By Ben Atkins in Manchester The British team might have largely sent its B-squad to the first round...
Houvenaghel on her way to the final (Image credit: Gerry McManus)
By Ben Atkins in Manchester
The British team might have largely sent its B-squad to the first round of the UCI World Cup, but that did not stop them from dominating in the first session of the weekend. Olympic champions Victoria Pendleton, Wendy Houvenaghel and Jason Kenny cruised through the qualifying rounds in their respective events, but new faces also stepped up to the challenge.
Ed Clancy, a mainstay of the British team pursuit squad, put in the fastest men's individual pursuit qualifying ride, and Matthew Crampton emerged victorious in his heat of the keirin first round. Olympic champion Bradley Wiggins skipped his signature event, choosing to dabble in the scratch race instead.
With many of the Olympians taking a late summer break and choosing to start the World Cup rounds later, the door was wide open for new faces from all countries to have a chance at the medals in Manchester.
