Track World Cup, Manchester Venue: Manchester Velodrome Dates: 18-20 February Coverage: Watch live on BBC red button and online (UK only); listen on 5 live sports extra
Wiggins could chase a seventh world title in the Netherlands
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Britain's Bradley Wiggins and Rebecca Romero will make their track cycling returns in February's World Cup Classics event in Manchester. The duo, who won Olympic track titles in Beijing two years ago, have been concentrating on road racing careers. Sir Chris Hoy, Victoria Pendleton and Jason Queally are among seven Olympic Champions in the 27-strong GB team. Paralympic gold medallist Sarah Storey and BMX world champion Shanaze Reade will also ride at the three-day event. British Cycling's performance manager Shane Sutton said: "We have selected the strongest squad possible for the final round of the World Cup season "We are looking to score as many qualification points as possible before we go to the World Championships next month." Wiggins, who won individual pursuit gold at the Athens Olympics in 2004 then added gold in individual and team pursuits in Beijing four years later, is expected to feature in the team pursuit at the event in Manchester which runs from 18 to 20 February. He said in 2009 that he would turn his back on track cycling for two years, but always expected to be back in time for the 2012 Olympics, when he could also contest the road time trial. The 29-year-old Londoner, who finished fourth in the Tour de France in 2009, could also take part in the track World Championships in the Netherlands from 23 to 27 March. But he will be unable to defend his individual pursuit title at the London Olympics after the event was dropped from the schedule. The same goes for Romero, 31, who will feature in the team pursuit at the Manchester Velodrome, in the fourth and final leg of the World Cup series. Britain's leading riders missed the third leg in Beijing but a young pursuit team won bronze and Welsh teenager Sam Harrison took gold in the men's omnium. Sutton added: "The Academy riders did us all proud out in Beijing and we're all happy with how we are performing at this stage in the Olympic cycle. "The Manchester World Cup is an event that the riders really enjoy and the support of a sell-out home crowd is always appreciated."
Riders Men's sprint: Matt Crampton, Ross Edgar, Sir Chris Hoy, Jason Kenny Men's endurance: Steven Burke, Ed Clancy, Sam Harrison, Peter Kennaugh, Jason Queally, Luke Rowe, Ben Swift, Andrew Tennant, Geraint Thomas, Bradley Wiggins Women's Sprint: Becky James, Victoria Pendleton, Shanaze Reade, Jess Varnish Women's Endurance: Lizzie Armitstead, Katie Colclough, Claire Galloway, Wendy Houvenaghel, Dani King, Rebecca Romero, Joanna Rowsell, Sarah Storey, Laura Trott
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