Milton 2020: Track Worlds kick off

World’s best cyclists compete at year’s first major competition while keeping an eye on preparations for Tokyo 2020 30 Jan 2020

FIRM FAVOURITE: Canada's Tristen Chernove has added world titles on the road to his track success.

ⒸGetty Images

By UCI

The Mattamy National Cycling Centre in Milton, Canada, is ready to raise the curtain on the 2020 UCI Para Cycling Track World Championships, running from 30 January - 2 February.

The competition will decide whose shoulders the rainbow jerseys settle on for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.

DAY 1

Proceedings get underway on Thursday with the spectacular mixed M/WB 750m tandem team sprint.

The women’s C4 and C5 500m time trial and men’s C4 and C5 1km time trial finals, and omnium rounds follow. Among the potential highlights, Great Britain’s Jody Cundy will aim to extend his astonishing run of C4 kilo wins.

In the women’s C1 & C2 3km individual pursuit, look for China’s 2019 C2 winner Sini Zeng. The field is very strong in the WC3 category with world No. 1 Paige Greco of Australia and multiple Paralympic medallist Denise Schindler of Germany.

Cyclist with amputated leg on a track — China’s Sini Zeng Ⓒ Jean-Baptiste Benavent

Expect intense competition in the men’s C1 3km individual pursuit from the inspirational swimmer-turned-track cyclist Ricardo ten Argiles of Spain and Canada’s 2017 gold medallist Ross Wilson (Canada).

In the MC2, keep an eye on 2019 gold and silver medallists Darren Hicks of Australia and Canada’s Tristen Chernove; and in the MC3 on USA’s Joseph Berenyi.

DAY 2

The women’s C1, C2 and C3 500m time trials are followed by men’s 1km time trials and omnium events for men and women C1-C5.

The WB 3km individual pursuit will be a thriller with New Zealand’s Emma Foy competing against Belgium’s Griet Hoet, Netherlands’ Larissa Klaassen and Great Britain’s Lora Fachie.

In the MB 4km individual pursuit, look out for two Dutch riders: Tristan Bangma and Vincent ter Schure.

Men’s C1-C5 200m flying start omnium races round out the day.

DAY 3

If anyone can beat Ricardo Ten Argiles in the men’s C1 15km scratch, it might be Ross Wilson or Pierre Senska of Germany. In the MC2 scratch, Tristen Chernove is set to start as home favourite from Australia’s Darren Hicks and Ewoud Vromant of Belgium.

In the women’s C4 3km individual pursuit, the Australian pair of Emily Petricola and Meg Lemon (first and third in 2019 respectively) and Jianping Ruan of China are the ones to watch.

Great Britain’s iconic Dame Sarah Storey is due to start as favourite in the WC5 individual pursuit.

Track cyclist — Great Britain's Sarah Storey Ⓒ OIS Photos

In the men’s C4 4km individual pursuit, the challenges to Slovakia’s Paralympic gold medallist Jozef Metelka could come from Ireland’s Ronan Grimes or Jody Cundy.

The top three ranked riders could all go head-to-head in the MC5 individual pursuit: Australian Alistair Donohoe, Great Britain’s Jonathan Gildea and Brazil’s Lauro Cesar Mouro Chaman.

DAY 4

Three men’s scratch races will be contested. Australia’s 2019 world champion David Nicholas will go against Joe Berenyi in the MC3, Metelka will be the favourite in the MC4 and eyes will be on Donohoe in the MC5.

Also, 48 riders are on the provisional start list for the mixed M/WC1-5 750m team sprint.

Full schedule and results are available on UCI’s website.