DerbyWheel (DW), the pioneering new global Professional Keirin series, has reached a significant milestone with the successful completion of the first phase of its launch plan
With successful rider inductions completed in Manchester, UK, Melbourne, Australia and Seoul, Korea, attracting 343 riders from over 26 different countries worldwide, the inaugural DerbyWheel riders will now be selected.
During the induction process, riders underwent rigorous physical tests, including the flying 200m time trial and the Wattbike 30-second sprint power test. These tests provided valuable data used to classify riders who met the minimum requirements into one of three categories: S Class, A Class, and B Class.
Additionally, a series of workshops were conducted to educate riders on DerbyWheel rules and procedures, including an Integrity workshop delivered by DerbyWheel’s integrity partner, Sportradar.
Looking ahead, the initial group of riders who meet the minimum requirements will be confirmed in the coming weeks and invited to become the inaugural DerbyWheel racers. Some of them will also participate in a test event scheduled for late April before the official commencement of the first full season in early June.
James Pope, CEO of DerbyWheel, said: “The UK induction marked a key milestone in our preparation to launch DerbyWheel. The induction process was a great success and we have been excited to see the calibre of riders who are interested in participating in Pro Keirin.
As part of the process, we interviewed all the riders and asked what their main motivation was to participate in DerbyWheel. The overwhelming response was that riders want more racing opportunities either to gain more experience or to continue doing the sport they love.
This reinforces our vision for DerbyWheel to complement the existing track cycling calendar to provide regular racing for riders of all levels. We are now excited to move to the next phase as we gear up to launch global Pro Keirin racing later this year.”
Speaking on DerbyWheel from a rider’s perspective, former Keirin World Champion Shane Perkins said: “Derby Wheel is a great initiative for track cycling’s future. It will create opportunities for athletes to race more than they ever have, attract more cyclists and retain them within the sport.
I was very fortunate to have had a similar opportunity during my cycling career and race in Japanese keirin which provided me the means to continue on my cycling journey. I’m very excited about what is to come within DerbyWheel and the opportunities it will provide not only to myself as a rider but to all athletes within our sport to be professional keirin riders.”
Commonwealth Games Keirin silver medalist Lewis Oliva added: “I was so excited to be included in the recent DerbyWheel induction event in Manchester. It has inspired me to get back into the world of racing after five years away from the sport. It’s obvious to see how well run and professional Derby Wheel is and I can’t wait for the upcoming keirin season.”
Details of the DerbyWheel 2024 season will be announced later this year. More information can be found at www.derbywheel.com. With over 550 riders registered, additional inductions will be hosted later this year for the riders who couldn’t attend.
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