Britain names strong team for world track championships

LONDON (Reuters) - British Cycling named a strong team on Wednesday for the World Track Championships to be held later this month in Manchester.

Victoria Pendleton, Chris Hoy and Bradley Wiggins, who between them won seven golds at last year's world championships in Parma, Mallorca, are at the heart of a 23-rider squad.

"This team is an exciting mix of experienced world champions and talented young riders who are breaking through," Dave Brailsford, Performance Director of the British team, said in a statement.

"It will be a special championships for everyone in the team: not only is it the last major event before the Beijing Olympics; it is also taking place on our home track in Manchester, where we will be able to count great crowd support."

Pendleton won gold in the sprint, Keirin and team sprint last year, Olympic time trial champion Hoy took gold in Keirin and Kilo and Wiggins, also an Olympic gold medallist, was a winner in team and individual pursuit.

The championships will be held from March 26-30. It is the third time they have been staged in Manchester in the past 12 years.

(Reporting by Martyn Herman, editing by Trevor Huggins)