Three days before the start of the competition, champions and multi-medalists from the 2024 edition return to the Olympic Velodrome in pursuit of the rainbow jersey.
The Rio de Janeiro Olympic and Paralympic Velodrome is already breathing the atmosphere of the 2025 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships. Just three days before the official opening, top international athletes have arrived in the city and started their official training sessions, chasing another victory on the same track that made para-cycling history in 2024. The event’s return to the city once again turns Rio into the center of the sport, bringing together champions, record holders, and emerging talents ready to energize one of the most important competitions of the season.
Among the stars already pushing hard in training is Switzerland’s Flurina Rigling (WC2), one of the most consistent athletes of last year’s Worlds. In 2024, she reached the podium in every event she competed in, collecting five medals — gold in the Omnium, silver in the Elimination, Individual Pursuit, and Scratch, and bronze in the 500m Time Trial. Now back in Rio, Rigling aims to repeat the performance that established her as one of Europe’s leading para-cycling figures.
Another standout returning to the Rio Velodrome is Nicole Murray (WC5) of New Zealand, also a five-time medalist at the 2024 Worlds. Murray captured gold in the Elimination race, silver in the Individual Pursuit and Omnium, and bronze in the 500m Time Trial and Scratch. Known for her consistency and powerful finishing sprint, Murray is one of the most formidable competitors in the peloton and promises more thrilling battles ahead.
On the men’s side, Alexandre Léauté (MC2) of France arrives as one of the top names of the event. He dominated his category last year, claiming four gold medals — in the 1km Time Trial, Individual Pursuit, Omnium, and Scratch. With precise accelerations and remarkable endurance, Léauté is once again among the favorites to fight for world titles in 2025.
The British team also arrives stronger than ever. The tandem pair Elizabeth Jordan and Dannielle Khan (pilot) were among the biggest highlights of the 2024 Worlds, winning three gold medals in the 1km Time Trial, Individual Pursuit, and Sprint — showcasing exceptional power and synchronization on the track.
Brazil also has plenty to be proud of. Among the home favorites is Lauro Chaman (MC5), who claimed two silver medals in 2024 in the Elimination and Individual Pursuit events. He now returns motivated to turn those podium finishes into gold, cheered on by the Brazilian crowd. In the women’s field, Sabrina Custódia (WC2), runner-up in the 500m Time Trial at the last Worlds, is already training at the Velodrome and carries high hopes for another strong performance for Team Brazil.
With world records on the line and the vibrant energy of the Brazilian fans, the 2025 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships promise to surpass the spectacle of the previous year. The races begin on Thursday, October 16, and continue through Sunday, October 19, featuring four days of intense competition and top-level performances. Admission to the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Velodrome is free, offering the public a unique opportunity to watch some of the best para-cyclists in the world and experience the excitement of one of the sport’s most prestigious events.
The 2025 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships are organized by the Brazilian Cycling Confederation (CBC) and TBA Sports Management, under the supervision of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), with sponsorship from the Brazilian Paralympic Committee (CPB), Shimano, and the Federal Government of Brazil, through the Ministry of Sports. The event is also supported by Santini, the Municipality of Rio de Janeiro, and the Cycling Federation of the State of Rio de Janeiro (FECIERJ).
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