Madison (Mark Cavendish and Sir Bradley Wiggins)

The last time Great Britain hosted the World Championships, in 2008 in Manchester, Mark Cavendish and Sir Bradley Wiggins won gold in the Madison.

After subsequently missing out at the Olympics – though Wiggins won team and individual pursuit medals – the two men have made their name on the road instead.

Now, however, Britain’s most successful ever professional cyclist and the country’s first Tour de France champion will reunite in London.

At the Revolution Series in Derby at the end of last year, the two combined to win the Madison and their bid to repeat their 2008 triumph will close the Championships.

They will not have it easy though, with defending champions France looking strong and already picking up a World Cup win.

Team Raleigh-GAC rider Morgan Kneisky won gold with Europcar’s Bryan Coquard last time out, but in Coquard’s absence it will be Benjamin Thomas who partners him.

Team Sky’s Elia Viviani and Italy team-mate Alex Buttazoni took silver last time out, meanwhile, and European champions Spain will also provide stiff competition – Sebastian Mora and Albert Torres their winners in Grenchen.

When to watch: Sunday March 6, Finals – afternoon session

Women’s team pursuit

The women’s team pursuit was new to the World Championships the last time they were in Great Britain, with Joanna Rowsell, Rebecca Romero and Wendy Houvenaghel taking gold in Manchester.

And the Brits have been in the podium in all eight editions, winning six gold medals and two silvers – with Rowsell still a key member of the team now.

The event has since, of course, become a four-rider, 4km event – the same as the men’s – but, after taking the switch in their stride, the Brits were beaten by world record holders Australia last time out.

Now, they out to reclaim the top step of the podium, and prove they are the favourites ahead of the Olympic Games.

Injury to Katie Archibald means the quartet will come from Rowsell, Laura Trott, Elinor Barker, Emily Nelson and Ciara Horne.

Alongside the Aussies, Canada will be among their rivals having taken two victories at this winter’s three UCI Track World Cup meets.

When to watch: Thursday March 3, qualification – 1pm; Friday March 4, round 1 (from) 2.30pm; Finals – (from) 7pm

Men’s omnium (Mark Cavendish)

For Mark Cavendish to compete at the men’s omnium in Rio, he needs to finish in the top three in the event in London according to Shane Sutton.

And to do so, he will need to go one better than he did at the final round of the UCI Track World Cup in Hong Kong.

Fourth on that occasion, Cavendish has since gone on to win the Tour of Qatar – his first win on the road for his new team, Team Dimension Data.

But he faces stiff competition in London, not least from some of his traditional rivals on the road.

Team Sky’s Italian Elia Viviani is the European champion and took bronze in 2015, while Cavendish’s former Etixx-QuickStep team-mate Fernando Gaviria (Colombia) is the defending world champion.

Mark Cavendish targets triple success in action-packed 2016

Former Cannondale-Garmin rider Lasse Norman Hansen is another to watch, the Dane have finished on the podium at two World Cups and the European Championships in the winter.

Cavendish has ambitiously targeted a yellow jersey at the Tour de France, an Olympic gold and a World Championship win this season.

If he hopes to achieve that hat-trick, he needs a performance in London.

When to watch: Friday March 4 to Saturday March 5 – one event in each of the six sessions across the two days

Men’s team sprint

Britain’s sprint squads have faltered in recent years, seemingly unable to replace Olympic heroes Sir Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton.

But the men turned a corner during the winter, winning the final UCI Track World Cup event in Hong Kong to top the overall standings.

After a lean period it was proof the men were finally starting to show form ahead of London – with the depth in their four-man squad emphasised when they swapped Matt Crampton for Callum Skinner for the final.

Olympic champions Jason Kenny and Philip Hindes complete the line-up, and the Worlds will be an interesting marker of the progress they have made.

Defending champions France’s form seem to have gone the opposite way, despite the presence of Francois Pervis, but Germany remain strong and look favourites for gold.

Poland were the team Britain beat in Hong Kong meanwhile, and could be dark horses in London.

When to watch: Wednesday March 2, qualification – afternoon session; Finals – evening session