Track time table changes get women's support

The world's top female track riders have thrown their support behind a reshuffling of the schedule for this year's UCI Track World Championships, which start in Poland today. Officials have moved the women's 500 metre time trial to the event's opening day, a change supported by Australia's Anna Meares and Briton's Victoria Pendleton.

"I think it's finally in the right order with the 500m time trial first off and then the, shall I say, less safe events after," said Meares, whose crash last year came in the keirin event at the Los Angeles round of the UCI Track World Cup series. "I hope this order stays in place in future."

Meares will take on rival Pendleton in the former's favoured event today. The two met last at the Beijing Olympic Games' women's sprint final where Pendleton claimed a gold medal.

"Last year the 500 [metres time trial] was squashed between the sprint heats so it wasn't possible practically [to do it]," Pendleton told The Guardian. "This time around I'm really doing it because I can."

Pendleton hopes to leave Pruszkow with four world titles. In addition to the 500 metre sprint, she will contest the team sprint, sprint and keirin events.