UCI Track Nations Cup Cairo 2023: Preview, schedule and stars to watch
The second round of the 2023 Track Nations Cup takes place in Cairo from 14-17 March with track cyclists from across the world vying for the podium in Egypt. Find out everything you need to know about the competition, which counts towards the Paris 2024 Olympic ranking, below.
Cycling Track 
Following the thrills of February’s first round in Jakarta, the UCI Track Nations Cup moves to Cairo, Egypt for the second of three competitions in 2023.
Many of the world’s top track cyclists will compete at the event, with over 400 riders representing more than 50 countries scheduled to race including Olympic champions and medallists from Tokyo 2020.
The 2023 Track Nation Cup series also offers the chance for athletes to progress on the pathway to the Olympic Games Paris 2024, with the two best results in the 2023 and 2024 seasons counting towards the UCI Track Olympic Ranking 2022-2024 that will decide which 190 track cyclists earn spots at the next Olympic Games.
Find out everything you need to know about the Track Nations Cup in Cairo below:
When and where will the Track Nations Cup in Cairo take place?
The competition takes place at Cairo International Velodrome where cyclists will race around a 250m long, 7m wide track as they aim for podium positions in Cairo, Egypt.
The action begins on Tuesday 14 March with qualifying for the women’s and men’s team pursuit. It ends on Friday 17 March with the final points race 20km of the women’s omnium.
Stars to watch at the Track Nations Cup in Cairo
Olympic omnium champion Jennifer Valente will represent the USA in Cairo with the three-time Olympic medallist hoping to overcome the challenge of New Zealand’s Ally Wollaston, who won omnium gold in the last round of the Track Nations Cup in Jakarta. Wollaston is part of an in-form New Zealand team that also includes Tokyo 2020 keirin silver medallist Ellesse Andrews.
Great Britain have named a 16-strong quad that includes Jack Carlin, who won team sprint silver and individual sprint bronze at the last Olympics in Japan, as well as Megan Barker - younger sister of Rio 2016 gold medallist Elinor Barker, and winner of madison gold at the 2019 European Games in Minsk.
Malaysia’s Awang Azizulhasni who won silver in men’s keirin at Tokyo 2020 will be aiming for the podium in Cairo just a year after undergoing open heart surgery. The 35-year-old is set on one last attempt at Olympic gold at Paris 2024.
Other Tokyo 2020 Olympic medallists who will be competing in Egypt include Netherland’s men’s sprint silver medallist Jeffrey Hoogland, France’s men’s madison bronze medallist Donavan Grondin, Italy’s men’s omnium bronze medallist Elia Viviani and Japan’s women’s omnium silver medallist Kajihara Yumi.
Track Nations Cup Cairo schedule
See the schedule for all finals at the 2023 Track Nations Cup in Cairo (all times local CET +1)