22 British riders will line up for the Home leg of the UCI World Cup in a few week’s time. It’s the biggest ever team we’ve provivded for a World Cup and with a few riders in fantastic form we should be well up for a medal or two. The recent clashes between the GB and the German sprint squads look like they’ll add some spice into the latter stages of the event too. Nicole Cooke is in blistering form for the women’s endurance events and there will always be a well drilled pursuit squad lining up for the men’s team pursuit. We can hardly wait.

Great Britain Cycling team colours will be:
Sprinters (Men)
Chris Hoy (Olympic Kilo Champion and World Team Sprint Champion
Ross Edgar
Craig MacLean (2000 Olympic Silver medal – Team Sprint)

Endurance Men
Geraint Thomas
Ian Stannard
Andy Tennant
Ben Swift
Ross Sander
Ed Clancy (part of the World Team Pursuit Champion’s team 2005)

Endurance Women
Nicole Cooke (Silver medal, World Road Race Championship 2005)
Rachel Heal
Nikki Harris
Kate Cullen

Science in Sport riders (Sprinters)
Jason Queally (World Team Sprint Champion, 2000 Olympic champion)
Jamie Staff ((World Team Sprint Champion)
Matthew Crampton
Victoria Pendleton (World Sprint Champion)

Recycling.co.uk Riders (Endurance Men)
Rob Hayles (World Madison & Team Pursuit Champion 2005)
Paul Manning (Team Pursuit Champion 2005)
Chris Newton (Team Pursuit Champion 2005)
Mark Cavendish (World Madison Champion 2005)
Evan Oliphant

Backstedt To Ride Manchester World Track Cup.
Swedens Magnus Backstedt is (by his own admission) a bit of an adopted Brit. However as a proud Swede he’s also thrilled to be the first of his countrymen for many years to race on the World track cup circuit when he participates in the individual pursuit
at the Manchester round in December.

A strong time triallist Backstedt starts his preparation with an eye on possibly making a mark in the track events at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Backstedt said “This is not a switch from the road just merely making the most of the abilities that I have. The pursuit is an obvious choice and hopefully
will inspire more Swedish riders to take up track racing. This first outing is a fact finding mission and I am not putting any pressure on myself. I’ll also ride the
points and scratch race as part of my research, I’m on unchartered territory here”

The Liquigas professional is now beginning his preparation for a crack at reclaiming his Paris – Roubaix crown. “I have just taken on a new performance coach
and I am really focused and motivated for 2006. The British public have really taken me to their hearts, that showed with the support I received at the derny
hour record attempt and I am looking forward to racing in front of them at the World cup”.