The European Track Cycling Championships (under-23 & junior) are a set of competition events held annually for the various disciplines and distances in track cycling, exclusively for European cyclists under the ages of 23 and 18, and regulated by the European Cycling Union (UEC). They were first held in their current format in 2010, when a competition for elite level cyclists was devised and held for the first time following an overhaul of European track cycling.
Prior to 2010, similar age group championships were held for many years under the title of European Track Championships, a title now used solely for the elite championships. The Under 23 and Junior championships thereafter were run as an annual separate event under their current name.
In line with cycling tradition, winners of an event at the championships are presented with, in addition to the gold medal, a special, identifiable jersey. This UEC European Champion jersey is a blue jersey with gold European stars.
History
Age group championships
Prior to 2010, championship events were run under the title of UEC European Track Championships, but consisted of events solely for junior and under-23 cyclists. The 2010 UEC European Track Championships event is recognised as the first elite level senior championships. Since 2010, the separate annual European championships for under-23 and junior riders have continued, but is now renamed explicitly as an under-23 and junior grade event. Despite the name change, the events prior to 2010 are considered part of the same lineage as the renamed age-grade event, not the elite championships whose name they share.
European Track Cycling Championships have, however, been held for junior and under-23 athletes in other formats for a long time, though records in earlier editions are incomplete. They provided useful experience for young riders with winners automatically qualifying to compete at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in which no age limit applied, and the world's best track cyclists competed.[1]
Championships are open to riders selected by their national cycling governing body. They compete in the colours of their country, but not the national champions jerseys of that country.
