Cycling: Elinor Barker steps up for Track World Cup

November 15, 2012

Academy rider Elinor Barker is to replace Olympic champion Joanna Rowsell at the UCI Track World Cup taking place this weekend at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow.

The absence of Rowsell, who is suffering from a virus, will break up the women’s pursuit team of Laura Trott and Dani King, with the trio the reigning world and Olympic champions in the 3000m women’s pursuit.

Rowsell’s replacement, 18-year-old Barker, has an impressive junior record, holding the world junior road time trial and European junior individual pursuit titles. She also won silver for Wales in the team pursuit in the first World Cup event held in Colombia this October.

Barker will be joined by fellow academy rider Joe Kelly, who replaces Steven Burke.

Performance Director Dave Brailsford said: “It’s a fantastic opportunity for these two youngsters to step in and experience the GB competition environment at an elite level.”

Barker’s fellow Welsh rider, Becky James, will be replacing the retired Victoria Pendleton in the women’s sprint events. She will partner Jess Varnish, who will be riding in first position, with James in second.

This weekend’s event will be the second of the season, which will see British cyclists continue their effort to qualify for the Rio 2016 team. The third World Cup takes place in Mexico in January 2013, with the World Championships the following February in Minsk, Belarus.

Full GB team:

Women’s sprint: Becky James, Jess Varnish
Women’s endurance: Dani King, Elinor Barker, Laura Trott
Men’s sprint: Ed Clancy, Philip Hindes, Jason Kenny
Men’s endurance: Jon Dibben, Owain Doull, Sam Harrison, Joe Kelly, Andy Tennant, Simon Yates

Bianca Fermi, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine

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