Sir Chris to lead powerful British bid in Copenhagen
Great Britain are set to return to full strength for next weekend?s World Cup in Copenhagen (February 13-15).
Although representing different teams ? Great Britain, Sky+HD and Team 100% ME ? the final World Cup of the season will see most of Britain?s top riders in action. The only notable absentees are likely to be the men?s endurance riders who have switched their focus to the road this season, such as Bradley Wiggins and Geraint Thomas.
The sprinters, who have not competed at World Cup level since Manchester in the autumn, will be back in force, with Sir Chris Hoy set to ride the sprint, Keirin and team sprint events in the Sky+HD colours.
As ever competition for the team sprint will be hot, but there is the possibility of two British trios in the competition, representing Sky+HD and Great Britain.
Victoria Pendleton will ride the sprint and Keirin, but is also considering the 500 metres and the team sprint.
The only question mark over the women sprinters is whether Shanaze Reade rides in Denmark. Her priority is the BMX season, but there is still an outside chance she may race on the track in Copenhagen.
Fortunately for the sprinters, most of the job of qualifying places for the World Championships in Poland in March has been done thanks to the success at last year?s Worlds and Olympics, as well as the first World Cup in Manchester in the autumn.
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The men?s endurance squad is likely to feature Rob Hayles, Chris Newton, Peter Kennaugh, Ed Clancy and Steven Burke riding for Great Britain. Mark Christian and Luke Rowe could represent Team 100% ME.
It will be interesting to see which riders enter the individual pursuit. Clancy has cited the world title in the discipline as one of his goals for the season, while Burke is the Olympic bronze medallist.
And the women?s endurance squad will be close to full-strength, with Olympic pursuit champion Rebecca Romero and Wendy Houvenaghel set to sit it out, Jo Rowsell and Lizzie Armitstead are expected to travel to Copenhagen.
British riders won 14 of the 17 events at the first round of this winter?s series in Manchester, but sent only small squads to Melbourne, Cali and Beijing.
Those meetings were not without success, though. The women?s endurance riders won three gold medals in Melbourne, Peter Kennaugh and Rob Hayles won silver in the Madison at Cali and Beijing. Chris Newton also won the points race in the Chinese capital.
But now the big guns return in force as Britain seek to lay down a marker before next month?s World Track Cycling Championships 2009.
The full squad is set to be named later this week.
RELATED LINKS
International track results 2008-2009
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