A mix of old faces and new make up the Great Britain squad heading to the Track Cycling World Championships this week with Laura Kenny itching to make her first international appearance since Rio.
Britain’s most successful female Olympian of all time gave birth last August but has hit the comeback trail hard and earned selection for the World Championships in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, which run from Wednesday to Sunday.
She will be joined by husband Jason – also making a first international appearance since Rio – as the pair look to add to their impressive cycling CVs.
“I’m looking forward to getting back into the Great Britain skinsuit and racing at the World Championships again,” the four-time Olympic champion told British Cycling.
“The last five months since Albie was born have been amazing and my life has changed a lot but Jason and I are loving every minute of being parents.
“I returned to training about four months ago, and I’ve been really pleased and I guess a bit shocked by how fast my form has started to come back.”
Kenny is part of a six-strong women’s endurance squad, with all six fighting it out for the team pursuit spots.
Also in that squad are reigning world champions Katie Archibald and Elinor Barker, with the pair set to team up in the women’s Madison having won the event at last year’s Manchester leg of the World Cup.
Archibald will also defend her omnium title, as well as going in the scratch race, while Barker will hope to retain her points race rainbow jersey.
The men’s endurance squad sees junior academy rider Ethan Hayter make the cut, as well as independent riders Charlie Tanfield and Dan Bigham – of Team KGF – also making the squad.
National champion Tanfield will contest the individual pursuit, as well as the team event with Bigham, Kian Emadi, Mark Stewart, Ollie Wood and triple Olympic champion Ed Clancy.
Tanfield and Bigham have forced their way into the World Championships team, despite not being part of the British Cycling programme, thanks to their performances with Team KGF.
National team pursuit champions in 2017, the outfit won the Minsk round of the World Cup in January – with Tanfield also winning the individual pursuit and now set to make his World Championships debut.
"If someone had said this 12 months ago I would have laughed," said Tanfield, a mechanical engineering student.
"There have been times when it's been ridiculous and far too much for me to handle. I'm at university, I come home in the dark and have to do four hours on the bike.
"I deferred my course a few weeks ago and it's been a lot better since.
“I just wanted to prepare properly for Worlds, I didn't want to leave anything behind. It's a huge decision, it's a risk and it might not pay off, but we'll soon find out."
The women’s sprint team will see Olympic bronze medallist Katy Marchant team up with debutant Lauren Bate, after the duo impressed in Minsk last month.
Meanwhile Kenny returns to the men’s sprint squad as one of five fighting it out for the team sprint places.
The six-time Olympic champion revealed last year that he had secretly decided to retire before reversing his decision and won the team sprint at last month’s National Championships.
"The nationals went quite well but that doesn't mean to say the Worlds will go well," he said. "I don't feel massively under-prepared but I've come into this with six months training instead of the usual 12.”
Men’s endurance
Dan Bigham – individual pursuit Ed Clancy – team pursuit Kian Emadi – team pursuit Ethan Hayter – team pursuit, madison Chris Latham – scratch race, madison Mark Stewart – team pursuit, points race, madison Charlie Tanfield – team pursuit, individual pursuit Ollie Wood – team pursuit, omnium madison
Women’s endurance
Katie Archibald – team pursuit, omnium, scratch race, madison Elinor Barker – team pursuit, points race, madison Ellie Dickinson – team pursuit, individual pursuit Emily Kay – team pursuit, individual pursuit Laura Kenny – team pursuit Emily Nelson – team pursuit
Men’s sprint
Jack Carlin – team sprint, individual sprint Phil Hindes – team sprint, individual sprint Jason Kenny – team sprint Ryan Owens – team sprint Callum Skinner – kilometre time trial Joe Truman – team sprint, keirin, kilometre time trial
Women’s sprint
Lauren Bate – team sprint Katy Marchant – team sprint, keirin, individual sprint, 500m time trial
For a full guide to the event visit the British Cycling website
Live coverage will be available on both the BBC and Eurosport. Pic: SWpix.com Sportsbeat 2018