The behind-the-scenes series will be available on the Eurosport app and GCN+ from 4 April before linear and discovery+ launches

UCI Track Champions League Gavin Hoover

The UCI and Discovery have unveiled Back On Track, a behind-the-scenes documentary following the first season of the Track Champions League. 

First announced back in December, the five episode series will be available on the Eurosport app and GCN+ from 4 April, and will be released on discovery+ and the linear Eurosport channels later in the year. It has full behind-the-scenes access, following riders such as Harrie Lavreysen, Emma Hinze, Katie Archibald and Gavin Hoover as they compete in the first season of the competition.

It aims to bring the personal tales and unheard stories from off the track to fans, such as Kelsey Mitchell’s journey from soccer player to Olympic track cyclist in the space of three years, to Emma Hinze and Lea Friedrich’s friendship/rivalry.

Speaking at the premiere event in London on 30 March, head of Discovery Sports Events Francois Ribeiro explained the plans for the series: “The value is in the narrative. It is a marketing asset. We go first on OTT, and we’re going to promote it very heavily on Eurosport during the Giro, the Tour De France, when there are a lot of cycling fans watching, just to show them there is something else beyond road cycling.

1/6

show caption

“Then we are going to go linear with Eurosport immediately off the back of the World Championship, between the World Championship and the beginning of season two. So for us it’s also like a teaser to drag attention and get people to watch and attend season two.”

Ribeiro also mentioned that the documentary series may go global: “It’s not something we have done for Europe, we are going to translate it into other languages. If we have to do a Chinese version because there is the appetite or Chinese athletes can come back into the league after Covid and lifting of the travel restrictions they are facing, then why not.”

He added: “Once we go pan-Europe on Eurosport, we would not be against sub licensing to territories that do not have Eurosport, for example Australia, USA, Japan. The interest from Japan for this format and programme…they understand Keirin, maybe the rules are a little different, but they are very much into that sport. Two or three times we had Japanese delegations coming to our events and they could not believe it, so I would expect Back On Track to go on in Japan very soon.”

You can watch the promo below.