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Velodrome hosts top Olympic stars

29/ 8/2008

THIS year has already been a fantastic success for cycling in Great Britain, and track cycling is set to take centre stage once again when the nation’s heroes show the world what they are made of.

The 2008 National Track Championships will be hosted at the world-famous Manchester Velodrome between 16 and 20 September.

The Championships also offer a chance for people to show their support for the stars of the future, with some of the nation’s greatest talent already signed up.

Olympic bronze medallists Steven Burke and Chris Newton will be going head to head in the Individual pursuit, scratch and points race.

They face some very hot competition in these events, as fellow GB Podium Academy rider Mark McNally and Development Academy youngster Andy Fenn have signed up.

Current world champion Jo Rowsell heads the ladies’ line up. She is entered for the scratch and points races, and will face some difficult competition from fellow Team Halfords Bikehut riders Lizzie Armitstead and Emma Trott.

The meeting starts at 7pm on Tuesday 16 September with the men’s Kilo TT and the women’s 500m TT.

Wednesday will see the men qualify for the scratch race and the women qualify for the sprint in the morning session starting at 11.30am.

The finals for these events will be in the evening. Thursday’s morning session, starting at 10am, brings the qualification rounds for the men’s sprint and pursuit, while the women take each other on in the 15km scratch.

The finals of these events take place in the evening session which begins at 7pm.

Qualification rounds for the points races and team sprints for both men and women start at mid-day on Friday, with the finals starting at 7pm.

Saturday hosts the men’s and women’s Kierin battles, as well as the team pursuit and women’s 3000m pursuit. Qualification starts at 1pm, with the finals starting at 7pm.

Tickets for the National Track Championships are on sale now. They cost £5 (£4 for concessions - under 16s and OAPs) and will allow access to the Velodrome for the day’s racing.

Family tickets (two adults and two under 16s) are also available for £10 per day.

A season ticket can be purchased which allows access to the Velodrome for all the racing.

This costs £12.50 for a single ticket, £25 for a family ticket, and £10 for concessions.

Tickets are available for purchase from Ticketmaster.

They are also available from the reception at Manchester Velodrome.