Laura Trott says this week’s National Track Championships at Manchester velodrome are a chance to secure a team pursuit spot for the forthcoming European Track Championships.

Trott, who will compete in the discipline for Wiggle-Honda tomorrow evening alongside Elinor Barker, Dani King and Joanna Rowsell, missed out when Great Britain broke the team pursuit world record during a World Cup meeting in Mexico shortly before Christmas last year.

And along with Katie Archibald, who will represent her trade team Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International at the Nationals, competition for places among the GB women’s endurance squad has arguably never been fiercer.

Looking ahead to the Nationals in her Daily Telegraph column, double Olympic champion Trott said: “The main goal for all of us is to prepare for the European track championships in Guadeloupe next month. But I always race to win and this week will be no different, especially with the team pursuit line-up in Guadeloupe not yet confirmed.

“There is incredible competition for places in that line-up with five of us….no-one wants to lose their place two years out from the Olympics, especially as we have gone unbeaten for so long.

“So I will be giving everything this week.”

Trott will also compete in the 500m time trial on Thursday, the individual pursuit on Friday, then the scratch and points races at the weekend.

*Tickets for all sessions can be purchased online here (external link to Ticketmaster)