Reade returns to the track

The British team may be missing Sir Chris Hoy from its sprint team, but it has added an ace to its women's line-up with defending world champion Shanaze Reade. The Sky +HD rider and partner Victoria Pendleton were victorious in last year's Team Sprint, and Reade is hoping to nab a bit of glory after a disappointing Olympic Games in BMX, where she crashed out.

"Then the penny dropped and I wanted to race again and spoke to Steve Peters and Dave (Brailsford) who made me feel very welcome," Reade told British Cycling's Larry Hickmont. "I told them I wanted to do the Track Worlds as the Team Sprint is my event and I wanted to come here to defend the title. They said yes and set me a high standard to get into the team and doing that trial was more nerve wracking than doing the Worlds!"

Reade satisfied the requirements, and is ready to help defend the team's title with Pendleton. "I was really happy with the time though and I have got faster and faster since then so I am really looking forward to this race."