This week (Friday 23-Sunday 25 February) will see Britain’s best track riders battle it out for the coveted red, white and blue national champions’ jerseys as the British National Track Championships returns to Manchester’s National Cycling Centre for the first time in four years.

The event will see Olympic, Paralympic, and world medallists go head-to-head against the future stars of tomorrow and as we gear up for a packed weekend of racing, here’s everything you need to know.

Who is racing?

Neah Evans will be looking to retain her title in the points race but will face tough competition from the likes of 2023 silver medallist Maddie Leech, and Great Britain Cycling Team (GBCT) teammates Jenny Holl, Grace Lister, Kate Richardson and Danni Khan. Recent Women’s WorldTour signings Izzy Sharp and Cat Ferguson will also be competing in the bunch races. 

Will Tidball spearheads a strong men’s endurance field, with the scratch world champion competing in the scratch and points races, but will face tough competition from the likes of Will Perrett, Michael Gill and Tom Ward. Perrett, Ward and Gill will also be racing in the individual pursuit, where 2023 bronze medallist William Roberts will be looking to make it on the podium once again. 

World and European champion Emma Finucane will be hoping to take another coveted national champions’ jersey in the women’s team sprint alongside her Team Inspired teammates Sophie Capewell, Milly Tanner and Georgette Rand. Other sprinters to watch out for includes 2022 sprint champion Rhian Edmunds, Iona Moir, Rhianna Parris-Smith, Lauren Bell and Lowri Thomas.

Joe Truman will be competing in the men’s 1km time-trial and will face multiple world and Paralympic medallist Jody Cundy, who will be riding in both the able-bodied and para-cycling categories. Defending sprint champion Harry Ledingham-Horn will also be one to watch, alongside up-and-coming Scottish star Lyall Craig, 2023 keirin bronze medallist Niall Monks, and Team Inspired’s Marcus Hiley, Hayden Norris and Harry Radford. 

Alongside Cundy in the para-cycling events will be Archie Atkinson, Finlay Graham, Will Bjergfelt and Jaco Van Gass, while multiple Paralympic champion Neil Fachie and pilot Matt Rotherham are the favourites in the tandem sprint events. In the women’s races, look out for Daphne Schrager is the hot favourite in the C1-5 individual pursuit. World champions Sophie Unwin and pilot Jenny Holl are sure to set the track on fire in the women’s tandem events.

Find out more about the riders to watch here.

Where can I get tickets?

Demand for tickets has been higher than ever, with the Saturday evening and Sunday sessions now sold out. A limited number of tickets for the event remain on sale here, with prices ranging from £6.50 - £14 per session.

Can I watch from home?

Yes! We’re delighted to be able to bring you live coverage from the event through the British Cycling YouTube channel, starting and approximately ending at the following times:

Friday 23 February: 10:45 – 21:50

Watch session one | Watch session two

Saturday 24 February: 09:15 – 22:25

Watch session one | Watch session two

Sunday 25 February: 08:15 – 18:40

Watch session one | Watch session two

What’s the schedule?

Want to make sure you don’t miss your favourite event? Here’s the schedule for the weekend:

• Friday session 1 – 11:00 start: Men’s sprint, men’s individual pursuit, women’s team pursuit, women’s scratch race, men’s C1-5 time-trial final, men’s B time-trial final, women’s C1-5 time-trial final.
• Friday session 2 – 19:00 start: Men’s sprint final, men’s individual pursuit final, women’s scratch race final, women’s 500m time-trial final, women’s team pursuit final.
• Saturday session 3 – 9:30 start: Women’s sprint, men’s points race, men’s team sprint, women’s individual pursuit, men’s C1-5 pursuit final.
• Saturday session 4 – 18:00 start: Men’s 1km time-trial final, women’s sprint final, men’s team sprint final, women’s individual pursuit final, women’s C1-5 pursuit final, men’s B pursuit final, women’s B pursuit final, men’s points race final.
• Sunday session 5 – 14:00 start: Men’s keirin final, men’s B sprint final, women’s B sprint final, women’s keirin final, men’s team pursuit final, women’s team sprint final, men’s scratch race final, women’s points race final. 

The full day-by-day schedule can be found here.

The venue

The velodrome at the National Cycling Centre was Britain's first indoor Olympic cycling track, and since it opened in 1994, has become one of the world's finest and fastest tracks. The 250m track and its 42.5-degree banking is well-known to many of Britain’s Olympians and Paralympians as it hosts the Great Britain Cycling Team and is the home of British Cycling.

Following extensive refurbishment works over the past two years, the National Cycling Centre has seen spectator facilities improved with additional seating added, a new timing system and new hospitality suites to enhance the spectator experience. In total, £26 million has been spent on the project, which also includes improvements to the facility’s mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, supported by Manchester City Council.

We’re expecting a raucous welcome from the fans in the stands, with a strong contingent of Great Britain Cycling Team riders competing on their training track!

Councillor John Hacking, Executive Member for Skills, Employment and Leisure, said:

"Manchester is delighted to welcome this talented roster of Olympian, Paralympian and world champion riders all set to compete for the national champions' jerseys.

"Taking place at our world-famous National Cycling Centre following a multi-million pound investment by the City Council to create the UK's first electric velodrome. This event epitomises Manchester's status as a city alive with sport, in the year when we were also named the very first European Capital of Cycling. We can't wait to welcome the event and riders to Manchester."

Get involved!

Whether you’re in the stands in Manchester or cheering on the riders from home, we want to hear from you! Send us your predictions, pictures and highlights using the hashtag #TrackChamps. You can find us on Facebook at /britishcycling and on X at @BritishCycling and Instagram at British Cycling.