General Information
Organisers
The 2021 championships were staged by the Egyptian Cycling Federation in conjunction with the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the world governing body of cycling.
An experienced local organising committee was put in place, with members who had been involved in staging UCI World Championships, UCI World Cup events and continental championships in previous years. Its stated aim was to make every element of the event as good as it could possibly be.
The roles were divided roughly as follows:
Egyptian Cycling Federation
Host national federation, under whose auspices the championships were held.
Union Cycliste Internationale
World governing body; set the race programme, officials and the official training schedule.
Local organising committee
Venue operations, accommodation, transport, accreditation and ceremonies in Cairo.
This website
An independent guide, not part of the organisation. About this site.
The Velodrome
The competition venue was a brand-new, international-standard velodrome in Cairo, described at the time as the leading track cycling facility on the African continent. The 250 m wooden track and its infield are covered by a massive roof, while the sides are left open so that air flows through the building and keeps temperatures down naturally.
The track was built by an experienced international track-building consultant, and the venue has the infrastructure and facilities required for international competition. Read more about the Cairo velodrome in Nasr City.
How To Get There
A large number of international airlines fly to Egypt, which makes the country easy to reach. Cairo International Airport is also close to Nasr City and the velodrome. When the championships were announced, the carriers flying to Egypt included:
- British Airways
- EgyptAir
- Turkish Airlines
- Ukraine International Airlines
- Air Serbia
- Saudia
- Ethiopian Airlines
- Pegasus Airlines
- Iberia
- Air France
- Emirates
- Swiss International Air Lines
- Lufthansa
- Air Italy
- Etihad Airways
- Brussels Airlines
- Czech Airlines
Routes change: Air Italy stopped flying in 2020 and Ukraine International suspended its flights in 2022, so check current schedules. Practical tips on arriving, money and transport are in Egypt travel: practical information.
Egypt
Where To Stay
Cairo has a vast range of accommodation for every need and budget. During the championships, teams and supporters stayed mainly in hotels in Nasr City and neighbouring Heliopolis, a short drive from the stadium complex and from the airport.
For the velodrome: Nasr City and Heliopolis are the practical choice, with large international hotels and quieter, cheaper guesthouses.
For sightseeing: Downtown, Garden City and the island of Zamalek put you close to the Egyptian Museum, the Nile corniche and the old city, while hotels near the Giza plateau have views of the pyramids.
After dark: several of Cairo's large Nile-side and Heliopolis hotels have casinos, open to foreign passport holders. Our guide to casinos in Cairo and Egypt explains how they work.
Our cycling fan's guide to Cairo covers neighbourhoods, transport to the track and things to do between sessions.
Visa Requirements
Visitors to Egypt need a visa from an Egyptian embassy or consulate unless they come from a visa-exempt country or from a country whose citizens can get a visa on arrival or an e-visa.
Your passport must be valid for at least six months from the date you arrive in Egypt.
If you are eligible, you can buy a visa on arrival at one of the bank counters in the arrivals hall before passport control. At the time of the championships it cost about US$25 and came as a sticker, which you put in your passport before reaching the front of the queue.
Citizens of many countries, including most of the European Union, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea, could also apply for an e-visa in advance through Egypt's official e-visa portal.
Rules and fees change, so check the current requirements with the Egyptian embassy or consulate in your country before you travel.
Photos on this page: Cycling at the 2024 Summer Paralympics – Track cycling - Velodrome (12) by AlSepPhoenix, CC BY 4.0; Cairo International Stadium 2019 by Crosskimo at English Wikipedia, Public domain; Panorma Cairo Stadium by Crosskimo, Public domain; Nile hotels by Aude, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.