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Big gears, bigger smiles…NEEEOOOWN!!!

Back for 2025 this is a monthly league taking place on Saturday evenings from May - September featuring the Herne Hill Velodrome Sprint League and a team pursuit league. Speed League provides accesible, grass roots competition for newer riders wanting to get into racing or try out sprinting for the first time as well as a chance for more experienced riders to hone their tactics ahead of bigger goals

Dates for 2025: 17th May - 21st June - 25th July - 16th August - 20th September

Sign on from 16:30, Warm-up from 17:00, Racing Starts at 17:30

Race entry costs £12.50 for adults, £6 for Juniors and Youths, online entry via Eventrac

Scroll down for FAQs and other information ↓

What you need to race

Experience
We ask that all riders have previous experience of track racing or a Herne Hill Velodrome Race Accrediatation or equivalent UK Track Accreditation (e.g. Lee Valley Level 4). New to track cycling? Check out our track pathway.

British Cycling Membership + Race Licences
All riders must have a valid race licence in order to race: this can either be a full, provisional or day race licence provided by British Cycling. For more information take a look at the British Cycling membership info pages.

Day licences cost £5 (provisional licence holders) or £10 (non members) and can be purchased at sign on.

For U16s race licences are free for British Cycling Members. Youth Day Licences are available for non-members and cost £1.50 at sign-on.

Team Pursuit LEague

  • No, we can find you people to ride with. When you enter you’ll be asked to join or create a team. So you can ride with friends or clubmates. But you can also choose to ‘join’ a team called “Find me a Team” and we’ll match you with other riders

  • At each evening of the league all team pursuit riders will get 2 rides of an 8 lap team pursuit. The first a qualifying round, the 2nd a final ride where the fastest 2 teams ride head to head for the overall win, the next 2 teams race for 3rd, the next 2 teams race for 5th and so on.

    There will also be a bonus race at every event, linked to team pursuiting but with a bit of a twist

  • Yes. When you’re entering online and asked to join or create a team, choose find a team and type ‘Individual Pursuit’

    There is space each evening for 8 teams or individuals. If the event is oversubscribed priority will be given to teams or we’ll try to make you a team with other riders

  • We try to cover team pursuit type drills in intermediate and race training sessions fairly regularly, but are also putting on a special team pursuit workshop on saturday 31st May. Click here to enter

  • Each evening the top 8 places overall in the main team pursuit competition get: 50, 40, 30, 25, 20, 16, 12, 9 and 6 points.

    If the bonus event is a team event the top 8 teams will get: 20, 16, 12, 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, and 3 points.

    If the bonus event is an individual event the top 8 riders will get: 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 point.

    The team’s best 4 out of 5 rounds of the league will decide the final overall standings. So it doesn’t matter if you can’t come to every event.

  • The winning overall team will win the Team Pursuit League trophy and a crate of beer.

    The team that sets this year’s fastest time will win a crate of beer.

    There may be additional prizes and cash if entries are healthy

Sprint League

  • Every round will start with a qualifying flying 200m time trial. This gives us a seeding for the rest of the evening, so you can have well matched and enjoyable races. It also gives you a chance to track your own progress and try to beat your best time at each round.

    You’ll then get at least 2 head to head match sprints.

    We’ll also have an extra race at every round. That might be a 3rd match sprint, a keirin, a team sprint or something else.

  • There is a sprint training session every saturday afternoon through the summer (except on Speed League days). It’s a great chance to get the physical training you need, and learn and practice new tactics and techniques. It’s a friendly, supportive and knowledgeable community. Enter here

  • Each evening the top 24 places overall in the main team sprint competition get: 100, 80, 60, 50, 40, 35, 30, 26, 22, 19, 16, 14, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 points.

    If there’s an extra sprint event the top 12 riders will get: 20, 16, 12, 10, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 points, and in some casees the top 8 in a minor final of an extra event will get: 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 points

    Each rider’s best 4 out of 5 rounds of the league will decide the final overall standings. So it doesn’t matter if you can’t come to every event.

  • There are tophies for the men’s and women’s league winners and also cash prizes for the top 3 men and women overall (£100, £60, £40)

    There may be additional prizes and more cash prizes if entries are healthy

  • We definitely don’t recommend it (are you ok?)…the program of events is planned to try to give everyone adequate recovery time to get the best out of themselves. But if numbers are fairly low we’re happy to let you try, drop us an email to info@hernehillvelodrome.com or ask at sign-on.

  • 20th JulyLloyds National Summer Series - Brixton Cycles Super Madison 2025 - National series event Including a sprint and keirin competition

    2nd August FHHV Vets Keirin Cup - Over 40s Open Keirin Competition

    28-29th August South London Grand Prix - A UCI class 2 event with a chance for the best local riders to challenge themselves against the GB national team and international riders.


What the riders say

Speed league was the most fun I had racing last year - on and off the bike. More relaxed than track league - perfect for people new to racing to get used to a race day and pushing themselves harder than they would in training.

— Luke Marshall Waterfield - Team Pursuit, Sprint and Indvidual Pursuit

“Sprint league is like everything I love about regular leagues but without the tempo races…In seriousness, I have always loved pushing myself to the max and going as fast as I possibly can on the track. Sprinting appeals because I can leave it all out there and don’t have to budget my effort like I do in endurance events.”

— Hannah Alton - Sprint League

“Sprinters League is a relaxed, friendly and low pressure environment to practice sprinting against a wide variety of racers - and there are more women joining us every year which is great!”

— Sheona Arnold - Sprint League

“The Sprint League at Herne Hill Velodrome offers high-quality, competitive racing for all levels throughout the summer. It’s the only place in London where you can regularly race a Keirin—one of the most exciting events in cycling. The packed evenings of racing are a fantastic way to develop as a sprinter, and the relaxed, welcoming culture makes it incredibly enjoyable”

— Charlie Watson - Sprint League

“Thoroughly enjoyed competing at Speed League this year in the Team Pursuit, and would highly recommend it. Yes, it’s hard, but it’s only 8 laps, and we can all ride 8 laps, right?

And you really don’t need all the fancy aero kit to give it a go. Just 4 riders that are prepared to dig deep and work together. The more the merrier!  Bring on 2025”

— Matt Williams - Team Pursuit League