The women sprinters take centre stage on the first Saturday of the Games, with places in the medal finals up for grabs.

The men’s para-sprinters, where Neil Fachie and veteran Craig MacLean (Scotland) will again carry the hopes of the home nation, are also in action, while medals will also be awarded in the men’s kilo time trial and points race and the women’s scratch race.

Becky James (Wales) misses the Commonwealth Games with injury, but there is still a lot of sprinting talent on show, including Olympic champion Anna Meares (Australia).

Jessica Varnish (England), who finished fourth at the World Championships, is also among the contenders alongside compatriots Vicky Williamson and Dannielle Khan.

In the absence of James – who won silver four years ago – and with the rare chance of competing at an international event without the all-conquering German team in opposition, the English sprinters stand a strong chance of at least a podium place.

The kilo time trial, meanwhile, sees Scott Sunderland (Australia) start as defending champion, but world championship bronze medallist Simon van Velthooven (New Zealand) provides stiff opposition.

New Zealand could also be among the medallists in the men’s points race, with Madison-Genesis ace Tom Scully, the world championship silver medallist, among the contenders.

Scully is not the only rider familiar to British domestic racing fans either, with Team Raleigh’s Delhi bronze medallist Mark Christian (Isle of Man) also returning to the boards.

Former world scratch race champion Martyn Irvine (Northern Ireland) is another major contender, while Jon Mould and Owain Doull (Wales) have enjoyed success in the track bunch disciplines too.

The women’s scratch race, meanwhile, will once again see Katie Archibald (Scotland) – backed by former Commonwealth Games medal winner Charline Joiner and newly-crowned British criterium champion Eileen Roe – flying the home flag.

Laura Trott, Dani King and Lizzie Armitstead could all compete for England, while Jasmin Glaesser (Canada) provides strong opposition.

Saturday July 26: cycling schedule

Session one – 11:00-14:00
Men’s para-sport tandem sprint qualifying and semi-final
Men’s 40km points race qualifying
Women’s individual sprint qualifying and quarter-final

Session two – 16:00-19:45
Men’s para-sport tandem sprint final
Men’s kilo time trial final
Men’s 40km points race final
Women’s individual sprint semi-finals and minor final
Women’s 10km scratch race final

Brits to watch

Laura Trott and Dani King (England) – With no women’s team pursuit at the Commonwealth Games, Trott and King will have to look elsewhere for medals. King competed in the scratch race at the world championships, while Trott was part of the team which helped Anna Blyth win scratch race bronze in Delhi. When riding together at Revolution for Wiggle-Honda, King and Trott have been unstoppable in the discipline – the latter profiting from King’s superb lead-outs, and with Lizzie Armitstead possibly their third rider, England will boast a very strong team.

Gold medals available: four