PumpTracks are becoming more popular every year. There are now more than 60 Velosolutions PumpTracks in the Benelux and this number is growing fast. With the increasing popularity, the number of competitions is also increasing. With the launch of the UCI Pump Track World Championships in 2018, the number of official races has also grown exponentially. Since that launch, over 4 years ago, a lot has changed. So a good time to look back.
We regularly receive questions from customers who would like to organize an official competition on their PumpTrack, and sometimes some questions exist. In this article we will address the following questions:
- What is the UCI Pump Track World Championships?
- What conditions must a PumpTrack meet to organize an official UCI PumpTrack race?
- How do you get a UCI race to your PumpTrack?
UCI Pump Track World Championships
The Pump Track World Championships is the first and only official international PumpTrack competition series. During the year, participants have the opportunity to qualify on Velosolutions PumpTracks in various countries. This qualifying series usually takes place between March and September, with the aim of qualifying for the final, which is scheduled for the end of the season. Because the PumpTracks differ from each other and are located in different countries, it is up to the rider to choose what he/she prefers. Incidentally, a participant is free to participate in several qualifying competitions in order to increase his/her chance of success.
In 2019, the iconic UCI rainbow jersey was handed out for the first time to that year's PumpTrack world champions: Payton Ridenour & Tommy Zula. After a COVID break, in 2021, after a blood-curdling final on the Velosolutions PumpTrack in Lisbon, Aiko Gommers & Eddy Clerte were crowned world champions. Our colleagues were there and wrote a blog about. 2022 can be called a special year, with the Dutchman Niels Bensink as PumpTrack world champion. In the women's it was Christa von Niederhausern who climbed the highest podium and got the rainbow jersey around her shoulders. Can Niels defend his title next year?
What requirements must a PumpTrack competition meet?
Several qualifying races have been held in Belgium and the Netherlands since 2018, 2020 was the honor Roosendaal and in 2021 and 2021 one could qualify in Eindhoven. In Belgium, we have successfully settled in Brussels and Genk in recent years.
What makes these locations special and what requirements must a PumpTrack meet for getting an official PumpTrack competition? For organizing an official UCI race, such as a qualifier for the world championship, the condition is actually very simple. These competitions are exclusive ridden on PumpTracks from Velosolutions. With this, the UCI underlines the safety and innovative designs of Velosolutions PumpTracks and has therefore designated it as the exclusive supplier.
This means that none other PumpTrack supplier can offer a realization at this level with the guarantee that a UCI competition can take place.
Races were held in Roosendaal in 2018 and 2019 on a mirrored design with a total track length of more than 400 metres. A special location, especially the head-to-head race format provides a lot of excitement and sensation. Eindhoven hosted the World Cup qualification in 2021 and 2022. Both were very successful events where participants were challenged on an innovative track design. This was also very worthwhile for the spectators, partly because they could experience the action from very close by.
To bring an official UCI race to your location, it is therefore important that the PumpTrack is built by Velosolutions. Please note that the minimum surface is 1000 m2 should be. Within that surface, our design team can then design a competition-worthy track for you.
How do you get a UCI race to your PumpTrack?
As described above, this starts with the construction of UCI competition PumpTrack, built by Velosolutions. You can indicate per year whether there is interest in an official UCI competition, such as the World Cup qualification or perhaps even a World Cup final. In the Benelux several locations can host a UCI competition per year. If there is a lot of enthusiasm, it can be decided to hold a Benelux qualifying series, so that there are races in several places in the Netherlands and Belgium. The competition calendar is usually announced at the end of January or the beginning of February, so it is important that you have expressed your interest well in advance. In consultation with the UCI, it will then be determined which races can be held on which dates. The organization of the World Cup qualifications in the Netherlands is in the professional hands of Team TOC.
