More Six, Please, We're British

It began life in London in 1878 and now it seems the UK is falling in love with six-day track racing all over again.

- Pete Muir

As Cyclist goes to press, Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish have just claimed victory against the world’s best track cyclists at the Ghent Six Day event. That Wiggins was there was a bit of a blow to the London Six Day track event, held in October, which had promoted itself as being the venue for Wiggins’ last race before retiring.When Sir Brad decided to add Ghent to his calendar, London had to adapt its statement to say that it would be Wiggins’ last race ‘in the UK’.

Of course,Wiggins being Wiggins, he has now hinted that perhaps he won’t retire after all, giving the London Six Day fresh hope that he might draw the crowds again next year, and offering an opportunity for the organisers to wheel out their ‘last chance to see’ slogans one more time.

For a young event – the London Six Day only launched in 2015 – big names such as Wiggins and Cavendish are vital to draw new fans to a sport that generally only attracts wider public interest during the Olympics. However, the event’s organisers are adamant that six-day track cycling will be well received in this country even after the likes of Wiggins have hung up their skin suits.