GB squad announced for Melbourne Track World Cup

GB SQUAD ANNOUNCED FOR MELBOURNE TRACK WORLD CUP

Great Britain will send 12 riders to the second round of the Track World Cup in Melbourne, although Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton will both miss the event.

Great Britain achieved an impressive haul of ten of the available 17 gold medals at the Manchester World Cup but will not send its strongest team to Melbourne.

Despite the dominance of British riders in Manchester and despite the fact that the strength of the opposition was greater than at this time last year, there were some notable absences from the start sheet, principally from Australia and New Zealand.

The fight for World Championship qualifying points has lead to tactical absence in World Cup events, but on home turf, the Australian and New Zealand riders may well put up more of a fight.

Ten of the twelve riders selected to head to Melbourne will head to Australia, including Wendy Houvenaghel and Joanna

Rowsell who formed two-thirds of the gold-medal winning women's team

pursuit, breaking the world record on their way to victory. This leaves space available for two youngsters - Andrew Fenn and Katie Colclough - to step up to the mark.

Melbourne World Cup: November 19-21.

Riders:

Great Britain:

Steven Burke

Ed Clancy

Katie Colclough

Matt Crampton

David Daniell

Andrew Fenn

Wendy Houvenaghel

Chris Newton

Joanna Rowsell

Andy Tennant

Jess Varnish

Sky+HD:

Ross Edgar

TOP-TEN FOR WYMAN IN FRANCE

Helen Wyman scored yet another season top-ten result in yesterday's cyclo-cross World Cup in Nommay, France.

Wyman has taken a string of impressive performances this year, including second at the Koppenbergcross and third at the European Championships in Hoogstraten.

Wyman placed tenth yesterday, 2-22 down on race-winner, Katie Compton, a result that means the Briton is now eighth overall in the World Cup standings.

Making a return from injury was Britain's Nikki Harris, who placed 26th, whilst Wyman's house-mate Gabby Day was 19th.

In the men's race, won by cyclo-cross world champion Niels Albert, Ian Field was 32nd.

CANDI-TV ON FILM

Cyclevox - the media and sponsorship consultancy - has filmed a documentary insight into the CandiTV Marshalls Pasta squad's season, covering the team's exploits in the Tour Series to Russell Downing's Tour of Ireland win.

At the beginning of the year, Cyclevox set out to follow the team to shed light on what life is like on the roads of the domestic road-racing scene. The short behind-the-scenes film follows the team as they race the Premier Calendar, the Tour Series and the Tours of Ireland and Britain.

The film features exclusive footage from inside the team car, coverage of team meetings as well as offering the chance to see what the riders eat and drink or do in their spare time.

The finished documentary will be shown on November 21 on British Eurosport 2 at 11:15, and then at 15:15 on British Eurosport 1, with subsequent repeats over the following days.

Above: Russell Downing in the spotlight

CHARITY CYCLING AUCTION

A pair of shoes worn by Charly Wegelius is being auctioned for charity on the online auctioning website, eBay.

The shoes and race number, worn by the Briton during this year's Tour de France will be auctioned in aid of the Children's Liver Disease Foundation.

The auction ends on November 10 (tomorrow) and can be accessed via http://tinyurl.com/yfvwtcc 

EARLY-SEASON SPORTIVE

The Hell of the Ashdown sportive sold-out this year in record time, but if you are looking to do another early-season event then the Kentish Killer is bidding to become another masochistic early-year ride.

Starting at Polhill Garden Centre at Badgers Mount in Kent, the ride loops down to Crowborough before taking in what's known as Kent's Alpe d'Huez, Star Hill.

A 75km route is also available. Entry - via riderHQ - is restricted to 300. January 17 2010.

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