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Track racing is one of the most exciting emerging sports despite often being overshadowed for years by the complexities of its itineraries and event categories. This, in turn, has made it very difficult for newcomers to take their first step into the sport professionally. However, that might all be changing very soon if Warner Brothers Discovery has its way. The media conglomerate is aiming to transform track cycling into a mainstream spectacle.

That’s right, WBD is planning on boosting the sport of track cycling and taking it to new heights. Much like Endevour changed MMA forever with its bid for UFC, WBD has launched the UCI Track Champions League. The four-part racing series is designed to make the sport more accessible and captivating than ever before.

WBD’s Bid to Popularize Cycling

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WBD wants to take a new approach to the sport, with a focus on simplifying the sport to make it more viewer-friendly. Traditional track events are a lot harder for modern sports fans to grasp and, moreover, challenging to broadcast. This is the first hurdle WBD must overcome. For this, the firm intends to simplify the track schedule, retaining only the most thrilling elements while discarding the complexity.

Events have now been divided into two broad groups: sprint and endurance. ‘Sprint’ athletes compete in the sprint and keirin events, while ‘endurance’ riders participate in the scratch and elimination events. While this still seems slightly convoluted at the moment, the new approach has come leaps and bounds in simplifying the sport for the masses. educational content has also been woven into the broadcast.

Besides the rules, WBD is also trying to change the look and feel of its new product. This includes changing the lighting and making it a lot more akin to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. This gives the event a larger-than-life showbiz feel which is bound to direct more eyes to the events. Similarly, the camera direction has changed drastically to make the events seem more dynamic and engaging.

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Changing the Narrative

Besides the technical changes, the broadcast is shedding a lot more light on the stories it tells. WBD is definitely looking to build a new set of characters in the sport for people to back. For instance, Alla Biletska, a Ukrainian sprinter who lost her home to the Russian invasion, has been given a ‘wildcard’ entry and financial and logistical support to attend the series. Moreover, athletes are encouraged to embrace their unique personalities beyond just cycling fast.

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WBD is making a monster bet worth many millions to ensure that this sport succeeds. As of now, the focus is on demystifying the sport and bringing it to the forefront like never before. Only time will tell if WBD’s bet pays off, but there is no denying that the conglomerate is committed to taking the UCI Track Champions League to new heights. With great PR, a simplified format, and enhanced rider profiles, track cycling might just be the next big boom in sports broadcasting. We are here for the ride and loving every bit of it at the moment.

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