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| Six Day Series | |
|---|---|
| Name | Six Day Series |
| Date | Indoor winter season |
| Region | Europe, North America, Australia, Asia |
| Discipline | Track cycling |
| Type | Six-day racing |
| Organiser | Madison Sports Group |
| Established | 2015 |
| Number | various |
Six Day Series The Six Day Series is an international circuit of professional track cycling competitions held in indoor velodrome arenas across multiple continents. Combining endurance, sprinting, and tactical events, the Series revived the traditional six-day six-day racing format and linked historic Six Day of Ghent, Six Days of Amsterdam, Six Days of Berlin, and other legacy meetings into a modern commercial calendar. Promoted by private organizers, the circuit connected with major cycling stakeholders including national federations like the Union Cycliste Internationale, broadcasters such as Eurosport and BBC Sport, and venues like the Lee Valley VeloPark.
The Series emerged from efforts to modernize postwar six-day racing traditions exemplified by Six Days of Ghent, Six Days of Rotterdam, Six Days of Zurich, and Six Days of Ghent's popularity, drawing inspiration from historic promoters like Gustav Wilhelm and events in Madison Square Garden. Launching in 2015, organizers worked with heritage institutions such as the UCI Track Cycling World Championships stakeholders and commercial partners including AIG-backed promoters and boutique companies from Belgium, Germany, United Kingdom, United States, and Australia. Early editions featured collaborations with municipal authorities from Ghent, Berlin, Amsterdam, and London and with national bodies like British Cycling and Fédération Française de Cyclisme to secure velodrome availability. The circuit quickly integrated classic six-day tactics from prewar eras, while adapting broadcast-friendly schedules influenced by Tour de France media practices and nightclub-style presentation popularized by venues such as Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy.
Events follow a mixed program drawn from traditional six-day competitions: the core is the two-rider Madison endurance race, supplemented by Keirin, Sprint, Points race, Elimination race, Individual pursuit, and Time trial events. Teams score through laps and points, with regulations modeled on Union Cycliste Internationale rules and overseen by commissaires approved by national federations like USA Cycling and Cyclisme Québec. Rider eligibility often requires affiliation with UCI Continental or UCI WorldTeams and national squads such as Team GB or Team Australia. Event formats are adjusted to fit television slots used by partners like Eurosport and streaming platforms owned by organizations like Discovery, Inc..
The Series stages have taken place in established velodromes and multi-sport arenas: Omnisport Apeldoorn, Velodrome Suisse, Lee Valley VeloPark, Vélodrome National in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Vélodrome de Roubaix, Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, Melbourne Arena, Adelaide Super-Drome, Velódromo Alcides Nieto Patiño in Cali, and historic sites like Palais des Sports in Paris. Many meetings revived names linked to heritage events such as Six Days of Ghent, Six Days of Bremen, Six Days of Copenhagen, and Six Days of Munich, with organizers negotiating dates alongside world cups like the UCI Track Cycling World Cup to attract top athletes including those preparing for the UCI Track Cycling World Championships and the Olympic Games.
High-profile participants have included Olympic champions and world-class specialists such as Sir Chris Hoy-era teammates, Mark Cavendish in track appearances, Ed Clancy-style endurance riders, Sir Bradley Wiggins-influenced pursuitists, and contemporary stars like Elia Viviani, Giacomo Nizzolo, Philippe Gilbert-style classics riders switching formats, and endurance pairings such as Yoeri Havik with partners from Netherlands squads. National teams like Great Britain national cycling team, Australia national cycling team, Belgium national cycling team, and pro outfits affiliated with Team INEOS or Trek–Segafredo have fielded squads. Specialist six-day teams historically associated with MADISON Sports Group and independent track teams recruited riders from UCI WorldTour rosters as well as continental talent from Team DSM and Bahrain Victorious.
Broadcast partners and media platforms have included Eurosport, BBC Sport, ITV, ESPN, NBC Sports, Channel 4, and regional outlets in Germany and Belgium. Coverage patterns mirrored those of the Tour de France and UCI Road World Championships with highlight packages, live streams, and social media content co-produced with outlets like Sky Sports and digital platforms run by Discovery, Inc. and independent promoters. Event presentation adopted elements from WWE-style production values, nighttime scheduling similar to Formula One primetime slots, and collaborations with music festivals and lifestyle brands attached to arenas like The O2 Arena.
Statistical tracking referenced results archived by national federations and the Union Cycliste Internationale, listing fastest laps, most six-day wins by rider and team, cumulative points leaders, and sprint totals. Historic leaders include multiple winners from Belgium and Netherlands squads, record-setting Madison laps comparable to those in UCI Track Cycling World Championships finals, and fastest sprint times recorded in velodromes such as Lee Valley VeloPark. Performance data influenced selection for multi-sport events like the Olympic Games and continental championships such as the European Track Championships.
The Series influenced a renaissance in public interest for indoor velodrome events, boosting attendance at traditional meetings like Six Days of Ghent and supporting venue investments in Apeldoorn and Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines. It created commercial pathways for riders to balance UCI WorldTour road calendars with track specialization, and offered broadcasters additional winter content between marquee events such as Vuelta a España and Paris–Roubaix. The format contributed to youth development programs run by federations like British Cycling and Fédération Française de Cyclisme, and fostered partnerships with municipal stakeholders including the cities of Ghent, Berlin, Amsterdam, and Melbourne.
Category:Track cycling competitions