Crampton set to fill Sir Chris Hoy's team sprint spot
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Matt Crampton looks set to fill the big hole left in Great Britain's team sprint squad when Sir Chris Hoy was ruled out.
The triple Olympic champion misses his first World Track Championships since 1995 after crashing in the final of the Keirin at the Copenhagen World Cup last month.
Jamie Staff will lead off for the Great Britain trio, followed by Jason Kenny and Crampton.
Staff told Cycling Weekly: "We had a trial last Wednesday and I led off three efforts and they changed the order of riders behind me. Jason was quickest man two and Matt was quickest at man three. Ross Edgar was really close to man two but Jason was just that little bit quicker.
"Matt did really well at man three, and as a trio we equalled the time we did at the Copenhagen World Cup.
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"It will be strange without Chris there because he's always been there, but there's such competition in the team that we can replace him and still be competitive.
"It will be difficult in the team sprint because the French have been very consistent all winter, but we are going well."
David Daniell looks set to ride the kilometre time trial, with Crampton, Kenny and Edgar filling the sprint and Keirin places.
PENDLETON EYES FOUR TITLES?
Victoria Pendleton will weigh up whether to go for all four sprinting world titles on offer.
She will certainly ride the sprint and Keirin and will team up with Shanaze Reade to defend their team sprint title.
But Staff revealed Pendleton had been training on the tri bars in recent days and that her standing starts are strong so she could be in line to ride the 500-metre time trial too.
"Vicky is looking really good," he said. "She's doing PBs for her starts at the moment. Her strength has always been her pure speed on the track and her ability to maintain that speed, but her starts are looking really good.
"She was in two minds whether to attempt all four, but we know she can back up riding day after day so if she wants to do it, I think they'll let her. Personally I think she might be tempted to go for it. Why not? The 500-metres hasn't been her strongest event, but her starts are looking so good right now."
STAFF ON THE MIKE
Jamie Staff will swap his track bike for a mike after competing in the team sprint next Wednesday. From Thursday to Sunday he will join David Harmon in the Eurosport TV commentary box.
"I've done a bit of TV work before, alongside Jill [Douglas, of the BBC] on the floor, and I've always enjoyed it," he said. "It's something I'd like to develop. I spent some time in the commentary box with Hugh Porter at the Manchester World Cup and I have a lot more respect for what those guys do now!
"It's an art that has to be learned, but it's fun. I took the opportunity with Eurosport because they offered me more days, and there's a chance to commentate on the BMX. I've even put my hand up and offered to do something on the Tour de France.
"Obviously I understand the track events and how technical and tactical they are, but I try to convey that to the audience in simple language. I try to cut out the jargon."
GREAT BRITAIN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 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
Cavendish named in GB track Worlds squad
GB Worlds squad picked but won't be named until Monday
Cycling Weekly's 2009 World Track Championships preview
International track results 2008-2009
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Sports journalist Lionel Birnie has written professionally for Sunday Times, Procycling and of course Cycling Weekly. He is also an author, publisher, and co-founder of The Cycling Podcast. His first experience covering the Tour de France came in 1999, and he has presented The Cycling Podcast with Richard Moore and Daniel Friebe since 2013. He founded Peloton Publishing in 2010 and has ghostwritten and published the autobiography of Sean Kelly, as well as a number of other sports icons.