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DerbyWheel will enforce a phone-free ‘bubble’ during race meetings
Keirin in Japan and Korea is built on gambling. It is revenue derived from betting which pays the riders prize money, supports the velodromes, and feeds back into the community through charities and local government. Spectator riots and organised crime involvement may be in the distant past. But riders are constantly reminded that the sport…
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Former Canadian champion Lizanne refuses to retire
Two-time Canadian keirin champion Lizanne Wilmot, bacon_bitzz on Instagram has confirmed to Global Keirin that she is signed up to DerbyWheel – and will be bringing a freshly painted pink Dolan DF4 to Newport in April. Based in Sydney, Australia, Lizanne won Canadian national keirin titles in 2015 and 2018. She is also a five-time…
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Reigning Irish sprint and keirin champion Orla Walsh confirms DerbyWheel switch
Current Irish women’s elite sprint and keirin champion Orla Walsh has confirmed that she is switching from UCI racing to DerbyWheel – and says she will ride her first race of the year in one month’s time, implying that she will be taking part in the Newport test event in late April. Posting today on…
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Perth SpeedDome: DerbyWheel’s home in Western Australia
The velodrome in the western Australian city of Perth will be one of the arenas used for DerbyWheel’s ‘regular season’ race weekends, due to begin in the second half of 2024. DerbyWheel CEO James Pope confirmed the news in his appearance on The Piste Take podcast in February. The SpeedDome is located in Midvale, around…
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One month to go… what do we know?
DerbyWheel’s exhibition event has been announced for 26-28 April 2024, in Newport, United Kingdom. But for an event just one month away, very little detail has been communicated. Where will the event take place? Newport is the home of the Geraint Thomas National Velodrome of Wales. Opened in 2003, it is an indoor 250 metre…
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DerbyWheel’s 2022 promotional video
From the archives… trawling YouTube, we found this promotional video, uploaded in October 2022, explaining DerbyWheel’s plans to a charmingly cheesy musical backing. Who’s ready for K-Pop, B-Boy and taekwondo performances, as your intermission entertainment? This is certainly not cycling like we’re used to! The video is the only one uploaded by the associated account,…
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Late change of visual branding for DerbyWheel ahead of launch event?
Recent communications from DerbyWheel organisers appear to indicate a change of visual identity, just a few weeks before the series showcase event in Newport, Wales. The open letter from DerbyWheel president DJ Hyun, dated 1 March carried a new logo, featuring a heavily stylized DW with a red gradient colouring. The same logo has also…
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Behind the scenes at Japan’s largest velodrome
Join former pro cyclist Lee Rodgers for a fascinating video tour of the stunning Kitakyushu Media Dome in Japan, the country’s largest velodrome, completed in 1999, which features a 400-metre indoor track. Keirin has come a very long way from its humble beginnings on a dirt-covered track in the very same city, 75 years ago.
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‘Most of us are broke’: Canadian sprint star lifts the lid on athlete finances
Canadian sprinter Nick Wammes has described the financial challenges facing track sprint cyclists, even as someone performing at the highest levels of the sport. ‘Most athletes competing for Canada at the international level are broke,’ he reveals in a video posted on his YouTube channel. ‘You’re going to start seeing more of your favourite Olympians…
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DerbyWheel President’s Open Message to Cyclists Around the World
Captured for the archives: the text of DerbyWheel president Hyun Do-jung’s letter dated 1 March 2024, posted on the homepage of the DerbyWheel website. Dear Riders, An Open Message to Cyclists Around the World As you may know DerbyWheel Pro Keirin is a new open global professional racing event. DerbyWheel has formed a global athlete…
