
    "url": "https://www.cyclingweekly.com/racing/2026-uci-tack-cycling-world-championships-your-complete-guide"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The 2026 UCI Track Cycling World Championships are set to take place from October 14 to 18 in Shanghai, China. This marks the first time the prestigious event is being hosted in China after 123 years of taking place in other countries. The championships will feature 22 events across five days, with 250-meter indoor velodrome races.\n\nA total of 400 riders from 46 nations are expected to compete in the championships. British sprinter Matthew Richardson, however, will not be participating as he was withdrawn from the event by British Cycling just days before the racing started. Richardson is currently under investigation for circulating discriminatory posts and behavior.\n\nThe Dutch team, led by sprinter Harrie Lavreysen, is expected to be the strongest squad on the track. With 20 world titles to his name and having never lost a sprint since winning his first in 2019, Lavreysen is considered the greatest male sprinter of all time. Great Britain's best chance of winning gold lies with their women's sprint squad, led by 2025 sprint world champion Emma Finucane. Finucane aims to become the most successful British sprinter at the championships.\n\nOther notable riders include Lorena Wiebes of the Netherlands, who won the first event, the women's scratch race, and is expected to compete in all sprint competitions. Emma Finucane from Great Britain, with three world and one Olympic title, is the most decorated rider in the British team. Belgium's Lotte Kopecky, despite having had a poor season, remains a standout rider in the women's endurance events. American Taylor Phinney, who has returned to track cycling after a 16-year retirement, is also set to compete.",
  "summary": "Hot on the heels of the road and gravel worlds, the Track Cycling World Championships are underway, and once again, they're not in Europe.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}