Olympic gold medallist Steven Burke and Telegraph All Stars team mate Owain Doull took an early lead in the Revolution Series Elite Championship as the 2013/14 season kicked off in Manchester.
Burke and Doull, both included in Great Britain’s squad for next weekend’s Track World Cup, did not take an individual victory on the night but their consistent performances ensured they topped the overall team standings.
Fellow Great Britain squad member Ed Clancy (Rapha-Condor JLT) claimed three wins on the night – winning the flying lap and scratch race and partnering Olly Wood to madison time trial victory.
The Telegraph All Stars duo finished second overall in the madison, and with Doull also claiming second in the points race and Burke doing likewise in the flying lap and scratch race – to add to third in the elimation race – they pipped the defending champions to become early overall leaders.
With UCI points up for grabs for the first time, and an elite field of riders on show at the National Cycling Centre, the sell-out crowd witnessed star performances across the disciplines.
The world class action kicked off with Jonathan Mould (Team USN) storming to victory in the 40km men’s UCI points race ahead of Doull and the German rider, Christian Grasmann (Rudy Project RT).
Mould also took second place in the men’s elimination race, with Luke Rowe (Team Sky) beating him in the final sprint to claim victory over an incredibly strong field.
Dani King (Wiggle-Honda) was victorious in the women’s points race, over 25km, benefitting from the support of her elite team-mates Laura Trott, Joanna Rowsell and Elinor Barker to beat Anastasia Chulkova (Rus-Velo) by one point.
Meanwhile, Clancy maintained his superb form in the elite flying lap, beating his fellow Great Britain team pursuitists Burke and Andy Tennant to follow his four consecutive victories last season.
The evening session kicked off with the women’s sprint, with Jess Varnish and world champion Becky James beating Dani Khan and Katy Marchant to a place in the final.
And Varnish pipped the world champion on the line when the two Great Britain team sprint team mates went wheel-to-wheel in the final later in the evening.
In the men’s competition, Matt Crampton edged out Olympic team sprint champion Philip Hindes in the semi-final, while Jason Kenny proved too good for Lewis Olivia, clocking an incredible 41.6mph to earn a place in the final.
And Kenny carried his good form into the final too, taking victory to rack up the maximum UCI points on offer.
Kenny also prevailed in the men’ keirin, attacking over the top on the final straight to beat Hindes and Crampton into second and third respectively.
Track queen Laura Trott marked her senior Revolution Series debut in style, comfortably winning the elimination race with road rival Hannah Barnes among those dropped early in the race.
Trott was just unable to make it a perfect night for Wiggle-Honda however as she was pipped on the line in the scratch race by Emily Kay (Team USN) and Spanish rider Leire Olaberria.
Wiggle-Honda had appeared favourites for the win with Trott, King, Barker and Rowsell leading the race, but Trott ultimately had to be content with third place despite being on the front into the final lap.
In the showpiece men’s madison time trial, Clancy and team mate Olly Wood took the victory, with Doull and Burke, the last riders out, taking second.
And Clancy capped his night in style with victory in the men’s 15km scratch race, launching an attack with one-and-a-half laps remaining to beat Burke and Jake Ragan (Max).
There was a surprise result to end the night’s racing however, as world keirin champion James was beaten into fourth place in the final women’s UCI event of the evening.
Double world junior champion Dani Khan added to her rising stock by taking victory, with Varnish and Rosie Blount beaten on the line.
Highlights of the day’s action will be broadcast on BT Sport at 7pm on Tuesday October 29.
The second event of the expanded five-round series will now take place in Glasgow, at the Sir Chris Hoy velodrome, on Saturday November 30.
For more information visit www.cyclingrevolution.com.
