Watch GB Olympic Stars at the 2026 Track World Championships on BBC

When and Where the Championships Take Place

The 2026 Track World Championships open this week at the Shanghai Velodrome. Over the course of five days, the world’s fastest riders will contest sprint, team sprint, keirin, individual and team pursuit, as well as the omnium and madison. The event runs from Monday 3 March to Friday 7 March, with the final medal ceremonies on Saturday.

How to Access the BBC Broadcast

BBC Sport holds the exclusive television rights for the United Kingdom. The channel will air live coverage on BBC One and BBC Two, with a dedicated streaming feed on the BBC iPlayer platform. Viewers with a TV licence can tune in via the standard broadcast schedule, while iPlayer offers on‑demand replays for any missed sessions.

Broadcast schedule at a glance

Monday – Opening ceremonies and qualifying rounds for sprint and keirin.
Tuesday – Team sprint finals and the first round of the omnium.
Wednesday – Individual pursuit finals and madison heats.
Thursday – Team pursuit finals and keirin semi‑finals.
Friday – Sprint finals, omnium conclusion and madison final.

All times are listed in GMT on the BBC programme guide. Adjust for your local time zone if you are watching from abroad.

Streaming Options for Mobile and Desktop

BBC iPlayer can be accessed on smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktop computers. A free account is required, and you must verify your TV licence status. Once logged in, select the "Live" tab and locate the "Track World Championships" feed.

iPhone and iPad: Download the BBC iPlayer app from the App Store.
Android devices: Install the BBC iPlayer app from Google Play.
Web browsers: Visit BBC Sport and click the live stream banner.

For the best picture quality, choose the high‑definition stream if your internet connection supports at least 5 Mbps.

Key British Athletes to Watch

GB enters the championships with a strong roster of Olympic and world champions. Here are the headline names and the events they will contest.

Jason Kenny – Returning for his final world championship, he will line up in the sprint and team sprint.
Laura Kenny – The Olympic champion in the omnium will aim for gold in both the omnium and the madison alongside her partner.
Jack Carlin – A veteran of the keirin, Carlin brings speed and experience to the British squad.
Katie Archibald – Known for her prowess in the team pursuit, she will also race in the madison.
Thomas Clarke – The rising star in the individual pursuit will look to challenge the defending champion.

All of these athletes have profiles on the official British Cycling website, where you can find detailed biographies and recent results.

Understanding the Event Schedule

Track cycling events follow a specific progression from qualifying heats to finals. Knowing the format helps you anticipate when the action will peak.

Sprint and Keirin

Both events start with timed qualifying runs. Riders then enter head‑to‑head knockout rounds. The keirin includes a paced start behind a motorised derny before a full sprint to the finish.

Pursuit and Team Pursuit

In the pursuit, two riders start on opposite sides of the track and race against the clock. The team pursuit features four riders per side, with the time taken on the third rider to cross the line.

Omnium and Madison

The omnium is a multi‑event competition that combines a scratch race, tempo race, elimination race and points race. The madison is a relay race where teams of two exchange places through a hand‑slingshot motion, accumulating points in sprints every ten laps.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of the Coverage

Following a multi‑day event can be overwhelming. Use these strategies to stay engaged.

Set reminders: Add each final to your calendar with the GMT start time.
Use the BBC app’s notification feature: Enable alerts for live coverage of your favourite athletes.
Follow live commentary on social media: The BBC Twitter feed provides instant updates and behind‑the‑scenes insights.
Check the official UCI schedule: It lists exact start times for each heat and any last‑minute changes.
Re‑watch key moments: iPlayer’s on‑demand library lets you replay the sprint finals or the madison finish at your convenience.

Where to Find Additional Information

For in‑depth analysis, athlete interviews and technical breakdowns, visit the following resources.

BBC Sport Cycling Section – Daily articles and video highlights.
UCI Track Events Page – Official results and regulations.
Wikipedia entry on Shanghai Velodrome – History and venue specifications.

With the schedule in hand, the streaming options set up, and a list of British stars to follow, you are ready to enjoy the 2026 Track World Championships from the comfort of your home. Tune in, cheer loudly, and celebrate every pedal stroke of GB’s finest cyclists.