The discipline's flagship event, making its return to France nine years after Bordeaux staged the 2006 edition, is due to take place in France's new National Velodrome in Saint Quentin en Yvelines, between February 18 and 22.

UCI President Brian Cookson said he was particularly impressed by the new 5,000-capacity velodrome, which features a wooden 250-metre track, a covered BMX stadium and the headquarters of the French Cycling Federation (FFC).

"We were very impressed by the new velodrome of Saint Quentin en Yvelines at the inauguration and are delighted that track cycling's flagship event will be staged in these state-of-the-art facilities, in front of passionate and knowledgeable spectators," he said.

"It is without a doubt destined to become one of the landmark venues of modern cycling."

This year's UCI Track World Championships took place in Cali, where France's François Pervis secured an unprecedented hat trick of individual titles ©Getty Images


David Lappartient, President of the FFC, said France is honoured by the UCI's decision to award it the event.

"The French Cycling Federation and its stakeholders are delighted to host the UCI World Championships in our brand new National Velodrome," he added.

"Creating these globally recognised facilities was our objective at the FFC.

"The organisation of major cycling events is a reflection of our ambitions for the development of French cycling."

This year's edition of the UCI Track World Championships took place in the Colombian city of Cali and saw competition between 270 athletes from 30 nations.

It attracted more than 24,000 spectators and was covered by 130 media outlets, which gave the event an audience reach of some 105 million viewers.

The 2016 edition has already been awarded to London's 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games velodrome.

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