Cast by victoctero
Tomorrow, the 2026 Track World Championships begin in Shanghai. Track cycling is a discipline I like and have followed since watching it at the Olympics back in the 2000s, when the Spaniard Joan Llaneras was one of the riders who caught my attention. The Netherlands, Great Britain and Australia are among the main favorites, but there are plenty of other countries with strong riders in specific events, including Colombia, Italy, Mexico, Denmark and Japan. Five days plenty of racing and 22 rainbow jerseys up for grabs. Also, the official banner caught my eye. Love the illustration, especially the way it brings the track and Shanghai's skyline together. Would be curious to know who designed it and the story behind it. Anyone has a tip?
7 replies
I thought it was AI generated 😂 i remember llaneras too and track also caught my attention cause of havent seen it before but I never followed this type of ciclism
The Netherlands, Great Britain, and Australia will be fascinating to watch, but the individual events could definitely bring some surprises.
Day 1 in Shanghai. Three rainbow jerseys awarded, and a few interesting results already. Lorena Wiebes made it three consecutive world titles in the Women’s Scratch Race, but Lara Gillespie pushed her all the way to the line, taking silver ahead of Maria Martins. In the team sprints, the Netherlands 🇳🇱 took the men’s title, while China surprised Great Britain to win the women’s event. Day 1 podiums: Women’s Scratch Race 🥇 🇳🇱 Lorena Wiebes 🥈 🇮🇪 Lara Gillespie 🥉 🇵🇹 Maria Martins Men’s Team Sprint 🥇 🇳🇱 Netherlands 🥈 🇦🇺 Australia 🥉 🇨🇳 China Women’s Team Sprint 🥇 🇨🇳 China 🥈 🇬🇧 Great Britain 🥉 🇩🇪 Germany Photos by Alex Whitehead /SWpix
Day 2 in Shanghai. Four more rainbow jerseys. Matt Bostock claimed the Men’s Scratch Race after a brilliant solo attack, riding away from the bunch to win by half a lap. Meanwhile, Lotte Kopecky added another world title in the Women’s Elimination Race, her third. Harrie Lavreysen also continued his dominance in the Men’s Keirin, claiming his fourth world title in the event. Day 2 podiums: Men’s Scratch Race 🥇 🇬🇧 Matt Bostock 🥈 🇳🇿 Tom Sexton 🥉 🇧🇪 Lindsay De Vylder Men’s Keirin 🥇 🇳🇱 Harrie Lavreysen 🥈 🇩🇪 Maximilian Dörnbach 🥉 🇯🇵 Shinji Nakano Women’s Elimination Race 🥇 🇧🇪 Lotte Kopecky 🥈 🇯🇵 Yumi Kajihara 🥉 🇺🇸 Megan Jastrab Women’s Team Pursuit 🥇 🇬🇧 Great Britain 🥈 🇮🇹 Italy 🥉 🇩🇪 Germany Men’s Team Pursuit 🥇 🇩🇰 Denmark 🥈 🇮🇹 Italy 🥉 🇬🇧 Great Britain Photos by Agustin Marcarian Reuters, Simon Wilkinson & Alex Whitehead-SWpix
Day 3 in Shanghai. Five more rainbow jerseys awarded, with Great Britain taking two golds and Italy delivering one of the day’s biggest highlights. Jonathan Milan broke the world record in the Men’s Individual Pursuit qualifying round, then went on to claim the world title. But the day also brought a frightening moment: a mass crash in the Women’s Omnium Scratch Race took down 13 riders, including defending champion Lorena Wiebes, who was forced to abandon. Thankfully, she reported no fractures, despite pain in her ribs and shoulder. Day 3 champions: Men’s Points Race 🥇 🇬🇧 Mark Stewart Women’s Omnium 🥇 🇬🇧 Anna Morris Men’s Kilo 🥇 🇳🇱 Jeffrey Hoogland Men’s Individual Pursuit 🥇 🇮🇹 Jonathan Milan Women’s Sprint 🥇 🇨🇳 Yuan Liying Photos by Simon Wilkinson/SWpix
Day 4 in Shanghai. Great Britain continued its golden run, taking two of the four rainbow jerseys available, while Portugal’s Iúri Leitão delivered one of the day’s most emotional victories in the Men’s Omnium. Pauline Grabosch claimed Germany’s first gold of the Championships in the Women’s Time Trial, beating defending champion Hetty van de Wouw. And British, Millie Couzens defeated teammate Josie Knight in an all-British final in the Women’s Individual Pursuit. Day 4 champions: Women’s Time Trial 🥇 🇩🇪 Pauline Grabosch Men’s Omnium 🥇 🇵🇹 Iúri Leitão Women’s Madison 🥇 🇬🇧 Anna Morris & Erin Boothman Women’s Individual Pursuit 🥇 🇬🇧 Millie Couzens Photos by Shutaro Mochizuki / More CADENCE, Alex Whitehead & Simon Wilkinson / SWpix
Day 5 in Shanghai. Wrapping up the 2026 Track World Championships, with five final rainbow jerseys awarded on the last day. Harrie Lavreysen continued his incredible dominance, claiming his eighth consecutive world title in the Men’s Sprint and his 23rd world title overall. Lara Gillespie added another rainbow jersey to her collection, winning the Women’s Points Race after taking silver in the Scratch Race on Day 1. Denmark also closed the Championships in style, with Carl-Frederik Bévort and Lasse Norman Leth winning the Men’s Madison by a commanding margin. Day 5 champions: Women’s Points Race 🥇 🇮🇪 Lara Gillespie Men’s Sprint 🥇 🇳🇱 Harrie Lavreysen Men’s Elimination Race 🥇 🇩🇪 Tim Torn Teutenberg Women’s Keirin 🥇 AIN — Alina Lysenko (Russia, competing as an Individual Neutral Athlete) Men’s Madison 🥇 🇩🇰 Carl-Frederik Bévort & Lasse Norman Leth Photos by Jade Gao/AFP via Getty Images, Simon Wilkinson/ SWpix and NOS/NL
