From 1 to 5 February, the Konya Velodrome (Türkiye) will host the UEC Track Elite European Championships, one of the most highly anticipated events of the continental season. The competition will see 315 athletes from 30 countries compete, confirming its status as a major event on the international calendar, with a total of 22 continental titles up for grabs in the men's and women's categories.
The technical level of the participants promises to be extremely high, with many Olympic, world and European champions ready to compete for continental titles in all Track disciplines.
Among the most eagerly awaited competitors of the women's events is Lotte Kopecky (Belgium), multiple world and European champion on the Road and Track, winner of two Tours of Flanders, two Strade Bianche, as well as several stages in the Grand Tours.
Katie Archibald (Great Britain), a true Track legend and Olympic champion in Rio in 2016 and Tokyo in 2020, will also be one to watch. Her career has been enriched by numerous world and European titles in all endurance disciplines.
Germany will have top athletes such as Pauline Sophie Grabosch, multiple world champion, and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Team Pursuit champions Lisa Klein, Mieke Kröger and Franziska Brauße.
Also worth watching will be Mischa Bredewold (Netherlands), European Road champion and winner of the Amstel Gold Race as well as the strong Dutch Sprint team with Kim Kalee, Hetty van de Wouw and Steffie van der Peet, reigning world champions in the Team Sprint.
For Italy, all eyes will be on Elisa Balsamo, former world Road champion, world champion in the Team Pursuit and multiple European champion.
In the men's event, one of the most prestigious names is Benjamin Thomas (France), Olympic Omnium champion in Paris in 2024 and stage winner in the Giro d'Italia.
Germany is counting on the experience of Roger Kluge, Olympic silver medallist, world and European Track champion and stage winner in the Giro d'Italia.
For Italy, Simone Consonni, Olympic and world champion in the Team Pursuit and multiple medallist in major international competitions, will be in the line-up.
Harrie Lavreysen (Netherlands), world Sprint legend, multiple Olympic, world and European champion, and the gold standard in Track speed, is also eagerly awaited.
Also ones to watch out for are Lúri Leitão (Portugal), Olympic gold medallist in the Madison and silver medallist in the Omnium in Paris in 2024, and Spain's Sebastián Mora, multiple world and European champion in Endurance events.
Enrico Della Casa, President of the Union Européenne de Cyclisme: «The Track Elite European Championships in Konya promise to be a high-level event, not only because of the number of participants, but above all because of the calibre of the athletes taking part, with a very high concentration of Olympic and world champions. These Championships will be especially important, as they are taking place two years before the Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Türkiye has already demonstrated considerable experience in organising high-level events and, given the performances and records set at this velodrome, we expect a very high-level technical Championships, which will be followed with great interest in Europe and all over the world thanks to our partnership with Eurovision.
I would like to warmly thank the Turkish Cycling Federation and its President Emin Müftüoğlu, for their passion, expertise and constant availability, the Turkish Ministry of Youth and Sports and its Minister Dr Osman Aşkın Bak, for their valuable institutional support, and Governor İbrahim Akın, as well as Mr. Uğur İbrahim Altay, the Mayor the Metropolitan City of Konya, for their enthusiasm and commitment to hosting this major event.”
