Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia has declared its intention in hosting one of the three rounds of the International Cycling Union (UCI) Track Nations Cup at the National Velodrome, here, next year. Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) president Datuk Amarjit Singh said they had submitted a letter of intent to the UCI late last year, seeking to host the prestigious international series for the first time in the country.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the decision on whether Malaysia will be selected as one of the hosts for the 2026 UCI Track Nations Cup will be announced this June. Amarjit noted that many other countries have also submitted bids to host the Nations Cup in 2026, emphasizing the competitive nature of the selection process.

While the MNCF is hopeful for the 2026 event, Amarjit personally favored Malaysia to host the UCI Track Nations Cup in 2027. However, he acknowledged the challenges due to the fact that 2027 will coincide with the start of the qualification period for the 2028 Olympic Games
in Los Angeles (LA28). This timing could lead to increased competition from other countries eager to host.

Amarjit highlighted that the UCI’s hosting strategy involves selecting one country from Asia, one from Europe, and possibly one from Oceania or America. In addition to the Nations Cup bid, Amarjit expressed hopes for Malaysia to host the UCI Track Cycling World Championships post-LA28 Olympics. However, he noted that hosting such an event would require meeting UCI’s specific requirements, including government guarantees and support, as well as ensuring full participation from cycling nations.