Bradley Wiggins spearheads Great Britain’s team for the final round of the UCI Track Cycling World Cup in Manchester on February 18-20. 

Wiggins, who finished fourth in the 2009 Tour de France, has been concentrating on his road career since winning individual pursuit and team pursuit gold at the Beijing Olympics three years ago.

But the Team Sky rider is one of eight Olympic champions, including four-time Olympic gold medallist Sir Chris Hoy, Victoria Pendleton and Rebecca Romero, to be named in the squad.  Two-time Paralympic gold medallist Sarah Storey and current world BMX champion Shanaze Reade will also ride in Manchester.

Wiggins and Romero will be unable to defend their individual pursuit titles at London 2010 after the event was dropped from the Olympic schedule and both are expected to contest the team pursuit in Manchester. 

British Cycling’s performance manager Shane Sutton said: “We have selected the strongest squad possible for the final round of the World Cup season and we are looking to score as many qualification points as possible before we go to the World Championships next month.

“The Academy riders did us all proud out in Beijing and we’re all happy with how we are performing at this stage in the Olympic cycle. The Manchester World Cup is an event that the riders really enjoy and the support of a sell-out home crowd is always appreciated.”

Full squad:

Men’s Sprint
Matt Crampton
Ross Edgar
Sir Chris Hoy
Jason Kenny