Sir Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish crowned a successful return to the track with Madison success as the Revolution Series returned for 2015/16, with its maiden event in Derby’s new velodrome.
Wiggins and Cavendish – the 2008 world champions in the discipline – reunited to win the 40km event (160 laps), beating Belgian duo Kenny de Ketele and Moreno de Pauw by 11 points.
The first round of the new Series marked the start of qualifying for the Rio Olympics, and both Wiggins and Cavendish had earlier strengthened their hopes of racing in Brazil.
Wiggins joined Owain Doull, Ed Clancy and Steven Burke in the team pursuit on the opening night to clock a winning time of 3.54.974 – just three seconds slower than the world record time Clancy and Burke set with Geraint Thomas and Pete Kennaugh at London 2012.
Cavendish, meanwhile, was second in the omnium – with Clancy continuing his stunning success record at Revolution with a comprehensive victory.
The 18-point winning margin means Clancy – bronze medallist in the omnium in London – remains the more likely to take Britain’s sole Olympic spot last year but the Manxman was encouraged by his return to the track.
“Given the track time I’ve had, I’m really happy with where I’m at, to finish second behind an Olympic medallist is all right,” he told The Guardian. “There’s no soreness and I’m very encouraged, given the last omnium I did was as a schoolboy.
“It’d be nice to have an Olympic medal, just to stop people banging on about it.”
Burke and Doull also paired up to win the Madison time trial – their winning time of 55.240 within a second of Clancy’s world record, set with Oliver Wood.
Among the other British riders on show, Laura Trott was victorious in the women’s omnium – beating Belgium’s road race champion Jolien d’Hoore by just three points.
Trott also bagged third place in the individual pursuit, which her team pursuit team-mate Joanna Rowsell-Shand won by beating Ciara Horne in the final.
Matthew Gibson was victorious in the men’s individual pursuit and the Longest Lap, while Lewis Oliva and Katy Marchant enjoyed sprinting success.
Jason Kenny made up for missing out on the sprint final by winning the Keirin, meanwhile, while Marchant doubled up to win the women’s event.
Cavendish and Wiggins closed the night, however, winning in the Madison having finished in the top five in all eight of the sprints.
