DerbyWheel CEO James Pope has confirmed that work is continuing on the DerbyWheel initiative, in his first public communication for several months.

Posting on LinkedIn, Pope featured DerbyWheel at the top of a list of ‘projects (he is) working on in 2025’, as well as initiatives in the UK and US. ‘Looking for investors, partners and collaborators across these projects,’ he wrote: ‘Message to get involved!’

The announcement may offer some relief to the hundreds of cyclists signed up to the proposed pro keirin racing competition, but who have recently heard very little.

Global Keirin understands that there is currently no working date for a test event, despite the DerbyWheel website continuing to declare that racing will begin ‘from the 1st half of 2025’.

Additionally, Pope is part of the advisory team for StadioBike, which plans to launch a ‘groundbreaking event that combines world-class bicycle racing at an iconic automotive venue’ – specifically, the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, a 2.4-kilometre ‘tri oval’ circuit with 20-degree banking in the turns.

Following a test event in 2024, they propose to launch in ‘late October 2026’, with elite cyclists from around the globe competing for their professional and national teams. Events will feature men’s and women’s races, with ‘equal pay options’.

There is no indication whether the event would be UCI-approved; but the timing would align with the end of the road season. The Las Vegas Formula One Grand Prix does not currently have a contract in place for 2026; but if it takes place, it’s more likely to be in mid November, so a clash is unlikely.

Pope also revealed his involvement in plans to relaunch criterium racing in the City Of London ‘square mile’, recalling the London Nocturne event he founded in 2007, and which ran annually until 2018.