The Revolution track series has announced the addition of Mark Cavendish and Geraint Thomas to the star studded lineup at the Manchester Velodrome, on the same day that the Australian Revolution series was launched in Melbourne. With their neo-professional road seasons drawing to a close, Great Britain's Cavendish and Thomas are preparing to return to the track, with the duo confirmed as starters in this month's Revolution.
The pair will head straight into the track season with the Revolution at Manchester Velodrome on October 20, their first event in an important winter that will see the world's top track riders prepare for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. "It's going to be good to get back to the track," said Thomas, who rode for Team Barloworld on the road in 2007. "After a long season on the road, I am looking forward to a change and after three weeks off racing I want to come back with a bang."
"It's always good to race in the UK and Revolution is great racing" he added. "It's going to be an important season and my main focus will be the Team Pursuit. Revolution will be a good workout before training in Australia and then on to the first big challenge in the Team Pursuit at the Beijing World Cup."
Cavendish is also set for an intense track season and will be using Revolution to help him prepare for the Gent Six. "I'll be riding with Bradley [Wiggins] in Gent so I'm going to get straight into the track season" said Cavendish, who has enjoyed a stellar road season with T-Mobile. "The Revolution is always a great night of racing and a good way to get the track speed in your legs. I'll definitely be looking to bring my sprint form into play on the track and take more wins over the winter."
Meanwhile the Australian Revolution series was launched yesterday at Melbourne's Darebin International Sports Centre Velodrome by local licensee of the concept CotterPin (see the full feature on the Revolution series Australian launch).
Australian Revolution event program 2007/2008:
Revolution 1 - Saturday November 24, Vodafone Arena
Revolution 2 - Wednesday December 19, Vodafone Arena
The Inaugural Junior Austral - Saturday February 23, DISC
The 110th Austral Wheelrace - Saturday March 15, Vodafone Arena
