Rapha Condor Sharp and Motorpoint-Marshalls Pasta have joined Team Sky in entering the Revolution Series at the National Cycling Centre in Manchester.
The eighth series kicks off on October 23 and will follow the same points-based system which saw last season’s Slicks team take the championship over Forza.
However, the composite teams will now race under the trade team banners. The trade teams will be headed up by their leading professional riders.
Motorpoint-Marshalls Pasta will field three of their professional riders: Olympic team pursuit champion Ed Clancy, Olympic individual pursuit bronze medallist Steve Burke and Andy Tennant.
All three riders have recently been named in the men’s endurance squad for November’s European Track Championships and will be looking to hone their form at the opening Revolution event.
Dean Downing, who will captain the Rapha Condor Sharp team, said: “It’s going to be great competing in our own teams at Revolution.
“I’ve ridden in every series of the Revolution to date and this is the first time I’ve ridden with my team-mates.
“I think it will really up the competition levels and allow for rivalries from the road season to play out on the track.
“It should make the series even more exciting for the crowd to watch. I can’t wait to rip it up.”
Downing will be joined track newcomer Graham Briggs and former points world champion Chris Newton, who will be taking part in his last Revolution Series before retiring.
“I always look forward to Revolution,” said Newton. “It’s an important part of the track racing season – a unique programme of short, sharp races.
“It’s useful to sharpen your form and it’s a good atmosphere. All in all, it’s an entertaining evening of racing.
“I’ve only not raced in one Revolution event in its whole history so it’ll be sad for me. It’s great to race in front of crowds of that size; I’ll miss that as it’s a unique experience.”
Season tickets sales have now closed but standard tickets for the individual events are still available from www.cyclingrevolution.com
