World Track Cycling Championships 2016: Who, what and when? Everything you need to know about Bradley Wiggins, Laura Trott and Jason Kenny’s return to the Olympic velodrome
The biggest and best names of British cycling, including 2012 heroes such as Sir Bradley Wiggins, Jason Kenny and Laura Trott, convene at the Olympic Velodrome tomorrow for what is expected to be the best attended World Track Cycling Championships in history.
Over 50,000 tickets have been sold for the five-day event, ensuring the 6,000 capacity venue will be full to the brim with cycling fans eager to see the last major track competition before the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
For competitors such as Mark Cavendish, the event represents their last chance to stake a claim for a place in the Great Britain cycling team heading to Brazil.Cavendish, the event represents their last chance to stake a claim for a place in the Great Britain cycling team heading to Brazil.
And for cycling fans, it represents the chance to re-live the fervent patriotic atmosphere whipped up in the Velodrome during the Olympics where Team GB won nine medals – a haul bettered at no other venue.
The velodrome was one of Team GB's most successful stomping grounds at 2012 (Source: Getty)
Read more: CavendishCavendish set for World Championships reunion with Wiggins as Great Britain squad announced
Which British stars are involved in which events?
Madison
When? Sunday, 5:45pm
Who? Sir Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish
Cavendish and Wiggins will reprise a previously successful partnership in the Madison, a 200-lap, 50km race, with teams of two riders who take turns "resting" at the top of the track and sprinting near the base.
The pair won gold at the 2008 Championships, but after a disappointing 9th placed finish at that year's Olympics in Beijing, have both spent most of the intervening years focusing on the road.
Cavendish and Wiggins won the Madison at the 2008 World Track Cycling Championships (Source: Getty)
Men's Omnium
When? Friday – Saturday (Final: Saturday evening)
Who? Mark Cavendish
Cavendish has been told he must finish in the top three in the multi-event men's omnium to have a chance of competing in Rio, where he hopes to win the Olympic gold medal which has eluded him so far in his career.
The omnium is a six-race event that tests a rider's endurance and sprint speed.
Women's Omnium
When? Friday – Sunday (Final event: Sunday afternoon)
Who? Laura Trott
London 2012 star Laura Trott holds the home crowd's hopes in the women's omnium. Trott has happy memories of the Velodrome, having triumphed at the venue in twice in 2012.
The omnium was the vehicle for one of those successes – and Trott is one of the favourites for gold in Rio this summer. However, the 23-year-old has not won the event at the track cycling world championships since 2012, finishing second on every occasion.
Laura Trott in action on the track (Source: Getty)
Women's team pursuit
When? Thursday – Friday (Final: 7pm Friday)
Who? Laura Trott, Elinor Barker, Emily Nelson, Joanna Roswell and Ciara Horne
Trott will be joined by three others in the women's team for the 4km race – traditionally a big winner for Great Britain, with the women winning six gold medals and two silvers in the eight years since the event was introduced to the Championship.
Men's team pursuit
When? Wednesday – Thursday (Final: 9pm Thursday)
Who? Steven Burke, Ed Clancy, Jon Dibben, Owain Doull, Chris Latham, Andy Tennant
Steven Burke and Ed Clancy, members of the men's pursuit team that swept to victory in 2012, return to action tomorrow and may be joined by Wiggins this year.
Great Britain have twice finished runners-up but not re-taken gold in the team pursuit since 2012.
Men's individual sprint / team sprint
When? Friday – Saturday (Final: 7pm Saturday)
Who? Jason Kenny
Jason Kenny returns to the site of his 2012 triumphs, where he was victorious in the individual and team sprint. But the triple Olympic gold medallist has often struggled to replicate such success at world championships.
The 27-year-old will either compete in the individual sprint – a flying 200m time trial followed by knockout 2-3 lap races – or the team sprint which features three riders taking on three laps.