A reigning double Commonwealth Games champion will line up at this year's event, wearing the colours of a different country, but aiming to retain his titles, while simultaneously snatching them away from the nation he won them for four years ago.

Team England has just revealed its track cycling and para cycling squads for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, and amid the names of those selected to represent England in Glasgow is Matthew Richardson, who already has a brace of Commonwealth Games gold medals and two Olympic silvers, all won in the green and gold of Australia.

This year the 27-year-old track star will be defending his individual and team sprint titles, both won at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, in the white England kit.

“I’m proud to be representing England for the first time at my second Commonwealth Games," said Richardson, who was born in Britain but competed for Australia, where he grew up, before swapping nationality in August 2024. "I’m so excited to get out there and race for the team and hopefully bring back another gold medal to add to the collection.”

Unlike the Birmingham Games four years ago, there will be no road cycling at the 2026 event, which was originally supposed to take place in Melbourne, Australia, until the host city bailed and the scaled-down event was moved to Glasgow.

However, there will be plenty of track and para-track action during the games, which will take place from 23 July until 2 August 2026, with the cycling happening in the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, which was built for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, and has also hosted European and World Championships.

While the Commonwealth Games has lost some of its lustre in recent years – even facing existential challenges, with hosting problems, waning public interest and low participation levels from various nations – it remains important to British track riders, given the very limited number of high-level events they can compete in on home turf.

"As you can imagine, we’re hugely in support of the continuation of the Commonwealth Games," a spokesperson for British Cycling said. "As you can see from our team, it’s a real development opportunity and often riders’ first experience of elite and multi-sport competition, so they’re really excited."

The Team England squad features a mix of experience and youth, containing 11 previous Commonwealth Games medallists and 14 debutants. Joining Richardson in the men’s sprint group is Olympic silver medallist Hamish Turnbull and Joe Truman, who both took team sprint silver medals in Birmingham, plus debutant Harry Ledingham-Horn.

The women's sprint line-up features reigning Olympic champions Sophie Capewell and Katy Marchant, who both won gold in the team sprint at Paris 2024, joined by European silver medallist Rhianna Parris-Smith and five-time European junior champion Georgette Rand.

The men’s endurance squad includes multiple-time medallists Charlie Tanfield and Ethan Vernon, who won a silver in the team pursuit alongside Tanfield at both Birmingham 2022 and Paris 2024. Making their Commonwealth debuts are Josh Charlton, Will Tidball, and three-time junior world champion Henry Hobbs.

The women’s endurance programme includes two-time world champion and individual pursuit world record-holder Josie Knight, Maddie Leech (reigning madison world champion, with Katie Archibald) and Sophie Lewis, who took bronze in the team pursuit in Birmingham when racing with Knight and Leech. Grace Lister is back for a second Team England appearance, and debutant Abi Miller completes the squad.

Four-time Paralympic champion Kadeena Cox will make a long-awaited Commonwealth Games debut, having previously missed out through injury and ineligibility. Cox joins a seven-strong para squad that features two-time Paralympic champion Sophie Unwin, back for her second Commonwealth Games with pilot Sylvia Misztal, plus reigning Paralympic champion Lizzi Jordan, Paralympic bronze medallist Matt Robertson and three-time world medallist Morgan Newberry.

Road cycling and mountain biking will not be a part of the 2026 Commonwealth Games schedule, it was announced on Tuesday, as part of cost-cutting measures.

Track cycling will still take place at the streamlined Games, which will take place in Glasgow after Victoria, Australia, withdrew from hosting duties at late-notice last year. As a result, Glasgow, the host of the the 2014 Games, stepped in. They will take place between 23 July and 2 August 2026.

There will just be ten sports across four venues due to the cuts, with athletics and para-athletics, swimming and para-swimming, artistic gymnastics, netball, weightlifting and para-powerlifting, boxing, judo, bowls and para-bowls, and 3x3 basketball and wheelchair basketball joining the track cycling action.

This means no place for road racing. The men's road race has taken place at every Games since 1994, with winners including Stuart O'Grady (Australia) and Geraint Thomas (Wales), while the women's equivalent has happened at every event since 1990, with winners including Lizzie Deignan (England) and Chloe Hosking (Australia). Their history stretches back further, though, with men's road racing happening at the 1958 Games in Cardiff. The time trials have also been a fixture, with the 2022 editions won by Rohan Dennis and Grace Brown (both Australia).

The track cycling will take place at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, which was built for the 2014 Games, and has hosted European and World Championships since.

At the Commonwealths, the UK competes in the separate nations of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Collectively, they won 30 medals, including four golds, at the 2022 Games.

Other sports lost in 2026 include rugby sevens, hockey and cricket.

"On behalf of the entire Commonwealth Sport Movement, we are delighted to officially confirm that the 2026 Commonwealth Games will take place in the host city of Glasgow," Katie Sadleir, the CEO of the Commonwealth Games, said in a statement. "The Games promise to be a truly immersive festival of sport and celebration of culture and diversity that inspires athletes and sports – with a fan experience more accessible than ever before.

"With the Commonwealth Games held in such high esteem by athletes, sports and nations across the Commonwealth, we have been working tirelessly with our fellow stakeholders to ensure a high-quality Games will take place in 2026 – securing this vital milestone in the career pathway for thousands of athletes."

“"t’s fantastic that track cycling fans and people new to the sport will be able to experience the electrifying roar of the velodrome during the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games," a spokesperson for British Cycling said. "Whilst we would love to be able to showcase the full breath of our wonderful sport, we appreciate the unique circumstances under which the hosts and the Commonwealth Games Federation are operating, and the fact that many sports have not been selected."

Quantifying a rider's impact on their team comes down to several factors. Did they pick up some victories themselves? Were they constantly on the attack in a Grand Tour like the Tour de France getting TV time for the sponsors? Or maybe they picked up victory in a monument. 

These were all questions that we asked ourselves when looking back on the campaign just gone. 

So many riders made a difference. 

Some achieved huge victories at the first time of asking, others went above and beyond and helped their new teammates to do the same. Others also finally achieved their stage race potential that they had been promising for so long. 

Here are our top nine signings that made an impact in the men's and women's WorldTour in 2022. 

GRACE BROWN

Aussie Grace Brown has had a stunning year with new team FDJ-Suez-Futuroscope after spending two years with her native Mitchelton-Scott squad. 

The 30-year-old’s success was all year long, and started with her taking the honours in the women’s time trial at the Australian National Championships, as well as finishing second in the road race. After that, Brown achieved seventh at the Tour of Flanders and then finished second at Liège–Bastogne–Liège in April. 

Her scintillating form continued as she finished second overall to Elisa Longo Borghini at the Women’s Tour before winning gold in the women’s time trial at the Commonwealth Games. 

Brown then took a stage win at the Ceratizit Challenge by La Vuelta in August, before finishing second in the time trial at the World Championships in her native Australia. 

Some season indeed. 

JAI HINDLEY

Australian Jai Hindley may seem like an obvious choice, although after winning the Giro d’Italia in his debut season with Bora-Hansgrohe you simply have to include him. 

Hindley finished second at the rearranged Giro in 2020 by literally seconds to Ineos Grenadiers’ Tao Geohagen Hart, and was then forced to withdraw from the 2021 edition on stage 13. Clearly feeling he had a score to settle at the Italian Grand Tour, Hindley returned in the colours of his new German team Bora-Hansgrohe with a vengeance. 

Coming into the Giro, the Aussie had finished fifth at Tirreno-Adriatico. Once the Giro was underway, his sparkling form was then clear for all to see when he outsprinted all of the other favourites to take an impressive stage win on the iconic Blockhaus mountain. 

After being teed up by teammate Lennard Kämna, Hindley then snatched the Maglia Rosa, or pink jersey, from the shoulders of Richard Carapaz with a daring late attack on the Marmolada pass on the penultimate stage to ensure he’d lift the Giro trophy in Verona the following day.

CHRISTOPHE LAPORTE 

After consistently flying under the radar at Cofidis, Frenchman Christophe Laporte really took next level after signing for Jumbo-Visma. 

Laporte was instrumental in Jumbo-Visma’s dominance at Paris-Nice, crossing the line first in the team's spectacular 1-2-3 on the opening stage. He then ensured that team leaders Wout van Aert and Primož Roglič were kept out of trouble for the rest of the week, with the latter taking the overall win. He then set up his teammate Van Aert for victory at the E3 Saxo Bank Classic, before finishing in second place again at Gent-Wevelgem. 

The former Cofidis man went on to play a huge part in his team's sensational Tour de France victory from Jonas Vingegaard, helping to keep the team's leader safe through the flatter stages as well as occasionally being present in the mountains. 

Laporte was rewarded by being given his own chance to shine on stage 19, capping a superb three weeks for Jumbo as he spoiled the party for the sprinters, taking the stage 19 victory in Cahors. The Frenchman then won a silver medal in the road race at the World Championships in September. 

Marlen Reusser

SD Worx know how to conduct a shrewd bit of business, and in signing Marlen Reusser they got one of the pre-eminent rouleurs of the women's peloton. Despite only being on the Women's WorldTour for a year, the Swiss rider was hot property, and played a crucial role for the Dutch super team throughout the year. 

As well as being a top ally for her starrier teammates, Reusser won one stage four of the inaugural Tour de France Femmes, one of only two riders that won a stage who weren't Dutch. The fact she did it in such a storming way over the gravel sectors, finishing the day off with a 23.1km solo attack shows how valuable she was and is to her team.

Reusser went on to win the time trial at the European Championships and then help her team to mixed relay gold at the World Championships. One feels there's more to come from the Swiss time trial specialist.

MARC SOLER

Marc Soler enjoyed a brilliant debut season with UAE Team Emirates, in which he played a significant role in keeping Tadej Pogačar in contention at the Tour de France. 

Many questioned Soler’s move from Movistar to his new team, although the Spaniard vindicated his transfer from his old stomping ground with a memorable stage win in UAE colours at the Vuelta a España. 

Furthermore, Soler was consistently on the attack throughout the entire three weeks, and went close to stage victories on other occasions. Ultimately he was rewarded for his efforts with the prize for the most combative rider. 

Soler’s climbing brilliance also helped to ensure a third overall for his young fellow Spanish teammate, Juan Ayuso. 

LOTTE KOPECKY

27-year-old Lotte Kopecky had an incredible year since making the switch from Liv Racing to SD Worx. 

Last year was special for Kopecky, as she took victories in both the female road race and time trial at the Belgian National Championships as well as Le Samyn. She also came second at the women's edition of Gent-Wevelgem. 

However, moving to SD Worx saw Kopecky well and truly take her performances to the next level. This year the Belgian retained her title as Belgian time trial champion, before she then took a stunning win at the Tour of Flanders, something which cemented her position as a home favourite.

Prior to that Kopecky, had already won the female edition of Strade Bianche and the rest of the spring saw her finish second to Eliso Longo Borghini at Paris Roubaix. 

Later in the year, Kopecky won an outstanding silver medal in the road race at the World Championships in Australia. She will be one to watch once again next spring when the Classics come back around. 

TIESJ BENOOT

Tiesj Benoot was part of the new signing double-act at Jumbo-Visma, playing an equally as starring role as his fellow new signing Laporte in their new team's success this campaign. 

Bringing in Benoot along with Laporte was a shrewd bit of business by the Jumbo top brass, and the 28-year-old delivered. 

The former Strade Bianche winner finished second at Dwars door Vlaanderen in the Spring, before finishing third at the Amstel Gold race. Not quite the coveted classics wins that he may have hoped for, but solid results nonetheless. 

Later on in the Spring, the all-rounder played a huge role in ensuring that Wout van Aert took the win at the E3 Saxo Bank Classic, but it was the Tour de France where he really shone. 

On the final climb of stage four before the run into Calais, both Benoot and Laporte moved to the front of the peloton and put in a stinging two-up attack that launched teammate Van Aert to a stunning stage victory in the yellow jersey. 

ELISA BALSAMO

Trek-Segafredo’s Elisa Balsamo had yet another fantastic year on both the road and track.

The 24-year-old Italian joined her fellow countrywoman, Elisa Longo Borghini, at Trek this year and didn’t look back. On the road Balsamo took the victory in the women’s Italian national championships. She was also on fire throughout the spring, winning the female edition of Gent-Wevelgem, a race she had finished fourth at the year before.

As well as that, Balsamo also took two stage wins at the Giro Donne and finished eighth in the Amstel Gold Race.

On the track Balsamo was part of the victorious Italian team pursuit squad at the Track World Championships. 

MAGNUS SHEFFIELD

Young American Magnus Sheffield was riding for Rally Cycling in 2021 but was offered a dream move to Ineos Grenadiers for 2022.

A big step up, but one which the 20-year-old American certainly relished. In his debut season with Ineos, Sheffield won Brabantse Pijl at the first time of asking, and was consistently in the thick of the action during some of the early spring classics. 

As well as his big win in Belgium, Sheffield also took a resounding victory on stage three of the Vuelta a Andalucia and finished a highly respectable second in the men’s time trial at the US national championships.

The Ineos man will certainly be one to watch in 2023.

Christopher Whorrall, a former professional cyclist, has been jailed for four years after being caught dealing cocaine on the Isle of Man. 

According to BBC reporting, Whorrall, who rode for British team IG - Sigma Sport in 2013, was caught by police with a rucksack containing £12,000 worth of cocaine on 22 July this year. The 31-year-old was jailed this week after previously being shown leniency in court for dealing cannabis. 

The court in Douglas heard from Whorrall’s defence that he had hit “rock bottom” after his career was cut short by injury. Whorrall had previously represented the Isle of Man at the Commonwealth Games in 2010 and had previously participated in the U23 version of the Giro d’Italia. 

A serious crash then left him injured and unable to continue with his career. 

In July, Whorrall was seen by police coming out of his home at Imperial Court on Castle Hill, Douglas and then having a brief exchange with two men. He and his partner were then seen getting into a Nissan vehicle, with Whorrall carrying the rucksack before police moved to intercept him. 

A search of the car by police found six “dealer amounts” of cocaine in white balls with green writing in the rucksack, along with £513 in cash. A further search of his home uncovered a further £1,390 in cash and other drug paraphernalia. 

Douglas courthouse was told that Whorrall was serving two suspended sentences for cannabis offences at the time of the July arrest. Whorrall later pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to supply. 

His defence team argued that he had turned to alcohol and drugs after his career as a professional cyclist had collapsed and he had subsequently fallen into debt. 

They explained that he had found himself “in way over his head” after becoming caught in a cycle of drug dependence, debt and drug dealing. They added that it represented “rock-bottom” for Whorrall. 

Sentencing him to four years in prison, Deemster Graeme Cook said it was “very, very sad” that having been a professional athlete Whorrall had ended up in the position he was in. 

However, Cook said it was his “duty” to keep the Isle of Man safe from the “trouble and misery” of drugs. 

Christopher Whorrall isn't the first former professional rider to find himself involved with drugs. 

In 2019, Australian former professional Jack Bobridge was sentenced to four years in prison for selling ecstasy. 

Aaron Gate of New Zealand had an incredibly successful few days at the beginning of August. 

The Kiwi rider won three track gold medals at the Commonwealth Games, before stunning the field to take the victory in the men’s road race in Warwick last weekend. 

Battling with plenty of WorldTour riders to keep himself in contention, Gate was the sole New Zealand rider in a select group of leaders for much of the day. After pulling back a late-attack by Team Wales’ Geraint Thomas, Gate spectacularly beat Fred Wright of Team England, Scotland's Finn Crockett and Daryl Impey of South Africa with a powerful final sprint to the line. 

After the race, Wright mentioned Gate’s performance and praised him as ‘the strongest rider in the field’. 

Gate told Cycling Weekly that ambitions of making a step up with road competition have been long in the making, although the Kiwi admitted that his prolific success on the track may have been a deterrent to any teams thinking of taking a punt on him. 

He said: “I’ve always had ambitions on the road, probably more so after the Rio Olympics in 2016 which was when I really started to pursue it. I’ve always enjoyed it, although I don't know whether I’ve just always been seen as a track rider by people which might put them off. 

“At least Sunday and my win in Warwick will have shown that you can do both pretty successfully.” 

After beating multiple WorldTour riders on Sunday, Gate explained that over the course of a few years, a step-up to a higher level of road competition never materialised. 

He said: “I mean, I’ve had conversations in the past, but for one reason or another, it’s never really transpired. The closest I ever got was riding with Aqua Blue for a couple of seasons before they unfortunately folded. At that point I was kind of left without a contract late in the season, which was when I moved back to Continental level.” 

Gate was also quick to point out that the small matter of a global pandemic didn’t help potential transfers. 

Gate added: “Covid definitely didn’t help and kind of delayed things. I was pretty much stuck in New Zealand for two years, there was a bit of a delay leading up to the Olympics, so it was a case of then playing catch up with Black Spoke on the road.” 

BLACK SPOKE PRO CYCLING to the ProTour?

Recent news suggests that Gate’s return to a higher level of competition may come sooner than anticipated. On 9 August, Black Spoke Pro Cycling, the team that the Kiwi rides for announced that they have applied for UCI ProTeam status for 2023. A welcome opportunity for the New Zealander. 

Reflecting on his Commonwealth Games success, Gate explained that he sees his road race medal very much as his best. 

Dissecting the action on the Warwick circuit, Gate added that he had spent time trying to slow the breakaway down to enable more Kiwi riders to get across. Once he realised nobody else was going to get over to him, he started to look towards the finish and how to overcome Team England who had the superior numbers.

He said, “three laps to go was when everything changed. I think Luke Plapp launched the first attack coming through the finish line on that rise, and that then set the tone.” He added, “I thought ok the cat and mouse is starting, as it was just me, I knew I couldn’t let any of the English guys up the road or Geraint Thomas who isn’t someone you want to give any room.”

Gate added that reaction time was key, and making sure he was alert to each of the successive moves that followed. 

The Kiwi said: “I knew in the final that I had to be patient. I’d done a lot in the three laps leading into it so I was starting to get cramps… When Thomas went I knew I’d need to rely on the English pulling him back, and when they did I ended up on Daryl’s wheel for that final kick. 

“Then I saw the 200 metres to go sign and just thought, wow this is too good to be true and just opened up. When I realised no one was able to get to me, I just thought ‘oh wow, this is unreal!’ to be honest.” 

Gate added that being chosen as the flag-bearer for New Zealand at the closing ceremony was the ideal way to round off his success. 

However, the 31-year-old concluded that despite his fellow-countryman Sam Bewley’s jokes on social media, the mullet isn’t going anywhere. 

“That’s a funny one with Bewley. I’ve known him for a long time and he’s never afraid to shout a bit of banter. The mullet is left over from Movember last year really, I always get a terrible moustache so thought a bit of a mullet would complete the look. 

“It’s getting to the point where it needs a bit of a brush out, but that’s a bit beyond me. I think it’s probably going to have to hang around a while longer.” 

Aaron Gate of New Zealand landed his fourth gold medal of the Commonwealth Games 2022 with an excellent victory in the men’s road race. 

Geraint Thomas launched a dramatic late attack hoping to avoid a sprint finish and secure the gold medal for Wales. However, Fred Wright of Team England along with the remnants of the day’s leading group hauled back the Welshman. 

Wright opened up his sprint for the line, but Gate would simply have too much speed and sailed past the Londoner and Daryl Impey of South Africa to win another impressive gold medal. 

Impey would be forced to settle for silver with Finn Crockett of Scotland taking the bronze medal in an impressive display for the home nations. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

After Georgia Baker won the women’s road race earlier in the day, the men’s action got underway in similar excellent racing conditions on the Warwickshire circuit. Rohan Dennis of Australia won the gold medal in the men’s time trial on Thursday, however he was taken unwell before the road race and would not feature. 

It was a fast and frenetic start on the 160 kilometre course, with several teams trying to force a break and form an early gap as they began the ten laps. 15 riders eventually established a breakaway that would gradually begin to stick. 

The group quickly built up a gap that soon became more than two minutes and it consisted of multiple strong WorldTour riders. Nine riders from the home nations were present, including Geraint Thomas of Team Wales, the Isle of Man’s Ben Swift, Team England’s Ben Turner, Fred Wright and Sam Watson, Scotland’s Sean Flynn and Finn Crockett, and Northern Ireland’s Matthew Teggart. Other WorldTour riders including Daryl Impey of South Africa and Lucas Plapp of Australia were part of the breakaway, meaning that it contained serious strength in depth for the peloton to battle with. 

With 76 kilometres to go, it was already beginning to appear that the gap was so significant that the medallists would come from the leaders. A third of the field had already climbed off of the bike due to the fast pace being set in the baking hot conditions. Despite the course being of a flat nature with no significant climbs, the general strength of the leaders was what began to do the damage. 

45 kilometres left to race and Plapp decided enough was enough. The Australian launched a powerful attack looking to press on. Impey and Watson were straight onto the wheel of Plapp, and it was beginning to create panic behind. Thomas in the red of Team Wales put in a strong turn on the front of the chasers to gradually haul the leading trio back. However, the attacks would keep coming. Turner was the next to launch an acceleration as Team England looked to make their numbers count. Amongst the flurry of accelerations, a four-way attack from Impey, Watson, Aaron Gate of New Zealand and Teggart appeared to be the one that would stick although it was soon closed once again due to the work of Thomas. 

As the finish approached, the various attacks over the previous 20 kilometres appeared to be nullified. The leading group were all back together as the kilometres ticked past. Fred Wright, Watson and Impey continued to look lively. Wright would launch another move, and this time, Thomas would push on with the Londoner as the leading group was beginning to descend into chaos. It seemed that nothing was going to separate them. 

With just above a single kilometre left to race, Thomas would launch a huge move for Team Wales as he looked to secure another medal at the 2022 games. However, his move proved to be to no effect and the power of Wright along with the other chasers behind the Welshman soon brought him back before the final sprint for the line. 

Wright would continue to power towards the finish in a last ditch attempt to land a road race medal, but Impey would soon pass him. Gate of New Zealand opened up his sprint a little late, although he would prove to be too fast for his rivals as he crossed the line in first place. 

Gate took his fourth gold medal of the week, with Impey taking silver and Crockett of Scotland landing an impressive bronze medal. 

COMMONWEALTH GAMES MEN'S ROAD RACE RESULTS

1: Aaron Gate (New Zealand), in 3-28-29
2. Daryl Impey (South Africa),
3. Finn Crockett (Scotland),  
4. Matthew Teggart (Northern Ireland),
5. Fred Wright (England),
6. Lucas Plapp (Australia), at 3s
7. Ben Turner (England), at 18s
8. Geraint Thomas (Wales), at 22s
9. Sam Culverwell (Guernsey), at 24s
10. Sean Flynn (Scotland), at same time

Australia’s Georgia Baker took a superb victory to secure the gold medal in the women's road race at the Commonwealth Games 2022. 

It was Australia’s second gold medal on the road at the games after Grace Brown’s victory in Thursday’s time trial in Wolverhampton. 

In glorious weather in Warwick, Baker timed her final acceleration to perfection to hold off Neah Evans of Team Scotland in a reduced bunch sprint, with her compatriot, Sarah Roy, taking the bronze medal. 

After the finish, Baker was quick to highlight the importance of her teammates. 

She said: “It was a real team effort. We had a race plan, it was for me to win, and they executed it so well, I wish I could split this in six. It was a real credit to the team, I’m glad I could pull it off for them.”

Another medal capped an incredible week for Baker after she had already won gold medals on the track in the points race and team pursuit, to add to what has been an excellent games for Australia.

At the end of the gruelling 112 kilometre race, Baker still had enough teammates in place for them to launch a perfect lead out for the 27-year-old. Australia were visible at the front of the action for much of the finale, snuffing out several attacks and preventing late moves from other countries to spoil the party. 

Their work in the closing stages ensured that Baker was delivered to the final few kilometres before she then had enough power to overcome Evans who took silver, with Sarah Roy snatching the bronze. 

Coming into the road race, Grace Brown was in a rich vein of form and after time trial gold, was the favourite for many to do the double. 

The action got underway in near perfect racing conditions as the riders began the seven laps of the course around the streets of Warwick.

The flat nature of the course meant that it was always going to be difficult for a breakaway to form and solo riders to launch attacks. Anna Henderson of Team England was caught up in much of the early action, launching several moves to try and force a gap to the main field but she was quickly cancelled out. 

Other riders would try their own attacks but they were to no avail, with nobody gaining more than a few seconds over the chasing group.

Australia’s will to win was clear from the beginning, with them maintaining a presence at the head of the peloton for much of the 112 kilometres. The six-rider squad each posed an equal threat to the medal positions, and the well-drilled nature of the team in yellow then ensured that they were in the best possible position for the run-in. 

With the finish rapidly approaching, the Australian's then put the hammer down on the rest of the contenders to ensure they would take home a medal.

Baker was then able to power clear of her competitors to secure the win and another impressive gold. Try as she might, Evans was unable to close on the flying Australian and Roy completed the podium to cap a dominant performance from the team. 

The rest of the remaining field all came in behind the three medallists and were given the same time. 

COMMONWEALTH GAMES WOMEN'S ROAD RACE RESULTS

1: Georgia Baker (Australia) in 2-44-46
2: Neah Evans (Scotland),
3: Sarah Roy (Australia),
4: Vera Looser (Namibia),
5: Maggie Coles-Lyster (Canada),
6: Teniel Campbel (Trinidad and Tobago),
7: Simone Boillard (Canada),
8: Eluned King (Wales),
9: Antri Christoforou (Cyprus),
10: Alice Barnes (England), all at same time

Both the men’s and women’s road races will take place in Warwick this weekend at the Commonwealth Games 2022. 

Many top British riders will be present on the course including Geraint Thomas of Team Wales. Thomas won the Commonwealth Games road race the last time he started it in Glasgow eight years ago.

Since then he has won the Tour de France in 2018, and the Welshman was the only rider to be able to get near Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogačar at this year’s edition of the French Grand Tour. 

Thomas finished third overall, and backed up his form in France by claiming a bronze medal in the time trial in Wolverhampton on Thursday. The event was won by Rohan Dennis of Australia with Team England’s Fred Wright claiming the silver medal. 

Grace Brown took the gold medal in the women’s time trial and will be one of the favourites to do the double in the women’s road race this weekend. 

Both races are likely to be a cagey affair on a course that very much suits the riders with a faster finish. 

Coverage of the events will begin at 7:45 am on the BBC. 

KEY ROUTE INFORMATION

Both the men’s and women’s road races take place on a course around the towns of Warwick and Royal Leamington Spa. The men will tackle 160 kilometres over ten laps of the rolling course whereas the women will take on seven laps totalling 112 kilometres. 

Both events will start and finish on Myton Road in the town, near Myton Fields park, and the route will see the riders pass by the historical landmark of Warwick Castle which was built by William the Conqueror in 1068. 

The relatively flat nature of the course is likely to favour a sprinter, although a bunch sprint is far from a foregone conclusion. Each lap of the course will see the riders gain just 130 metres of elevation and the route lacks any major climbs that are likely to do any damage within the field of riders. 

RACE TIMES

The women’s race will get underway at 08:00 am and is expected to conclude at 11:30 am. Action in the men’s race will begin at 12:30 pm and finish at 16:30 pm. 

RIDERS TO WATCH

With the course being on relatively flat terrain, Mark Cavendish will be a huge favourite to take home the gold medal for the Isle of Man.

However, due to the lack of well drilled big teams in a race such as this, a bunch sprint isn’t the only possible outcome. That said despite being known as an out and out sprinter Cavendish can more than hold his own in other racing situations. The Manxman took the honours in the road race at the British National Championships after being in a large breakaway for the entire day. 

If Cavendish misses out, then another contender for the Isle of Man will be Matt Bostock who races on the road for the WivSunGod team. Bostock was involved in a heavy crash on the track last weekend and needed hospital treatment. However the 25-year-old was pictured on a ride with Cavendish on social media and is a proven fast finisher. 

Fred Wright of Team England took the silver medal in the men’s time trial and is likely to be in contention for the gold again this time around. Wright was in impressive form at the Tour de France for Bahrain Victorious and went close to a stage victory on several occasions. Ethan Hayter of Team England will also be a solid bet to challenge for a medal. The Ineos Grenadiers rider was crowned British National time trial earlier this year, he also won two stages at the Tour de Romandie in May. 

Even though the course on paper suits the fast men, the experience of Geraint Thomas could see the former Tour de France winner challenge for a medal. The 36-year-old won the road race at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and took a bronze medal in the time trial on Thursday. 

In the women’s race, Abi Smith of Team England will be one to watch. Smith rides on the road for EF Education-TIBCO-SVB. The 20-year-old performed well in her team colours at the Giro Donne earlier this year and rode a steady race at the Women’s Tour in June. A punchy rider, who won’t be phased by the site of any climbing on offer will be a big hope for England. Anna Henderson will be another challenger for the team, Henderson missed out on the gold medal in the time trial by just 33 seconds.

The strongest nation in the women’s race will be Australia. Grace Brown is in a rich vein of form and impressed at the Women’s Tour in June. Brown claimed the gold medal in the time trial ahead of Henderson and Georgia Williams. Williams is also likely to be in contention in the action around Warwick.

Rohan Dennis stormed to the gold medal in the men's time trial at the Commonwealth Games, the Australian beating Fred Wright from England into second and Geraint Thomas, who had crashed early on in the race, into third.

Wright set off on his time trial two hours earlier than Geraint Thomas and Rohan Dennis, and navigated the 37 kilometre course around Wolverhampton in 46-47. The Englishman held the provisional gold medal for an extended period of the day until Dennis eventually beat set his time of  46-21. 

The only person to challenge Wright of the first wave of runners was Australian Lucas Plapp. He started his ride two minutes before Wright, and actually started stronger than the Englishman going through the first checkpoint at 8.9km four seconds quicker, but failed to keep riding at the same intensity and suffered a mechanical issue later on in the race. 

He eventually lost two minutes to Wright, meaning they crossed the line together. 

Wales' Geraint Thomas, Australia's Rohan Dennis and England's Dan Bigham were still to make their way around the course, though, with the trio the final riders to begin their attempts. Bigham crossed the first checkpoint fastest of all riders, but Rohan Dennis soon blew his time out of the water, passing it 30 seconds quicker.

While hunting for a spot on the podium, Bigham then suffered a heavy crash into a barrier after taking the turn with too much pace. Forced to change his bike, Bigham was soon overtaken by Dennis and eventually came home in 12th. 

Meanwhile, Thomas' TT had started in disaster. Eager to set an early marker the Welshman attacked the sixth turn too quickly, causing him to ride over the foot of one of the barriers and crash. When he passed through the first checkpoint he was half a minute down on Dennis, and looked unlikely to bring the deficit down by much more. 

The time difference between the two maintained at the 30-second mark over the next two checkpoints, with Dennis finishing the time trial 32 seconds quicker than Thomas to win the first Commonwealth Games gold medal of his career. 

Wright's time would prove two seconds faster two seconds faster than the Welshman's to allow him to hold onto second place.

Aaron Gate ultimately came home in fourth, the New Zealander managing to beat Plapp's 48-47 with a time of 48-43. 

Scotsman John Archibald came sixth, Welshman Owain Doull finished in seventh, while Northern Ireland's Darren Rafferty secured eight position. Tom Sexton of New Zealand and Andreas Miltiadis of Cyprus rounded out the top ten. 

Commonwealth Games men's time trial results

1. Rohan Dennis (Aus), in 46-21
2. Fred Wright (Eng), at 26s
3. Geraint Thomas (Wal), at 28s
4. Aaron Gate (NZl), at 2-22
5. Lucas Plapp (Aus), at 2-26
6. John Archibald (Sco), at 2-33
7. Owain Doull (Wal), at 2-44
8. Darren Rafferty (NIr), at 2-49
9. Tom Sexton (NZl), at 3-20
10. Andreas Miltiadis (Cyp), at 3-29

Australian Grace Brown took the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games women's time trial in a dominant display, with Anna Henderson and Georgia Williams in second and third, respectively.  

Brown completed the 28.8km course around Wolverhampton in 40-05, 34 seconds quicker than second-placed Anna Henderson, to claim the first Commonwealth Games gold medal of her career. 

The 30-year-old entered the TT as the favourite, and didn't disappoint as she set off as the last rider of the rider. She comfortably led through the three checkpoints of the time trial, before crossing the line over half a minute ahead of every other rider. 

England's Anna Henderson, who started her way around the course eight minutes earlier than Brown, managed to briefly hold the provisional gold medal, before the Australian ultimately snatched it from her hands. Henderson eventually settled for silver with a time of 40-38, while New Zealand's Georgia Williams took the bronze medal after setting a 41-25. 

Isle of Man's Rebecca Storrie spent some time provisionally leading the time trial, with her 41-53 set early on in the event. In the end her time was good enough for sixth place, with her compatriot Elizabeth Holden finishing four seconds quicker to take fifth. 

Brown's Australian teammates Georgia Baker and Sarah Roy were fourth and ninth, with Teniel Campbell from Trinidad and Tobago finishing the TT as the seventh quickest rider. 

Wales' Elynor Bäckstedt placed eighth with a time of 42-15, while Scotswoman Anna Shackely rounded out the top ten, beating England's Joscelin Lowden and Abi Smith, who were both unable to ride quick enough for higher spots. Lowden finished 12th, while Smith placed 18th. 

The women's Commonwealth Games road race gets underway in Warwick on Sunday, starting at 08:00 (BST), with the men's race taking place at 12:30 (BST).

Commonwealth Games women's time trial results

1. Grace Brown (Aus), in 40-05
2. Anna Henderson (Eng), at 34s
3. Georgia Williams (NZl), at 1-20
4. Georgia Baker (Aus), at 1-40
5. Elizabeth Holden (IMN), at 1-44
6. Becky Storrie (IMN), at 1-48
7. Teniel Campbell (TT), at 2-03
8. Elynor Bäckstedt (Wal), at 2-10
9. Sarah Roy (Aus), at 2-21
10. Anna Shackley (Sco), at 2-44

England's Dan Bigham is looking to bounce back from a disappointing track campaign at the Commonwealth Games when he takes on the time trial on Thursday. 

Bigham will be earmarked as one of the favourites to take home gold. In October 2021, Bigham broke the British national hour record when he rode 54.723 kilometres to beat the distance previously set by Bradley Wiggins. 

He also finished second to Ethan Hayter at the National Championships time trial in June. 

Bigham told Cycling Weekly that the technical course suits him: “I would say my strengths are definitely in courses that are varying and technical, which is exactly what this is. 

"You’ve got descents, corners, sketchy roundabouts, all manner of everything, and lots of it. There are some big climbs too, which will be significant. You’ll need a lot of power, whichever way you look at it.

"I’m not Rohan Dennis or Geraint Thomas, I’m not going to be doing silly numbers, but I’m looking forward to it.”   

The 30-year-old admitted that his track performance earlier in the week wasn’t what he had hoped. Bigham said that after two days off, he’s ready and prepared to put in a performance, he added “the last 36 hours I’ve re-focussed on the TT and I’m feeling confident about it. It’s not going to be easy, that’s for sure but I’m ready. There’s going to be a lot of pain and suffering with how variable the course is, but I’m confident I’ll recover and am looking forward to it.” 

KEY ROUTE INFORMATION

Riders will begin their hunt for a medal in West Park, Wolverhampton before then heading out on a loop around the city before reaching the finish in the park. The women will tackle a 29km route whereas the men’s is slightly longer at 37 kilometres. 

As they travel round the loop, the men and women will head past Dudley’s historic castle before coming back to West Park. The park, which opened in 1881, is widely considered as being one of the finest examples of unspoilt Victorian parkland in England. Within the grounds of the park, you’ll find a Grade II listed bandstand, conservatory, tennis courts, bowling greens and a lake. 

EXPECTED TIMINGS (ALL TIMES IN BST)

Women

Start time: 10:01 

Finish time: 10:55

Men

Wave one start: 12:01

Wave one finish: 13:04

Wave two start: 14:01

Wave two finish: 15:04

RIDERS TO WATCH

Rohan Dennis of Australia and Wales’ Geraint Thomas will go into the race as the two out and out favourites for the gold medal in the men’s race. Both riders will be expected to go well on the 37km course and finish in the podium positions. 

Other riders who will be looking to spring a surprise will be Dan Bigham, Aaron Gate of New Zealand and Scotland’s John Archibald.

Gate comes into the time trial in a rich vein of form after already turning in several impressive performances on the track over the weekend. The rider from New Zealand has already won three gold medals in the points race, team pursuit and individual pursuit. Another outsider who could well be in contention is Australia’s Luke Plapp. 

In the women’s race, Australia will be the strong favourites for the medals particularly through Grace Brown and Georgia Baker. Baker proved herself to be in good time trial form in the Giro Donne, where she was second in the prologue. 

Joss Lowden of England will be looking to challenge for the home nations as well as Anna Shackley of  Scotland. Shackley is known as a climber but was fifth at the time trial National Championship in June.

Matt Bostock has added his voice to calls for an urgent review of track barrier safety after a horrifying crash at the Lee Valley VeloPark on Sunday. 

The Manx rider required hospital treatment after the terrifying incident which occurred during qualifying in the men’s 15km scratch race. 

Bostock saw close friend Matt Walls thrown over the barriers into spectators and said that he is still suffering concussion symptoms. The 25-year-old told Cycling Weekly that safety measures need an urgent review after the shocking crash. 

Bostock said: “I think it’s pretty obvious if you look at the barrier there, and how it’s designed that there are so many options for a terrible outcome. It feels like the design hasn’t really been thought through for a crash or an accident. 

"Especially to protect the spectators who are sitting just a few feet away." 

"If it’s not at least reviewed then it’s pretty criminal on their behalf," he added, "Obviously he [Matt Walls] was extremely lucky as it could have easily been a far worse situation.” 

In the aftermath of the crash both former track sprinter Chris Hoy and five time Olympic champion Laura Kenny have called for better safety measures to be introduced, including potentially installing plexiglass screens at the top of the track similar to those in ice hockey rinks.

Bostock explained that he believes screens being fitted would be a sensible outcome from any potential review carried out by the sport's governing bodies. 

He said: “I don’t see any issues with them [screens]. It could be a plexiglass or plastic screen or whatever else these things are made from, but obviously the spectators could still see through it. It wouldn’t affect the crowd or the racing or anything and would obviously be a lot safer for us all.

“I don’t see any reason why things can’t be better designed or more thought through so they’re altered. In London it’s literally just two metal bars about a foot apart and even if you don’t go over, if you get your arm or your leg or God forbid anything else caught then it’s a recipe for absolute disaster. This definitely needs to be reviewed and evaluated now.”

Earlier today, the Guardian reported that Australia is leading a group of cycling nations pushing for better safety measures to prevent a repeat of the horror crash. 

AusCycling performance director Jesse Korf told the paper that Australia and other nations intended to lodge a proposal with the UCI about mandatory improvements to velodrome safety. 

Korf said: “You’re not going to get to a point where you’re going to eliminate crashes from bike racing. But people going over a railing – that’s a different story in my mind.”

This afternoon, Stephen Park of British Cycling said: “After incidents of this nature it’s appropriate to review matters relating to safety… We’ll do everything we can to support conversations both nationally and internationally in this regard.”

"IT'S NOT A GOOD LOOK TO HAVE RIDERS FLYING OVER A BARRIER"

Bostock welcomed the move by AusCycling and explained that despite last weekend being a freak-accident, it was not one that cycling can afford to see happen again. 

He said, “If something like this happened again somewhere in a few weeks time and nothing has changed then it’s neglect on our safety. Particularly if they don’t consider this [AusCycling’s proposal] and take into account what’s happened and try to fix it going forward.” 

Bostock, who rides on the road for Wiv-SunGod, explained that one of his greatest concerns is spectators being frightened away from watching in the velodrome if a safety review isn’t instituted.

He added: “I was tagged in a social media post earlier in the week by a family who were there. I think it was two adults and a young child. They said they’ll never watch again in the velodrome because of the crash.

"I hope it doesn’t put many people off, but the few people on the front row might never come to the track again and tell other people that it’s dangerous. It’s not a good look really is it to have riders flying over the top of a barrier?"

While Bostock admitted that the aftermath of the crash won’t stop him racing on the track, he explained that seeing Walls fly over the barrier will play on the back of his mind. 

“It’s definitely going to dent my confidence, especially if the barrier isn’t changed at the top of the track. That’s the main thing with it,” he said. 

“It wasn’t anything that hadn’t happened to me before, but I think I will definitely be thinking in the back of my mind, what if I go over the top of the barrier and fly into some kids? Particularly if they don’t do anything about this before I race again.

"It’s a shame that when I’m racing I’ll be thinking, what if I go over the top of these barriers? I don’t think that should be an option you have to think about.” 

Cycling Weekly has approached the UCI for comment. 

Laura Kenny came through a "serious confidence crisis" and her "nightmare" 2022 to take England's first gold medal on the track at the Commonwealth Games on Monday.

The five-time Olympic champion stormed round Scotland's Neah Evans in the final lap of the women's 10km scratch race to take gold at the Lee Valley VeloPark, despite saying she had "absolutely lost motivation" for training.

Kenny said last week that she thought about quitting the sport earlier this year after suffering a miscarriage and an ectopic pregnancy shortly after one another. 

Posting on social media at the time, she said that "life doesn’t always go to plan", and that it was the "hardest few months" she has ever had to go through.

"I watched Adam Peaty and completely reflect on his interview and I thought that is me all over," Kenny told the BBC. "I've lost the spark, training doesn't come that easy. Every day I'm like 'here we go again'. I've been there three Olympic cycles now. to keep picking yourself up after this whole year it has been a nightmare. I have absolutely just lost motivation."

On Sunday, Peaty, Olympic champion twice over in the 100 metre breaststroke, said that he had lost the "spark" for swimming after missing out on medals at the Commonwealth Games.

For Kenny, watching England teammate Matt Walls crash horrendously on Sunday left her doubting herself, something which affected her performance.

"Yesterday was a pretty bad taste to be honest. I just wasn't in the right frame of mind.

"You see Wallsy crash like that and it really makes you think 'what am I doing'. I have been so lucky my whole career I have had one broken shoulder and one broken arm.

"It has not been that bad. You see something like that... I was having a serious confidence crisis. I just didn't want to be on the track and whenever I feel like that, I race badly and that’s what happened yesterday, I raced badly, and I didn't get a result. And that's what happened."

However, thanks to a late-night conversation with her coach, some stern words to herself in the toilet, and support from a fan on the startline, Kenny was energised to perform to her best, at the London velodrome where she first made her name.

"Then last night I was messaging my new coach Len and I was like 'No, I'm not giving up I have one more roll of the dice please just help me. It could not have been better set up if I tried..." she said.

"Today I was so fired up. I kept saying to myself in the toilet, 'I can do this'. Some man on the start line said 'you've got this Laura' and I felt like turning round to him and saying 'yes I have'. I just felt like a completely different bike rider."

Cycling's governing body fined New Zealand track cyclist Ellesse Andrews 200 Swiss francs and denied her the Commonwealth Games team pursuit silver medal she won, after the 22-year-old failed to attend the medal ceremony for the event. 

Originally, Andrews didn't intend on competing in the team pursuit at the Lee Valley VeloPark in London, but when Ally Wollaston injured her wrist and New Zealand didn't have a reserve, she stepped in as Wollaston's replacement. 

With the team sprint Andrews' main focus, though, her involvement in the team pursuit simply equated to starting the race with the team before completing just two laps and then dropping away. She did this in both qualifying and the final, because it is compulsory for four riders to start the event. 

While she left Michaela Drummond, Emily Shearman and Bryony Botha to ultimately compete as a trio, they still ended up coming second to Australia. An England team of comprised of Laura Kenny, Josie Knight, Maddie Leech and Sophie Lewis finished in the bronze medal position. 

Despite dropping away, Andrews was still entitled to the silver medal because she took to the start line in the final.  

However, she relinquished that entitlement by deciding not to attend the medal ceremony, falling foul of Commonwealth Games and UCI rules. As well as picking up a 200 Swiss franc fine and being denied her silver medal, Andrews had any UCI points she would otherwise have obtained docked from her record, too. 

Fortunately, this didn't seem to faze her too much.

"I'm really glad I could help them continue their race... I'm really really glad that they were able to get off the line," Andrews told New Zealand outlet 1News.

"With the team sprint being our priority, I didn't present to the podium because we had our warm-up so that means I don't get a medal. But, the three girls are the ones that did the work so I'm really proud they were able to get up there and get their silver medal."

Indeed, the Kiwi softened the blow considerably by picking up the gold medal in both the team sprint and individual sprint. 

Chris Hoy has called for better safety measures in velodromes after the horror crash at the Commonwealth Games on Saturday which saw riders and spectators injured.

Matt Walls of Team England and the Isle of Man’s Matt Bostock were both hospitalised after the incident. As a result of the huge crash, the morning session of track cycling at the Lee Valley VeloPark was subsequently suspended. 

Canada’s Derek Gee also required hospital treatment in the aftermath of the crash. 

Yesterday evening, both Walls and Bostock confirmed via social media that they both fortunately escaped with just minor injuries, however the high-speed incident led to other riders condemning the safety precautions that had been in place. 

Hoy, the former Olympic, Commonwealth and World champion on the track, told BBC Sport that he believes plexiglass screens installed around the barriers of velodromes would be one way to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. 

Hoy said: “This was a direct result of not having some form of barrier at the top of the fencing. It might seem strange that there is nothing to stop riders going over the fence. It's very rare for it to happen but it has over the years - maybe half a dozen times over 20 years.

“Personally I think it's preventable if you put a plexiglass screen around like they do in ice hockey. Look at motorsport and its catch fencing and the lengths they go to protect the crowd and also the athletes.” 

After swerving at speed to avoid multiple other riders who had crashed, Olympic champion Walls, was catapulted over the barriers at the top of the track and into the crowd. As well as the cyclists involved, several spectators required treatment for minor injuries: a man received treatment for cuts to his arm while a young girl also received minor attention.  

Five-time Olympic champion Laura Kenny, who is also competing at the games, revealed to The Guardian after the incident that she had been sufficiently shaken up by the crash that she debated withdrawing from competition in the points race. 

Kenny said: “It was horrendous, it was playing on my mind earlier, I messaged Jason [Kenny] and said ‘I’m not sure I even want to do this.’ It just puts everything into perspective when something like that happens. I’m just glad he was conscious straight away because Joe’s [Truman’s] crash was enough.”

Kenny also echoed Hoy’s comments on safety. As well as calling for more sufficient barriers to be introduced, Kenny said that extreme positions on the bike are another issue that needs to be addressed. 

She said: “I think the crashes are getting worse and it’s because the speeds are getting higher, the positions are getting more extreme, some of the pursuit positions people are getting in, you see people crashing into the back of people.” 

Kenny said that she had seen riders go over the top of barriers in velodromes before. Witnesses in the Lee Valley VeloPark yesterday morning said that due to the steep banking of the track, the injured spectators were unsighted when Walls sped towards them meaning they had no time to move out of the way. 

Kenny added: “Maybe there should be screens because Matt should not have been able to go over the top and into the crowd – that’s pretty damn dangerous. It’s the third time now I’ve been in a velodrome and witnessed someone go over the top. 

"Matt was laughing and making jokes with the paramedics which is brilliant to hear but if he’d [not gone over] he would have done less damage and certainly done less damage to the little girl.”

The incident on Sunday morning was the second high-speed crash that had occurred at this year's Commonwealth Games. Joe Truman of Team England broke his collarbone during Keirin qualifying on Saturday, with the 25-year-old knocked unconscious in the incident. He left the velodrome in a wheelchair.

Hoy concluded that an urgent review needs to be carried out by the relevant governing bodies and that questions need to be asked on how to improve safety measures. 

“All you can do is learn from mistakes and think: How can we make the velodrome safer for athletes and spectators? I hope the people in power look at this and think something really has to be done before something genuinely serious happens in the future.” 

Matt Walls of Team England suffered just minor injuries in the horror crash he was a part of at the Commonwealth Games on Sunday, which saw the rider and his bike catapulted into the crowd.

The 24-year-old was involved in a huge crash during qualifying for the men's 15km scratch race at the Lee Valley VeloPark. The session was suspended as a result of the incident, which also resulted in the Isle of Man's Matt Bostock being carried out of the velodrome on a stretcher.

Walls received treatment for about 40 minutes in the velodrome, before he was taken to hospital for further treatment. He was discharged from hospital in London with stitches in his forehead but "no major injuries", according to British Cycling.

Spectators were also injured following the crash, with some receiving medical assistance. A man received treatment for cuts to his arm while a young girl also received minor attention. Repairs to the track took place following the serious crash.

The British Cycling statement read: "Our best wishes go to all riders and spectators involved in the crash and thanks go to the medical teams for their expert care."

Walls, the Olympic omnium champion, who also rides for Bora-Hansgrohe on the road, ended up flying over the barriers between the track and the crowd after avoiding a crash that had happened lower down.

A Team England spokesperson said: “Matt is alert and talking (as he has been throughout) and is being given medical attention in hospital."

The morning session at the VeloPark was suspended, with spectators asked to leave while Walls received attention.

Eight riders, out of the 13 on the track, were involved in the crash on the last lap of the men's scratch race qualifying, which saw staff members rushing to help.

New Zealand's George Jackson and Australia's Josh Duffy crashed on the run in to the corner, and were moving up banking, which forced Walls up on to the barrier and then over it.

Canadian Derek Gee also hit the top of the barrier, but did not end up in the crowd, unlike Walls. Canada's Mathias Guillemette was disqualified for causing the initial crash.

Shortly afterwards, British Cycling provided an update on Twitter which stated that both Walls and Bostock were being taken to hospital. 

Later this afternoon, the Isle of Man Commonwealth Games Association shared an update on the condition of Bostock via social media which read: "Following the incident this morning in the Men's 15km Scratch Race qualification at the Lee Valley Velopark, Team Isle of Man rider Matt Bostock was taken to hospital for further assessment.

"A CT scan was done and the initial prognosis is positive. Matt is now being further assessed by a specialist to confirm that he has suffered no serious injuries," their statement read. 

"Team Isle of Man wishes to extend its best wishes to the other cyclists involved in the incident, in particular Matt Walls, and to the spectators who were injured and affected by the crash

"We would also like to thank the medical team at Lee Valley VeloPark for their swift and affective actions in response to the incident."

The next session began as scheduled, although was slightly delayed. 

It is not the first major crash of the Commonwealth Games on the track. Jon Truman of Team England broke his collarbone during Keirin qualifying on Saturday, with the 25-year-old knocked unconscious in the incident. He left the velodrome in a wheelchair.

A British Cycling statement read: "Following his crash in the men’s Keirin race yesterday, we can report that Joe Truman has a broken left collar bone and concussion and was treated by the brilliant staff at the Royal London Hospital. 

"He is now resting up and we wish him well in his recovery!"

Both the road race and time trial at the 2022 Commonwealth Games take place within the West Midlands and the surrounding area of Birmingham. 

The men's and women's time trial begins in West Park, Wolverhampton on Thursday 4 August 2022, heading out in a loop before finishing back within the city. The loop will see the riders take in Dudley's historic castle, plus parts of Staffordshire. The women will tackle a 29 kilometre route, whereas the men's course is slightly longer at 37 kilometres.

On 7 August, the men's road race will see the riders tackle 160 kilometres over ten laps of the course in Warwick. The women will cover seven laps of the course totalling 112 kilometres in what could prove to be a gruelling afternoon of racing.

Starting and finishing in Warwick's St Nicholas Park, the riders will then head through Leamington Spa and Hampton Hill, before crossing over the River Avon with views of Warwick Castle. 

When the routes were announced last year, the Games' director of sport, Matt Kidson, said: "These routes will help to profile some fantastic landmarks from across the region and showcase the West Midlands and Warwickshire to the world."

Councillor Steve Evans, cabinet member for city environment and climate change, added: “We are really looking forward to seeing the Commonwealth Games cycling time trial start and finish at Wolverhampton’s spectacular West Park.

“Having such a high-profile race travel through the city centre and along some of our main residents can expect to enjoy in Wolverhampton which is proud to be part of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.”

Amanda Tomlinson, chair of the Active Black Country board, said: “We are delighted to have worked with our Black Country and Birmingham 2022 partners to bring the cycling time trial to Wolverhampton and the wider area.

“The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games is already proving to be a real catalyst for encouraging more people to get physically active.

“Hopefully this news will encourage people across the Black Country to get on their bikes and explore their local area.”

Six gold medals were won on the first day of track cycling action at the Commonwealth Games 2022 with Australia, New Zealand and Scotland sharing the spoils at the Lea Valley Velopark Velodrome in London.

Australia heads the gold medal tally with three first places - in the men's team sprint, women's team pursuit and women's tandem B sprint. New Zealand's riders took two golds, in the men's 4000m team pursuit and women's team sprint.

It was an historic day for Scotland's Neil Fachie who won his fifth Commonwealth Games gold medal in the men's tandem B 1000m time trial. Fachie equals lawn bowler Alex Marshall's gold tally for Scotland.

The Paralympic champion revealed to the BBC after winning the race, with pilot Lewis Stewart, that he'd been ill beforehand. "Fortunately it's not Covid so I'm allowed to race, but it just made that all the more tough," he said.

"But I was so determined to win for Scotland, my family here and my wife, who's got my baby to come. All that emotion drove me through those last two laps. I'm so, so proud." James Ball of Wales and Stephen Bate of England completed the podium.

Five time Olympic champion Laura Kenny, returning to the velodrome where she first made an impact at the 2012 Olympic Games, helped England's 4000m team pursuit quartet to a bronze medal behind Australia and New Zealand.

Kenny, Josie Knight, Maddie Leech and Sophie Leech beat Wales to the medal in a time of 4.17.096. Australia blitzed New Zealand by over five seconds in the gold medal race. 

Commonwealth records fell in both the men's team pursuit and team sprint finals. In the pursuit, England's team of Dan Bigham, Charlie Tanfield, Ethan Vernon and Ollie Wood took silver behind New Zealand who set a new mark of 3.47.575.

Australia took the honours in the men's team sprint, with England's trio of Ryan Owens, Hamish Turnbull and Joe Truman finishing second. The Australian's set a record of 42.040 seconds.

In the women's team sprint Lowri Thomas, Rhian Edmunds and Emma Finucane won bronze for Wales ahead of Australia. In the gold medal race New Zealand were victorious over Canada.

There was huge disappointment for England's Sophie Unwin and pilot Georgia Holt in the women's tandem sprint. Unwin and Holt finished third in the event, won by Scotland's Aileen McGlynn and Ellie Stone, but were told that they would not be presented with medals due to a rule that states third place finishers in events with just four entries leave empty-handed.

However, the pair did pose on the podium with bronze medals and mascots apparently lent to them by their teammates from the team pursuit. According to the BBC, Team England has raised the issue with the Commonwealth Games Federation.

Elsewhere there was no dream finish to day one for Ronaldo and David Beckham, the pair - India's Ronaldo Singh Laitonjam and David Beckham Elkatohchoongo - didn't make it through the team sprint qualifying rounds. 

The track cycling  - held in London as host city Birmingham doesn't have a velodrome - continues today with various qualifying rounds and the finals of men's Keirin, women's sprint, women's 3000m individual pursuit and men's 4000m individual pursuit. 

The road cycling takes place on Thursday August 4 with the time trials and concludes on Sunday August 7 with the road races.

Eagle-eyed viewers watching track cycling at the Commonwealth Games this weekend might spot that Team England's skinsuits are not completely smooth, but instead contain ridges beneath the top layer.

The ribbed base layers worn by members of the Team Pursuit squad, for example, on Friday are part of the "next evolution in how aero clothing works", according to Sam Calder, the managing director of Rule 28 Clothing. They are one of a few companies at the forefront of skinsuit technology in the UK. Rule 28 are not directly supplying the English riders at the Games.

Team England progressed through to the final of the men's Team Pursuit on Friday evening, where they will face New Zealand for a gold medal; they might have been helped, in part, by the funky aero advances they employ.

"You've seen these sort of striped fabrics that have been on the arms for the past 10 years or so," Calder explained. "This is the next evolution of that, it's a slightly more refined way of doing things. The principle for the most part is similar, there are a few different things going on, but the idea here is to create some surface roughness to energise the boundary layer of air as it moves around the arm. 

"The arm is a fairly stable shape, it's a very unaerodynamic shape. You can't modify the shape of any body part, so you have to play with the shape of the arm you have. What these striped fabrics do is that the roughness means that the air travelling along it, the textured fabric there distorts the flow. 

"It trips it, makes it turbulent, and that sort of spinning vortex that it creates, then infills the pocket of low pressure left behind the arm as it moves through the air. This ribbed fabric with the smooth over layer works pretty much exactly the same, it can just be a bit more targeted."

Similar clothing was employed by riders at the Tour de France this month, and Team England are not unique in using it - other nations at the Commonwealth Games and beyond are at the cutting edge too.

It is better to wear the ribbing as a base layer rather than on the skinsuit itself, as this creates an extra effect.

"Testing the base layer by itself does not perform well," Calder said. "Testing the base layer with a skin suit that has sort of traditional ribbed fabric already on the arms doesn't perform well. There you're sort of creating an interference pattern, the traditionally textured fabric and ribbed base layer sort of competing with each other. They end up creating too much drag. 

"The happy medium is a smooth arm skinsuit and the ribbed base layer. In general, it tends to outperform the traditional skinsuits. However, it's not really one size fits all."

If you are intrigued by the benefits of the base layers, you can buy them from Rule 28 for £149.99 and their rivals Huub for the same price, but they might not make you immediately as fast as Dan Bigham or Charlie Tanfield. 

The advances in skinsuit technology is believed to be one area that the UCI, cycling's governing body, is looking to simplify the rules around at the moment. It is a difficult area to legislate on, but the body is thought to be moving towards clearer, easier to understand regulations. 

India's hopes for a first ever medal in track cycling at the Commonwealth Games rest on Ronaldo and David Beckham, as the pair are both set to compete in the men's sprint, men's 1000m time trial, the men's Keirin and the men's team sprint at the Birmingham event. 

However, they aren't quite the footballing superstars of Ronaldo - Cristiano or Luís Nazário - or Beckham you might have in mind. 

Instead, Ronaldo Singh Laitonjam and David Beckham Elkatohchoongo are just 20 and 18-years-old, respectively, and were named after some of the greatest footballers of their generation. Despite their namesakes, though, they are now competing at the Commonwealth Games, aiming for track cycling gold medals. 

Born on June 22, 2002, Ronaldo Singh is actually named after Ronaldinho Gaucho, Ronaldo Nazário's Brazilian teammate. Ronaldinho's real name is Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, and Singh is so called because the day before his birth, the Brazilian forward scored one of the FIFA World Cup's most iconic goals.

While playing against England in the quarter-finals of the World Cup at Japan's Shizuoka Stadium, Ronaldinho scored a free-kick from some 40 yards. Ronaldo Singh's father received a telephone call from his wife at the exact moment Ronaldinho's free kick went in, telling him that she had gone into labour. 

“Just as the ball went in the goal, I must have started making an appearance,” Ronaldo Singh told Hindu. “I think my dad won some money that day. That's probably why I got that name. He felt I was very lucky for him.”

Ronaldo Singh opted for cycling over football, though, a wise decision considering he won a team sprint gold medal in the 2019 Junior Track Cycling World Championships in Germany. 

The 20-year-old then won the junior men's Leirin at the Asian Track Cycling Championships that same year in South Korea, before, in 2022, he picked up a silver medal in the men's elite sprint race at the Asian Track Cycling Championships. He also earned a bronze medal in the men's 1km time trial and the men's team sprint, highlighting some fine form to head to the Commonwealths with. 

Meanwhile, David Beckham Elkatohchoongo hails from a Manchester United-supporting family, whose favourite player just so happened to be the English winger he is named after.

The 18-year-old is a successful junior cyclist who won multiple gold medals in the under-17 boys’ category at the Khelo India Youth Games 2020 held in Guwahati, Assam. Beckham also formed part of the team which won bronze at the Asian Track Cycling Championships 2022, and will compete in the same events Ronaldo Singh is at the Commonwealth Games. 

Geraint Thomas has confirmed he will race at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham later this year, returning to the event after failing to defend his road race title in 2018.

Thomas said his Team Sky commitments came first that year, and decided to miss the Games taking place on the Gold Coast of Australia during April 2018. 

The 35-year-old claimed winning in the colours of his home nation in 2014 is one of his career highlights though, and during his announcement on Twitter he also wished his compatriots a happy St David's Day.

He tweeted: "Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus!

"Seems like a good day to confirm I’ll hopefully be competing at the Commonwealth Games again this year. Winning the road race in 2014 is up there with the best days of my career. 

"It’s gonna be very special competing in the Welsh jersey again."

Thomas last wore the Welsh jersey during the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, securing the bronze medal in the individual time trial behind Alex Dowsett and Rohan Dennis. The Welshman then won gold in the road race at the Glasgow city centre circuit, building up a large enough gap to even change a wheel in the closing stages of the race.

He has also competed at the Games on the track before, in 2006 and 2010. After failing to finish the road race in 2006, Thomas then picked up the bronze medal in the points race, before failing to place in the scratch. 

Four years later, the Ineos Grenadiers rider competed in both the 4000m individual pursuit and 4000m team pursuit. He failed to place in the former race, but with the help of his Welsh teammates he came fifth in the team pursuit. 

The time trial will take place on Thursday 4 August at West Park in Wolverhampton, with the men clocking 37km around a loop of the West Midlands. Meanwhile, The men's road race will cover 160km in St Nicholas' Park in Warwick on Sunday 7 August, one day before the final ceremony. 

The routes are intended to showcase the landmarks across the region, and Geraint Thomas will be one high profile rider tackling the courses. 

The 2018 Commonwealth Games cycling events continued on Tuesday with the men's and women's individual time trials on the Gold Coast, Australia.

Riders tackled a twisting course starting and finishing on Currumbin Beachfront, with the men's route totalling 37.8 kilometres and the women's measuring 24.5km.

After their success on the track, host nation Australia is hoping for more gold medals in the test against the clock.

The Aussies have a number of strong riders in attendance, but should see a challenge from New Zealand, England and Scotland.

>>> 2018 Commonwealth Games: Latest news, reports and race info

Aside from the course, the riders will have to cope with the weather conditions, which are predicted to be hot.

Many of the riders taking part in the time trials will go on to contest the road races on Saturday, April 14.

Mark Stewart topped off Scotland's successful track cycling campaign at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, Australia, with gold in the men's 40km points race.

Stewart's gold can be added to Scotland's three other gold medals taken in the Anna Meares Velodrome over four days of track racing.

Neil Fachie and Matt Rotherham took two golds in the men's B&VI 1000m time trial and B&VI Sprint, and Katie Archibald won the women's individual pursuit.

Scotland also claimed four silver medals and two bronze medals to bring their overall tally to 10 medals, putting them second in the medal table to Australia, which finished with 10 gold, three silver and six bronze medals – a total of 19.

England were third in the overall track cycling medal table with nine medals, including three golds from Charlie Tanfield in the men's individual pursuit; and double gold for Sophie Thornhill and Helen Scott in the women's B&VI 1000m time trial and B&VI sprint.

Tanfield's individual pursuit effort during the qualification round was among the fastest ever recorded in history – clocking 4-11.455 to set a new Commonwealth Games record. He then went on to beat Scotland's John Archibald to secure the gold medal.

Wales came away with four track cycling medals, including gold in the women's 25km points race won by Elinor Barker ahead of Scotland's Katie Archibald and Neah Evans.

>>> 2018 Commonwealth Games: Latest news, reports and race info

Cycling events at the Commonwealth Games continue with the individual time trials on Tuesday, April 10, cross-country mountain biking on Thursday, April 12, and road races on Saturday, April 14.

Commonwealth Games 2018 final track cycling medal table

Australia's male team pursuiters set a new world record on their way to securing the gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, beating England in the final at the Anna Meares Velodrome.

Australia's time of three minutes and 49.804 seconds is the first time that a squad has dipped below the 3-50 mark in history, as they beat the previous world record set by Great Britain in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games of 3-50.265.

The Australian quartet of Leigh Howard, Sam Welsford, Jordan Kerby and Alex Porter gave their home crowd a blistering performance in qualifying, setting a new Commonwealth Games record of 3-52.041, shaving over two seconds off the previous record set by Australia at the 2014 Games in Glasgow. But that was soon to be bettered.

England's Kian Emadi, Ethan Hayter, Oliver Wood and Charlie Tanfield clocked 3-55.399 in qualifying to book their place in the gold medal final against Australia.

After a false start by England, the final started closely, with England and Australia – who had swapped Kerby for Kelland O'Brien – evenly matched over the opening laps. However, Australia's greater experience and more even pacing paid off, as they convincingly set a landmark time.

The Welsh team of Sam Harrison, Rhys Britton, Joe Holt and Ethan Vernon qualified fourth quickest to face Canada in the ride-off for the bronze medal, with the Canadians coming out on top.

New Zealand's team were disqualified during the qualifying round after it was found that one of the bikes used by the squad during qualification did not meet regulations.

>>> Commonwealth Games 2018: Latest news, reports and race info

In the women's team pursuit, Australia's team also set a new Games record in qualifying on the way to a win.

Australians Alexandra Manly, Annette Edmondson, Ashlee Ankudinoff and Amy Cure set a time of 4-17.218 to meet New Zealand in the battle for the gold medal. They duly beat New Zealand to claim gold, and set another new Games record in the process of 4-15.214.

England's Emily Nelson, Rebecca Raybould, Eleanor Dickinson and Emily Kay qualified fourth fastest to ride against Canada for bronze but missed out on a medal. Wales qualified fifth fastest and were out of the medals.

In the women's team sprint qualifying, Australia set yet another new Games record, beating New Zealand in the gold medal final. England beat Wales to claim bronze.

New Zealand beat England for the gold medal in the men's team sprint, with Australia beating Canada to take bronze.

New world record for Sophie Thornhill and Helen Scott on way to gold

The England tandem pair of Sophie Thornhill and Helen Scott set a new world record – and therefore Commonwealth Games record – during qualification for the Women's B&VI Sprint on their way to claiming the gold medal.

The duo set a time of 10.609 to safely better the previous world record of 11.045 held by Jessica Gallagher of Australia.

Thornhill and Scott then rode against Gallagher and Madison Janssen to claim the gold medal.

Scottish duo Aileen McGlynn and Louise Haston qualified third fastest to secure bronze, as there were three teams on the start list.

Scotland's Neil Fachie and Matt Rotherham took gold in the men's B&VI 1000m time trial, with Welsh duo James Ball and Peter Mitchell claiming silver. It is Scotland's first gold of the Games in any discipline.

The 2018 Commonwealth Games takes place on the Gold Coast, Australia, over April 4-15. Cycling events comprise track, road race, time trial and mountain bike races.

Commonwealth Games 2018 results - track day one

Men's team pursuit

1. Australia

2. England

3. Canada

Women's team pursuit

1. Australia

2. New Zealand

3. Canada

Men's team sprint

1. New Zealand

2. England

3. Australia

Women's team sprint

1. Australia

2. New Zealand

3. England

Women's B&VI Sprint

1. Sophie Thornhill and Helen Scott (England)

2. Jessica Gallagher and Madison Janssen (Australia)

3. Aileen McGlynn and Louise Haston (Scotland)

Men's B&VI 1000m Time Trial

1. Neil Fachie and Matt Rotherham (Scotland)

2. James Ball and Peter Mitchell (Wales)

3. Brad Henderson and Tom Clarke (Australia)

Staff members at Cycling New Zealand (CNZ) have taken responsibility for a technical blunder that saw their men's team pursuit squad disqualified from the Commonwealth Games and prevented from riding for a bronze medal.

The disqualification occurred after the qualifying run in the team pursuit at the Anna Meares Velodrome in Brisbane, where one of the team's bikes was found to not comply with UCI regulations due to the vertical distance between the arm rests and the tips of the aero bars being a few millimetres out.

According to stuff.co.nz, the bike failed a pre-race inspection by UCI commissaires ahead of the team's qualifying run, with adjustments made by team mechanics not doing enough for it to pass a post-race inspection after the team of Regan Gough, Nicholas Kergozou, Campbell Stewart, and Tom Sexton had set the third fastest time.

>>> Australia smash Britain's team pursuit world record at Commonwealth Games

"We have regulations that pertain to the setup that the bike can be configured in and one of our bikes was found to be non-compliant for the front end of the bike," said CNZ high performance director Martin Barras, whose appeal against the decision was dismissed by commissaires.

"It was very, very close to the mark, but it was a failing on our part. I have to be blunt about that and we have to deliver material that is in compliance with the rules. The difference was about 105 or 106mm, when it should be 100mm."

Barras also said that he was unsure how the bike had failed to pass technical checks after it had been deemed compliant at the Track World Championships in March, but said that the compression of the arm rest pads could have elongated the gap between the pads and the ends of the aero bars.

>>> Commonwealth Games 2018 cycling: Everything you need to know from the Gold Coast

New Zealand's disqualification saw the Welsh team of Sam Harrison, Rhys Britton, Joe Holt, and Ethan Vernon promoted to fourth place in qualifying, but they were unable to take bronze as the medal instead went to Canada who beat the Welsh quartet by just under a second.

Meanwhile the gold medal went to the host nation, as an Australian team of Leigh Howard, Sam Welsford, Jordan Kerby, and Alex Porter beat the English team of Kian Emadi, Ethan Hayter, Ollie Wood, and Charlie Tanfield in the gold medal final in a new world record time of 3-49.804.

Steele Von Hoff has fractured four vertebrae in a crash on the same day that it was announced that he would represent Australia at the Commonwealth Games in April.

The 30-year-old from Victoria says that he suffered the injury after crashing during an evening criterium race in Melbourne.

The former Garmin-Sharp and One Pro Cycling rider now races for the Bennelong SwissWellness Cycling Team. He posted a photograph via his Instagram account of himself in a neck brace giving a thumbs-up in hospital.

"Well Tuesday was a roller coaster... from highs to lows!" wrote Von Hoff.

"Took a tumble at Sandown and ended up in the @thealfredhospital with 4 cracked vertebrae. Road to recovery for @commgamesaus begins now! Let’s see if I can channel my teammate pull off a Mat Hayman!

"Thanks to all the staff at Alfred Hospital for the Royal Treatment!"

Von Hoff's reference to Mat Hayman relates to the 2016 season, when Hayman bounced back from a fractured arm to win Paris-Roubaix within two months.

>>> Commonwealth Games 2018: Latest news and event info

Numerous fellow Australian riders left messages or support for Von Hoff via a video recorded by Eurosport journalist Aaron S Lee at the Abu Dhabi Tour.

Aussies @RohanDennis @HansenAdam @Mark_Renshaw @CalebEwan @MilesScotson @clarkeywilbur #LachlanMorton & Kiwis @JackBauerNZ & @PaddyBevin wish @CyclingAus’s @SteeleVH a speedy recovery for @GC2018 from @Abu_Dhabi_Tour | via @Eurosport @EurosportAUS @Eurosport_UK #homeofcycling pic.twitter.com/RK36CgvHkZ

— Aaron S. Lee (@aaronshanelee) February 22, 2018

Caleb Ewan, Mark Renshaw, Adam Hansen and Rohan Dennis were among those passing on thei best wishes for a swift recovery ahead of the Commonwealth Games.

The 2018 Commonwealth Games are of particular importance to Australian athletes as they take place on the country's Gold Coast over April 4-15.

Von Hoff was selected alongside Hayman, Alexander Edmondson, Mitchell Docker, Callum Scotson and Cameron Meyer to ride in the elite men's road race.

Von Hoff rode in the 2018 Tour Down Under in January, guesting for the UniSA national team. He finished sixth on the final stage behind André Greipel, Elia Viviani, Peter Sagan, Caleb Ewan and Phil Bauhaus.

If ever thought you had it in you to go up against the likes of Mark Cavendish then here's your chance as the application process  for the England team for the Commonwealth Games in Brisbane has been opened four months ahead of the event.

Team England are looking for talented riders across the road, track and mountain bike disciplines to take place in the Games which take place Down Under in April, with those from outside the British Cycling programme also having the chance to claim a spot.

The team has enjoyed considerable success at recent editions of the Games, winning 14 medals at Glasgow 2014 including Lizzie Deignan in the women's road race and Alex Dowsett in the men's time trial.

>>> Sprinter-friendly route revealed for 2018 Commonwealth Games

"There are a lot of talented English riders on the Great Britain Cycling Team programmes who we are of course aware of, but as the sport of cycling increases in terms of popularity and participation, we want to make sure we select the strongest possible England Cycling Team for the Commonwealth Games events," said Keith Reynolds, who will be the cyclists' team manager at the Games in Brisbane.

Watch: Top 10 road riders of 2017

"The Commonwealth Games presents an opportunity to not only ride for your country, but to develop from the experience of being on the same team as some of our esteemed Olympic and Paralympic riders and staff in a multi-sport Games event.

"We’re encouraging any English rider who believes they have the potential to represent their country to submit an application to be considered for selection."

>>> Mark Cavendish heads up Isle of Man's Commonwealth Games road team - but no Peter Kennaugh

The selection policy document for Team England can be viewed here, with selection being based on results in high-profile events since April 2017, a rider's personal conduct and attitude, and "any other points the selection panel deems necessary.

Any riders who think that they've got what it takes should email gbctselection@britishcycling.org.uk to request an application form.

The closing date for applications is midnight on January 20.

Mark Cavendish has been selected by the Isle of Man to lead its road cycling team at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. However, 2014 Commonwealth Games silver medallist Peter Kennaugh is a surprise absence from the list.

Cavendish will join fellow Manx riders Sam Brand, Anna Christian, Nathan Draper, Lizzie Holden, Jake Kelly, Leon Mazzone and Tom Mazzone in contesting the road cycling disciplines in Australia in April, with Matthew Bostock and Matthew Draper riding on the track.

Cavendish had previously said that he may not take part in the event due to a clash of dates with spring road races.

IOM team manager Trevor Taubman told the BBC that Kennaugh could still ride in the Games, but that it was down to his new Bora-Hansgrohe team to release him for the event.

"There is still a chance Peter (Kennaugh) will be included, but it depends on the decision of his new team - who he joined last year," said Taubman.

Both Cavendish and Kennaugh have previously said that riding for the IOM at the Games is a great honour – the Commonwealth Games is the highest-level event for which athletes can represent the Isle of Man.

>>> Sprinter-friendly route revealed for 2018 Commonwealth Games

Cavendish won the Commonwealth Games scratch race in Melbourne 2006, and Kennaugh took IOM's only medal in the Glasgow Games in 2014, claiming silver in the points race on the track.

The 2018 road race route is relatively flat and is widely tipped to finish in a bunch sprint, which gives Cavendish a strong chance of coming away with a medal.

The 2018 Commonwealth Games take place on the Gold Coast, Australia, over April 4-15. The men's and women's road races take place on Saturday April 14, just six days after Paris-Roubaix (April 8), a race that Cavendish said he wants to ride in 2018.

Birmingham has been officially announced as the host of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, but London will host the Games' track cycling events because Birmingham lacks an indoor velodrome.

Initially it was thought that the new Derby Arena would be able to host the track events given its proximity to Birmingham, but the venue only has capacity for 1600 spectators – short of the 4000 capacity required, reports the Derby Telegraph.

That left either the National Cycling Centre in Manchester or the Lee Valley Velodrome in London, with the latter looking the most likely option. Manchester hosted the Games in 2002, which was the last time England hosted the Games.

The Lee Valley Velodrome was built specifically for the 2012 Olympic Games, and is well established as an international-standard venue.

Ian Ward, who led Birmingham's bid for the Games, confirmed that London rather than Derby or Manchester would host the track cycling events on Thursday.

"The hard work begins now and we all have just four-and-a-half years to deliver an unforgettable Games that will shape the future of our city, our region and our people," said Ward in a statement. "Thank you for backing Birmingham’s bid.”

The Commonwealth Games includes an extensive schedule of track cycling events – more than those included in the Olympic Games.

>>> Dani Rowe announces that she hopes to ride for Wales in 2018 Commonwealth Games

The region around Birmingham will still host the road cycling events, comprising men's and women's road races and individual time trials, and the cross-country mountain bike event. Coventry and Warwickshire are reportedly in talks to host the road cycling events, according to the Coventry Telegraph.

The whole Games will cost in the region of £750million to host. Birmingham plans to build Britain's largest permanent athletics stadium, and four indoor arenas for other sports – but no velodrome.

The 2022 Commonwealth Games are provisionally scheduled to take place between July 27 and August 7, 2022.

Glasgow hosted the last Commonwealth Games in 2014, with the 2018 Games taking place on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

Sprinters planning to take to the startline of the 2018 Commonwealth Games road races will be buoyed by the routes which appear to lend themselves to bunch sprints.

Taking place in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, the parcours for men's and women's road race and time trial events at next year's Games were released earlier today by organisers.

Road races will start and finish on the seafront at Currumbin Beach, with the men tackling nine laps of a 18.7km circuit, and the women riding six laps.

The laps takes riders throughout Currumbin, Currumbin Waters and Elanora, and although organisers have described the route as "challenging", graphics and Strava segments appear to contradict that, with just the occasional incline and decline.

>>> Triple national champion Dan Bigham targeting Commonwealth Games medal

That will be good news to the sprinters who were thwarted in Glasgow three years ago, when biblical weather put paid to their chances and Geraint Thomas memorably won; the Welshman announced in December that he won't be trying to defend his title in Australia, and his Team Sky and compatriots Luke Rowe and Owain Doull would also probably not ride

On first glance, the time trial looks a little bit tougher for the men, who make an out-an-back detour away from the urban sprawl, before returning to finish by the sea. Their distance is 37.8km, and the women's 24.5km.

The biggest issue for organisers is how many high-profile names they will attract.

The road race takes place on Saturday, April 14 - either six days after the end of Paris-Roubaix, or the day before. The time trial falls on Tuesday, April 10, so riders face a choice of sacrificing the Spring Classics for the Commonwealths.

Along with Thomas, Mark Cavendish has already ruled himself out of competing in either the road or track events due to the clashes in the calendar.

Following a memorable weekend in which he became British champion in three separate track disciplines, Dan Bigham is now targeting selection to the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

The Brother NRG Driveplan rider, little-known outside inner circles until last Friday, took victory in the kilo, team pursuit and individual pursuit races at the National Cycling Centre in Manchester last weekend.

Now, the 25-year-old is hoping that his results, coupled with the scientific knowledge that has seen him work in Formula 1 and currently pays his wages, can encourage British Cycling to take a punt and involve him in their Academy squads, with the long-term aim of riding in the April 2018 Commonwealth Games, taking place in the Gold Coast, Australia.

While Bigham appreciates the need to continue his road career - his best result thus far was coming third in the Beaumont Trophy last summer - he hopes that the national governing body would welcome his services.

"I want to stay on the track while I can, do as much track as possible with the thought of the Commonwealth Games selection in the next 12 months," he told Cycling Weekly. "I would love to think that [British Cycling's] door is open and I could speak to them to hear their thoughts on where I need to be in terms of selection."

>>> Dr Hutch: Long time trials are more like an awkward eating competition

Bigham beat his trade teammate Charlie Tanfield to individual pursuit gold last Friday, posting a winning time of 4.22:545. The British record is 4.11:114, set in 1996 by Chris Boardman in the infamous Superman - and now banned - position.

But Bigham believes that he is just as fast as other riders in the discipline who are or have recently been a member of the Academy team. He added: "In terms of selection with other members of their team, I am competitive with their big riders, such as Andy Tennant and Owain Doull. The times they do I can do on the track.

All you need to know about the team pursuit

"My 4.22 would have got fifth at the 2014 Commonwealths [ahead of Tennant, but behind Doull in third] and I had had a really bad qualifier last weekend.

"I reckon I could have gone sub-20, and a time like that would have me in a medal ride-off at the 2014 Games.

"With another 12 months of training - considering I have only been properly training on a bike for two years - I think I could push on and a medal would be absolutely awesome and that's definitely a possibility.

"I also feel that with my background in elite sports - I have worked for British Athletics and as an aerodynamicist in Formula One - I can bring a lot off the track to the team with my own ideas and hopefully bring the team on."

The tactics Brother NRG Driveplan used in their team pursuit success were rather unconventional, with certain riders doing mammoth turns. That, Bigham says, shows his strength in that event, too.

"The speed the GB Academy guys were doing for one or two lap turns, I was doing for three and four lap turns. I can fit in there as well. I've got to have that conversation with GB and see if there's a chance."

Talking to the media in Glasgow Green, Alex Dowsett, wearing Team England kit, seemed more relieved and satisfied than ebullient as you would expect a rider with a gold medal around his neck to be.

Dowsett had just seen off a small, yet world class field of time triallists to become 2014 Commonwealth Games champion, but his mind was already thinking ahead to the remainder of the season.

Dowsett’s contract with Movistar expires at the end of the season and the Essex based rider hasn’t confirmed who he will be riding with next year. In the meantime, he has a race programme which, in all likelihood, will see him skip the Vuelta and instead focus on races where he feels he could get a result.

The Dutch-Belgian week-long Eneco Tour was one of the races that he and Movistar had targeted as one in which he could be a protected rider and tilt for the general classification. Last year he crashed out in an early stage, damaging his thumb.

“This win here will do my morale a lot of good, obviously Tony Martin isn’t here but I’ve beaten some of the world’s best time triallists in Glasgow, so I’d hope to keep that going.” He said after his TT win.

In terms of his future, Dowsett couldn’t say too much. “Would I be happy to stay at Movistar? Yeah. I like the team, Movistar is a great place to be and everything they said they’d do when we first set out, they’ve done, they’ve delivered on it on every account.

At the end of the day it wasn’t their fault I got sick before the Tour de France and I’ve said it many times, but I would have made the same decision over my selection if I had been in their shoes, so, yeah, I really like it at Movistar.”

In spite of his win and evident strong form, Dowsett is in no hurry to phone up his Movistar team manager Usebio Unzue and harass him to be put in the Vuelta team. “As it stands, no, I don’t think so, I think we’re looking more like a run-in that Eneco, Poitou-Charentes and the Tour of Britain.

You have to ask yourself, ‘Am I going to do anything in the Vuelta?’ Maybe in the time trial, but you’ve got one or two TT’s in the Eneco and a chance to go for the overall, Poitou-Charentes, a TT and a chance to go for the overall, same with the Tour of Britain with a TT on a circuit I’ve already won on, so those are better options for me. In the end though, the team will make those decisions.”

Alex Dowsett turned the anger of missing out on Tour de France selection into his main motivator for the Commonwealth Games time trial, which he narrowly won in Glasgow this afternoon.

Dowsett overturned a slight deficit at the 26.4-kilometre time check to beat Australian Rohan Dennis and his former Sky team-mate Geraint Thomas and take gold on Glasgow Green.

The 25-year-old from Essex won silver in the discipline in the Delhi Games four years ago, but admitted that the disappointment of not being selected for Movistar's Tour squad spurred him on today.

"I spent the whole month angry – not at anyone in particular, just at the situation itself," he said.

"The Commonwealth Games, which were a big target for me, suddenly became huge. I really wanted to do something big after the disappointment of the Tour.

"I've always been the same since I was a kid, I usually pull something big out of the bag when I'm really angry."

Dowsett, who has been coached by Essex-based Mark Walker for the duration of 2014, added that his focus was unwavering for the past four weeks.

"I was in incredible shape before the Tour. The day I didn't get selected, I converted that towards the time trial," he said.

"Those training sessions where you don't feel like you're quite on the money, normally I might bail and try again tomorrow, I was really digging deep a lot of the time and trying to find that extra little bit.

"On the course today, my power figures were big for a course like that. I think I had 420 watts average which, on a lumpy course is huge for me. Everything's just come together and I've really been able to channel the disappointment in the right way.

"I could've been sitting in a room utterly depressed for a whole month."

After a summer of disappointments including illness, non-selection by Movistar in the Tour de France and a hard-fought third place in the national time trial championship, Alex Dowsett beat a world-class field of time triallists in Glasgow to win gold ahead of Australian Rohan Dennis and Geraint Thomas of Wales. “The moment that I learned that I wasn’t riding the Tour was the point that I thought about converting the form that I had into the Commonwealth Games,” said Dowsett later.

The race - a testing loop which was draggy, then hilly then back into a headwind on open roads - quickly settled into a pattern as the final starters in the field got faster and faster, each rider going quicker than the previous at the first time check - Steve Cummings, Svein Tuft, Geraint Thomas, Trek’s New Zealand Trek Factory racing’s Jesse Sergent at 6.4km, then Dowsett, off second-to-last, fastest at the first split by four seconds. It was very early in the race, but it set the tone. Local and national favourite David Millar was last man off, but he was already eighth fastest at this point - 21 seconds behind Dowsett - and it didn’t get any better for the Scot who would finally finish eighth, 2-14 down.

Dowsett was effectively in a tussle with Garmin pro Dennis - another rider who hadn’t made the Tour de France team - and at the third and final checkpoint Dowsett was actually 11 seconds behind the young Australian. “I was struggling into the wind on the way back,” confessed Dennis, “my power didn’t drop, it was stable enough and although I tried to lift it, I just couldn’t, I couldn’t live with what Alex was doing in the last 10km.”

Third placed Thomas, ‘fresh’ from finishing the Tour de France on Sunday, was happy enough with his ride. “What did I do to lose my second place to Dennis after the final split? Hmm, I didn’t go fast enough I suppose,” quipped the Welshman, clearly in good spirits and anticipating a good ride in Sunday’s road race.

Dowsett was remarkably level headed in his assessment of his Commonwealth title. “It was a massive disappointment not being selected for the Tour - it still is - but this more than makes up for it for me. If I had ridden the Tour I might have been in the same position as (Luke) Durbridge who told me he has been feeling quite tired after the Tour  (the Orica Aussie finished the Tour on Sunday and finished ninth behind Dowsett).

It was his first one and it would have been my first one so maybe I would have been feeling it more than G (Thomas) so, really, there are two ways of looking at my non-selection, it allowed me to focus more on this.”

The opening road event of the Commonwealth Games gets underway tomorrow at 10am when the men roll out from the starting box in Glasgow Green. The women start after the men to ride a shorter race , though the courses are substantially the same, with the men riding slightly longer on the loop before turning back and re-joining the ‘women’s’ route.

The riders were able to ride the route for the first time this morning on a course which one of the course designers, Alasdair Maclennan described as “quite free flowing, but containing hardly any flat, it’s definitely an up and down kind of course that has a bit of everything in it - the ride back into Glasgow is on fast dual carriageway but there are plenty of short, steep little climbs on the way out. It’s like the national time trial course in Stewarton last year, that Alex Dowsett won on, but probably harder and hillier.”

Defending Commonwealth Games champion David Millar, who rode the course with the Scotland team in the morning, said that he “had no problems at all” declaring it “a good course” which bodes well for a close race.

Apart from Millar and Dowsett, the Australian team of Luke Durbridge, Michael Hepburn and Rohan Dennis should be near the top of the time sheet. If both Canadian Svein Tuft and Welshman Geraint Thomas have recovered from their exertions in the Tour, Tuft and Thomas - the runner-up in the recent national time trial championship at Celtic Manor - could also get in among the medals.

Bradley Wiggins declared himself satisfied after taking silver in the team pursuit on day one of competition at Glasgow 2014.

Wiggins, who won Olympic gold in the discipline in Beijing six years ago, said the defeat to Australia is the first step en route to the Rio Games in 2016.

"I'm disappointed, although in hindsight I think we'll look back at this and realise it is the starting point for the next two years," he said.

"Rio is the goal, we've got to work back from that, and it takes four people to be on par. We've all had such different preparation, but I think there are a lot of positives to take from it.

"I don't want to sound like Roy Hodgson but we've definitely got some work to do. "

Asked about the prospect of Great Britain winning gold for the third-consecutive Olympics in two years' time, the 2012 Tour de France champion replied positively.

"I've answered the question in terms of whether or not I could still do it. There's a lot more room improvement, and I think that comes with more dedication to the track.

"It's not going to be easy. We've got our work cut out. They've [Australia] set the standard once again, but we've been there before and it's not a bad position to be in.

"We've done two world class rides there off of four weeks together, so we'll be there."

The 34-year-old was arguably the strongest of the English quartet as they finished five seconds behind their rivals.

He notably did a two-and-a-half lap turn in the morning's qualifying session, and replicated such pace-setting spells in the afternoon's final.

Wiggins added: "We're all at different levels, and the strategy was that if I could go longer and take the strain off, that's what team pursuiting is all about."

Bradley Wiggins's track return ends in silver at Glasgow 2014

Australia win team pursuit, with England second

Bradley Wiggins added another Commonwealth Games silver medal  to his collection this afternoon as England were unable to match a strong Australian quartet in the team pursuit at Glasgow 2014.

England finished over five seconds behind their rivals to give Wiggins his fourth silver; the Australian time of 3-54.851 was a games record.

However, England picked up their first gold of the Games in the velodrome courtesy of Sophie Thornhill and Helen Scott in the para-sport tandem sprint. The duo beat Scotland's Aileen McGlynn and Louise Haston two-nil, although this was the host nation's first visit to the cycling podium.

Jess Varnish finished third in the 500m TT as Australian Anna Meares won the title for the third time in succession. She now has five gold, one silver and one bronze from the Commonwealths; another gold in the sprint on Saturday would see her move to the top of her country's all-time standings for the Games.

Another English medal came courtesy of the men's team sprint squad, who lost out to a slick New Zealand outfit in the gold medal final. Ed Dawkins, Ethan Mitchell, Sam Webster took the glory with a time of 43.181, which was even faster than their Games record they set in qualifying.

Results

Commonwealth Games 2014, Glasgow: day one, afternoon session

Men's team sprint qualifying
1. New Zealand (Ed Dawkins, Ethan Mitchell, Sam Webster) 43.254 GR
2. England (Kian Emadi, Philip Hindes, Jason Kenny) 43.730

3. Australia (Matthew Glaetzer, Nathan Hart, Shane Perkins) 44.027

4. Canada (Hugo Barrette, Joseph Veloce, Vincent de Haitre) 45.302

5. Scotland (Jonny Biggin, Chris Pritchard, Callum Skinner) 45.501

Men's team sprint final
1. New Zealand (Ed Dawkins, Ethan Mitchell, Sam Webster) 43.181 GR

2. England (Kian Emadi, Philip Hindes, Jason Kenny) 43.706

3. Australia (Matthew Glaetzer, Nathan Hart, Shane Perkins) 43.709

4. Canada (Hugo Barrette, Joseph Veloce, Vincent de Haitre) 45.054

Men's team pursuit final

1. Australia (Jack Bobridge, Luke Davison, Alex Edmondson, Glenn O’Shea) 3-54.851 GR

2. England (Steven Burke, Ed Clancy, Andy Tennant, Bradley Wiggins) 4-00.136

3. New Zealand (Shane Archbold, Pieter Bulling, Dylan Kennett, Marc Ryan) caught Canada (Zach Bell, Aidan Caves, Remi Pelletier, Ed Veal)

Women's para-sport tandem final
1. Sophie Thornhill w/Helen Scott (Eng) beat Aileen McGlynn w/Louise Haston (Sco) 2-0

3. Brandie O’Connor w/Breanna Hargrave (Aus) beat Felicity Johnson w/Holly Takos (Aus)

Women's 500m time trial final
1. Anna Meares (Aus) 33.435 GR

2. Stephanie Morton (Aus) 34.079

3. Jess Varnish (Eng) 34.267

4. Stephanie McKenzie (NZl) 34.444

5. Fatehah Mustapa (Mas) 34.667

Bradley Wiggins satisfied with team pursuit silver

Four-time Olympic champion admits there is "work to do" after Australia beat England at Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

He may be Britain's most successful Olympian, he may have been the figurehead of Glasgow's opening ceremony, but that doesn't mean Sir Chris Hoy can just walk in to any Commonwealth Games venue he choses.

Even if it's named after him.

One diligent security personel was left a little embarrassed this morning when they asked Sir Chris Hoy for his Games accreditation when walking in to the Sir Chris Hoy velodrome.

The story instantly did the rounds, although Hoy was as gracious as ever when tweeting about the situtaion.

They could have been forgiven for not knowing the venue's name however. As Bradley Wiggins pointed out in a pre-Games interview, all the signage says the Emirates Arena (the name of the whole complex), rather than the Chris Hoy Velodrome.

Hoy had been centre of attention the previous night after delivering the Queens message to Prince Imran of Malaysia. When he struggled to get the top open Hoy stepped in to help and save the day.

Bradley Wiggins's quest to win a first Commonwealth Games gold medal remains on course after England qualified second in the men's team pursuit on day one of Glasgow 2014.

Wiggins, his Olympic-winning team-mate in Beijing Ed Clancy, Steven Burke and Andy Tennant posted a 3-59.249  inside the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, two seconds slower than Australia.

However, Wiggins looked strong during the ride, which included a two-and-a-half lap turn on the front.

The gold medal final is tonight; New Zealand and Canada will battle it out for bronze.

The Oceanic countries dominated the men's sprint qualifying. Australians Matthew Glaetzter and Peter Lewis, and Kiwi's Sam Webster and Ed Dawkins all broke the previous Commonwealth Games record in qualifying, with Glaetzer's 9.779 effort the fastest.

Defending Olympic champion Jason Kenny (England) finished 11th, and had to qualify for the quarter finals through the repechage. Team-mate Matt Crampton also made it through, as he beat Njisane Phillip (Trinidad & Tobago) and compatriot Philip Hindes in the other repechage to progress.

History was made when Welsh duo Rhiannon Henry and Rachel James rode in the women's Para-Sport Sprint Tandem qualifier, the first event for such riders ever to be staged in the Games.

They did not make it through the qualifying round; fastest qualifiers Sophie Thornhill and Helen Scott (England) will face home pair Aileen McGlynn and Louise Haston  in tonight's final.

Results

Commonwealth Games 2014, Glasgow: day one, morning session

Men's sprint qualifying

1. Matthew Glaetzer (Aus) 9.779 GR

2. Ed Dawkins (Nzl) 9.818

3. Sam Webster (Nzl) 9.937

4. Peter Lewis (Aus) 9.975

5. Matthew Archibald (Nzl) 10.055

Men's sprint first round

Matthew Glaetzer (Aus) beat Matthew Crampton (Eng)

Ed Dawkins (Nzl) beat Jason Kenny (Eng)

Sam Webster (Nzl) beat Callum Skinner (Sco)

Peter Lewis (Aus) beat Nijsane Phillip (Tto)

Matthew Archibald (Nzl) beat Lewis Oliva (Wal)

Azizulhasni Awang (Mal) beat Philip Hindes (Eng)

Repechage winners: Jason Kenny (Eng), Matt Crampton (Eng)

Women's para-sport tandem qualifying
1. Sophie Thornhill w/Helen Scott (Eng) 11.277 GR

2. Aileen McGlynn w/Louise Haston (Sco) 11.419

3. Brandie O'Connor w/Breanna Hargrave (Aus) 11.623

4. Felicity Johnson w/Holly Takos (Aus) 11.695

5. Rhiannon Henry w/Rachel James (Wal) 11.917

Women's para-sport tandem semi-finals

Sophie Thornhill w/Helen Scott (Eng) beat Felicity Johnson w/Holly Takos (Aus) 2-0

Aileen McGlynn w/Louise Haston (Sco) beat Brandie O'Connor w/Breanna Hargrave (Aus) 2-0

Men's team pursuit qualifying

1. Australia (Jack Bobridge, Luke Davison, Alex Edmondson, Glenn O'Shea) 3-57.939

2. England (Steven Burke, Ed Clancy, Andy Tennant, Bradley Wiggins) 3-59.249

3. New Zealand (Shane Archbold, Pieter Bulling, Dylan Kennett, Marc Ryan) 4-00.501

4. Canada (Zach Bell, Aidan Caves, Remi Pelletier, Ed Veal) 4-14.481

5. South Africa (Evan Carstens, Kellan Gouveris, Nolan Hoffman, Theuns Van Der Bank) 4-18.194

Wendy Houvenaghel retires as injury prevents Glasgow ride

Sir Bradley Wiggins will make his track return at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on Thursday  (July 24) for only the second time since the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Wiggins will slot into England's line-up for the team pursuit on the first day of competition at the Commonwealth Games.

Since the Beijing Games, where Wiggins won gold in the individual and team pursuit, he has appeared on the track for Great Britain just once, helping the team pursuit squad score gold in the Manchester round of the 2010-2011 Track World Cup.

Wiggins will not, however, ride in the individual pursuit on Friday as previously reported. It was rumoured that Wiggins would attempt to better the current world record for the individual pursuit in Glasgow, a record currently held by Australian Jack Bobridge which stands at four minutes and 10.534 seconds. This will not happen.

Having trained with Wiggins ahead of their appearance in Glasgow, team pursuit stalwart Ed Clancy told the BBC that he thought Wiggins was not far from his career-best form.

"He just wants some confirmation that he's still got it on the track, that he can still be a big player in the team pursuit," said Clancy. "As soon as he dropped back in, he wasn't too far from his best."

Wiggins was named in England's track squad after missing out on selection for the 2014 Tour de France. Though originally selected to ride in the road time trial, Wiggins will now not take part, concentrating solely on the team pursuit.

Wiggins has previously said that he wants to represent Great Britain on the track one last time at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. If Wiggins wins a single medal there, he will become Britain's most decorated Olympian in history with eight medals. Retired track sprinter Sir Chris Hoy also has seven medals, but has six golds to Wiggins' four.

An attempt on the Hour Record may also be on the cards.

After his non-selection for the Tour de France was confirmed by Team Sky on Friday morning, British Cycling announced that Bradley Wiggins will compete on the track for Team England during the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow (July 23-August 3).

Although the disciplines that Wiggins will ride in the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome have not been confirmed, it is thought that he will attempt to break the individual pursuit world record at the event.

As Cycling Weekly magazine reported earlier this month, Wiggins made his return to Manchester Velodrome and unofficially rode inside the pace of Jack Bobridge's current world record mark of four minutes and 10.534 seconds.

"I'm very happy to be able to welcome Sir Bradley back to the track team for the Commonwealth Games - his addition will be a real morale boost to the rest of the track squad. The decision of who will ride what event will be made nearer the time," said British Cycling technical director Shane Sutton.

According to Sutton, Wiggins is also aiming for the time trial world title in September: “Going forward Brad is firmly fixed on the road time trial. That’s the big driver for Brad," said Sutton.

“He is in good shape and I believe this is the one that has eluded him. He won the Olympics but I know he still wants that rainbow and I think it’s a bit like Roubaix. They’ve always been his drivers.”

Wiggins has previously said that he would like to join Great Britain's track cycling squad for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. On Thursday night, Wiggins reclaimed the British time trial title.

No announcements have been made on whether Wiggins will attempt the Hour world record.

N.B. This article was edited on June 30. It originally stated that Wiggins unofficially clocked an individual pursuit time inside Bobridge's world record.

Bradley Wiggins reclaims British time trial title

Bradley Wiggins crowned British TT champion, Geraint Thomas second, Alex Dowsett third

Team Sky announces squad for Tour de France: No Wiggins

Defending champion Chris Froome leads Team Sky at the 2014 Tour de France

Becky James has withdrawn from the up-coming Commonwealth Games with a knee injury sustained in training.

James had taken two weeks out of training for a minor surgical procedure, then when trying to make up for lost time aggravated a knee injury. In a press release today James said "I’m terribly disappointed I won’t be competing in Glasgow, I still hope to be in Glasgow cheering the team on, and wish the entire team the best of luck.”

James won two world titles on the track in 2013 when she won four medals at the world championships in Belarus. This year in Colombia she was not on the same form winning  bronze medals in the keirin and team sprint.

Bradley Wiggins could switch his focus to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow if he does not race the Tour de France, according to British Cycling's technical director, Shane Sutton.

Sutton told Cycling Weekly recently that Wiggins has been training on the track and would welcome the chance to race on the boards for England at the end of July if team Sky overlooks him for the Tour. He had been under world record pace during individual pursuit efforts in Manchester that British Cycling staff managed. Wiggins raced last week at the Tour de Suisse, but pulled out early after a crash.

"We would all be buzzing if he came back to the track," Sutton reiterated to Sky Sports News.

"He is definitely down to ride the time trial. The chances are, if he misses out [Sky's Tour team] we will slot him straight on to the boards because he has done a little bit of work. He's a natural, technically the most gifted track rider we have seen in years.

"We would welcome him back with open arms."

Wiggins could race the individual and team pursuit. His next scheduled race is the national time trial championships today (Thursday, June 26).

Bradley Wiggins Tour selection - for and against

Bradley Wiggins out of Tour de Suisse with injury

Bradley Wiggins a non-starter on stage five of the Tour de Suisse after crashing during Tuesday's stage

Alex Dowsett vs Bradley Wiggins in British time trial champs

Alex Dowsett aiming for fourth consecutive national time trial title - but he'll have to beat Bradley Wiggins