Manchester is gearing up to host some of the best track cyclists in the world, with the 2015 British Cycling National Track Championships just days away 
The final national track championships before the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, the high-action event boasts one of the strongest line-ups yet, and will see Olympians, Paralympians and world champions go head-to-head with the next generation of up-and-coming British talent. 

Seasoned track cycling enthusiasts and fans of live sport alike will have the opportunity to watch a world-class field on home soil with some of the biggest names in the sport set to compete, including Sir Bradley Wiggins, Laura Trott, Jason Kenny, Joanna Rowsell Shand, Ed Clancy and Dame Sarah Storey. Each will be looking to land gold and the coveted red, white and blue national champions’ jerseys in Manchester’s famous velodrome.

Manchester-born Dame Sarah Storey, an 11-time Paralympic champion, said: “I love competing at home and having local support. It has been a big year on the road for me, so I am looking forward to testing my legs on the track against some incredible talent in the women’s fields and trying to defend my points race title.”

The event opens at the National Cycling Centre in Manchester this Friday, with 22 gold medals awarded over six action-packed sessions. Encounters to watch out for include:

Olympic champion and 2012 Tour de France winner Sir Bradley Wiggins will compete in the men’s individual pursuit against 2014 national champion Andy Tennant, also riding for Team Wiggins. Tennant will be joined in the other men’s endurance events by Olympic champions Ed Clancy (JLT Condor) and Steven Burke (Team Wiggins), meaning three of the 2015 UCI Track Cycling World Championships team pursuit silver medallists will go head-to-head for individual glory.

In the Women’s endurance, Olympic champions Laura Trott (Matrix Fitness) and Joanna Rowsell Shand (Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International) will be joined by their Great Britain team pursuit teammates Elinor Barker (Wiggle Honda), Katie Archibald and Ciara Horne (both Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International) as well as multiple Paralympic champion Dame Sarah Storey

In the men’s sprint events, Callum Skinner (The Racers) will defend the three individual sprint titles he won in 2014 but will face stiff competition from the Olympic sprint champion Jason Kenny if he is to repeat his performance of 12 months ago.

In the women’s sprint events, British Olympian Jess Varnish (Team V-Sprint Racing) will be hoping for another flawless display as she attempts to successfully defend her sprint, keirin and team sprint titles for the second year in succession. Competition will come in the shape of in-form Katy Marchant who beat Varnish at the recent Revolution Series event in Derby, and 2013 double world champion Becky James, who is set to make a welcome return to the national championships as she continues her recovery from a knee injury which ruled her out of the 2014 ev

The para-cycling events will feature Paralympic champion Jody Cundy (Para T Cycling Team) and world champions Sophie Thornhill and Helen Scott (pilot) (Performance Cycle Coaching) and Neil Fachie with pilot Peter Mitchell (both Black Line).

The 2015 British Cycling National Track Championships returns to Manchester’s National Cycling Centre, the home of British Cycling, from Friday 25 to Sunday 27 September. Tickets for remaining sessions are available through Ticketmaster as well as on the door at the National Cycling Centre. For further event information visit www.nationaltrackchamps.co.uk

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