Organisers and fans alike are hailing the UCI Track Cycling World Cup in Manchester 23-25th February as a major success.

British cycling fans were treated to a record British medal haul at the final counting weekend of racing in the four event series. The whole weekend provided a fantastic spectacle as the drama unfolded in front of record numbers of fans attending the three-day event.

The weekend’s racing saw gold medal rides by Bradley Wiggins, Chris Hoy, Victoria Pendleton and Wendy Houvenaghel. Wiggins also took victory with Paul Manning, Rob Hayles and Ed Clancy in the men’s 4,000m team pursuit and the quartet went very close to the British record when they qualified in under four minutes in their qualifying ride. Houvenaghel broke the British record in the 3,000m women’s individual pursuit on her way to winning her gold medal.

The organisers World Track Cycling have heralded the event as a landmark in track cycling in the UK.

“We had done a lot of hard work behind the scenes starting 12-months ago to make this event a success,” said event organiser Alan Rushton: “And it’s a win-win situation all round because you will find that everyone who attended will have left the event delighted by an exiting race programme for the cost of only a few pounds.”

World Track Cycling is part of the Events Group which has previously organised major cycling events like the Kellogg’s Tour of Britain and City Centre Cycling and the company continues to break new ground in 2007 as consultants to the inaugural Montreal to Boston road cycling stage race."

“Over the years we have assembled an enviable team of professionals who help us put on world class events and of course we have to thank our event partners who provide invaluable support. We have to thank Manchester City Council, UK Sport, Renault, Canon, British Cycling and Tissot who represent our funding partners for the world cup event. People travelled from all over the country to see their cycling heroes in Manchester,” continued Rushton: “It says something about the quality of the event when you know people have driven up to six hours to get there.”

Millions of other viewers saw the event televised by the BBC and on networks across Europe and Asia.

“Our key partners and ourselves are clearly delighted with this year's event and we are already looking forward to March 2008 when we are bringing the UCI Track Cycling World Championships to Manchester.”

The UCI Track Cycling World Cup has part funded by UK Sport’s National Lottery-funded World Class Events Programme, which aims to secure events of strategic importance that deliver a range of lasting benefits. These include economic, social and cultural benefits as well as improving sporting performance by home athletes, encouraging participation and leaving a legacy of facilities and development initiatives. Over 120 sporting events have been staged in the UK through the Programme since 1997. More at www.uksport.gov.uk.

The event was also one of many high profile sporting events being funded by Manchester City Council in 2007 ahead of a year of world championship events in 2008 which includes the UCI Track Cycling World Championships.