THE National Track Championships are heading to Newport for the first time.

British Cycling has announced that the 2022 HSBC UK National Track Championships will be held at the Geraint Thomas National Velodrome of Wales in Newport.

The event will be the first to take place outside of Manchester since 1994.

Britain’s top riders will be battling it out for the coveted red, white and blue national champion’s jerseys.

The event will take place between January 28 to January 30 2022.

Tickets will be prioritised for family and friends of riders and for residents of Newport, to give local fans and riders the opportunity to see some of the world’s best racing in their home city.

Further details on ticketing and how fans can watch the event from home will be confirmed in due course.

Entries for the event will open in October, with a full rider list to be published in December.

British Cycling CEO, Brian Facer, said: “I’m delighted that we’re able to return to Newport in January and give people in different areas of Britain the opportunity to experience the thrill of live National Track Championships cycling.

“With the National Cycling Centre in Manchester at the start of an exciting refurbishment project we’re incredibly thankful to Newport Live, Newport City Council and colleagues at Welsh Cycling for their support in re-locating next year’s event to the venue which played a crucial role in the final few weeks before Tokyo earlier this summer.

“With next summer’s Commonwealth Games now very much on the horizon I’m sure we’re going to see an incredibly high standard of competition, and a great opportunity for the stars of tomorrow to make their mark.”

South Wales Argus:

The refurbishment of the National Cycling Centre in Manchester will commence in early-2022 after the plans received approval from city councillors in July 2021.

In total, £26 million will be spent to replace the facility’s mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems and improve spectator areas, with work set to be completed early in 2023.

Councillor Jane Mudd, leader of Newport City Council, said: “I am thrilled that Newport is hosting this prestigious sporting event and the participants, their support teams and spectators will be warmly welcomed.

“We are proud that Newport has been chosen to stage the event as it moves out of Manchester for the first time in almost three decades, strengthening our national and international status as a city of culture, leisure and sport.”

Chief executive of Newport Live, Steve Ward, said: “We are thrilled to be working with our partners at Newport City Council to bring this fantastic event to Newport.

“As this is the first time the event has been hosted outside of Manchester since 1994, we are pleased to be able to support British Cycling and welcome back athletes following their fantastic success at the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“The event will give us the opportunity to continue to build back following the challenges of the pandemic, and once again put Newport on the national stage.”