Cavendish named in British Track Worlds squad

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Mark Cavendish is a surprise inclusion in Great Britain's squad for next week's World Track Championships in Poland.

The reigning Madison world champion had said he was through with track racing after the disappointment of defeat at the Olympics in Beijing last year.

Cavendish won his second world Madison title in Manchester last March when he and Bradley Wiggins put on an awesome show in the closing third of the race. But when it came to Beijing, it was a different story and Cavendish was the only member of the British track squad to return home without a medal.

He and Wiggins had a brief falling out, but it was clear the Isle of Man sprinter felt his chances of a medal had been compromised by fielding Wiggins in every round of the team pursuit competition. Come the Madison event on the final day, Wiggins had nothing left to give.

But now Cavendish is back in the squad, and CW understands he is in line to ride the Madison and possibly the scratch race.

Although he has been named in the squad, there is no confirmation from the rider himself that he will go to Poland. When news of the squad was released by British Cycling, Cavendish had already started today's 235-kilometre stage at Tirreno-Adriatico.

One of his team directors at Columbia-High Road, Brian Holm, expressed surprise at Cavendish's inclusion and when asked if he was going to ride, he said: "Why not? It's good for the legs, but you'd better ask him."

Sir Chris Hoy, Wiggins and Rebecca Romero are all absent from the squad.

GREAT BRITAIN SQUAD

World Track Championships ? Poland, March 25-29

Men's sprint

Matt Crampton

David Daniell

Ross Edgar

Jason Kenny

Jamie Staff

Men's endurance

Jonny Bellis

Steven Burke

Mark Cavendish

Ed Clancy

Peter Kennaugh

Chris Newton

Women's sprint

Anna Blyth

Victoria Pendleton

Shanaze Reade

Jess Varnish

Women's endurance

Lizzie Armitstead

Katie Colclough

Wendy Houvenaghel

Joanna Rowsell

RELATED LINKS

GB Worlds squad picked but won't be named until Monday

Cycling Weekly's 2009 World Track Championships preview

International track results 2008-2009