Hong Kong announced as final host of 2015-2016 UCI Track Cycling World Cup

Sarah Lee Wai-sze will be one of the home favourites at the final World Cup of the season in Hong Kong ©AFP/Getty Images

Hong Kong has been announced by the International Cycling Union (UCI) as the third and final destination of the 2015-2016 Track Cycling World Cup.

The Asian country will be hosting the Track Cycling World Cup for the first time on the 250-metre track at the Hong Kong Velodrome on January 16 and 17, 2016.

“Hosting the World Cup in Hong Kong will help promote track cycling in our community, so we can identify more talented riders systematically for high level performance training,” said Hung-Tak Leung, chairman of the Cycling Association of Hong Kong.

The 3,000-capacity venue, which opened in December 2013, is home to Sarah Lee Wai-sze, Hong Kong’s first Olympic cycling medallist after taking bronze in the keirin at London 2012.

She later went on to win 500 metres time trial gold at the 2013 UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Minsk.

As the final event, fans in Hong Kong will see the overall winners of the World Cup announced, with Germany bidding to retain the title they clinched in Colombian city Cali in January.

Cyclists will again head to Cali for the opening round due to be held from October 30 to November 1 at the Alcides Nieto Patiño Velodrome.

Cali has been a regular host, having staged a round for six of the past seven editions, only missing the 2014 World Cup, the year they hosted the UCI Track Cycling World Championships.

The Lee Valley Velopark, home of track cycling at the London 2012 Olympics, is due to host the 2016 UCI Track Cycling World Championships ©AFP/Getty Images

The second round is due to take place from December 5 to 6 in Cambridge, New Zealand, before the World Cup draws to a close in Hong Kong.

The world’s top cyclists will be using the World Cup to hone their form ahead of the 2016 UCI Track Cycling World Championships, scheduled to be held at the London 2012 Olympic Velodrome from March 2 to 6, before turning their attentions to Rio 2016.

“We are delighted to have reached an agreement with the Cycling Association Hong Kong for the hosting of the final leg of our series,” said UCI President Brian Cookson.

“Riders and teams can now embark on the 2015-2016 Track Cycling season which will visit four continents with action ultimately heating up in London at the UCI World Championships.”

Tickets for the UCI Track Cycling World Championships are now available on general sale.

More details are available here