Great Britain will not field any competitors in the individual pursuit at this week's track world championships in Poland.
An inside source at Team GB told us that the squad will instead concentrate on giving the young team pursuiters a chance to ride without having to also contend the individual title.
Britain's team pursuit squad will be made up of Steven Burke, Johnny Bellis, Peter Kennaugh and Ed Clancy. Clancy is the only member of the quartet to come from Britain's gold-medal winning Olympic team, and the only rider who was part of last year's victorious world championship team pursuit line-up.
The four British team pursuiters will have to fight hard to topple the more experienced quartet from New Zealand, who must now rank as favourites for the event.
Bradley Wiggins is the current world champion for the individual pursuit, but he elected not to travel to Poland to defend his title - instead opting to concentrate on his 2009 road race targets. Our tip for the individual win is 19-year-old American sensation Taylor Phinney, who won the discipline at the last round of the World Cup in Copenhagen in addition to winning the kilometre time trial.
The 2009 UCI Track Cycling World Championships takes place from Wednesday March 25 to Sunday March 29 in Pruszkow, Poland. For full details, including a schedule of events, see our comprehensive 2009 track worlds preview.
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2009 UCI TRACK CYCLING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS NEWS AND FEATURES
No room for complacency in British Cycling: Iain Dyer interviewCavendish in the frame for Scratch race world title bid
2009 Track Cycling World Championships preview
Crampton set to fill Sir Chris Hoy's team sprint spot
2009 World Track Champs GB squad named
Hoy to miss world track champs
Track World Championships: British medal winners
CW's Dummies' Guide to Track Racing
GB RIDER PROFILES
Men
Jonathan Bellis
Steven Burke
Mark Cavendish
Ed Clancy
Matt Crampton
David Daniell
Ross Edgar
Jason Kenny
Chris Newton
Jamie Staff
Women
Lizzie Armitstead
Wendy Houvenaghel
Victoria Pendleton
Shanaze Reade
Joanna Rowsell
Jessica Varnish
RECENT RESULTS
International track results last season: 2007-2008
International track results this season: 2008-2009
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