Backstedt and Chicchi join the Revolution

Swedish champion Magnus Backstedt will return to track racing at the Revolution Series in Great Britain on October 20, and the Liquigas professional has big ambitions for the season ahead. Backstedt missed out on the track season last year following a horrific crash while training at the Newport Velodrome. In a freak accident he touched wheels during a Madison change with compatriot Freddie Johansson and hit the deck hard, breaking a collarbone and severely displacing his shoulder. The injury put him out of action for several months but this season he is back and looking forward to a return to the Revolution Series.

"I'm really looking forward to getting back to Manchester and the Revolution Series," said Backstedt. "I missed all last winter through injury and it will be fantastic to show off my Swedish national champions colours to a crowd who always treat me as one of their own."

Backstedt is better known as a road rider with a win at Paris-Roubaix under his belt, but this season he has clear objectives on the track with his sights set on the Beijing Olympics next year. "My main goal this winter is to qualify for the Beijing Olympics next year on the track. Coming out of the Tour of Spain, Revolution will be perfect to get my track legs back for the first two World Cups."

Joining Backstedt will be fellow Liquigas rider Francesco Chicchi. Chicchi has already tasted victory on British soil taking victory in Stage 1 of the Tour of Britain in 2006 and will be looking to carry over the road success on to the track. The Italian sprinter has plenty of experience on the track and is planning on making a competitive return this season so Revolution will be the perfect place to put his sprinting skills to the test.