UCI PARA-CYCLING TRACK WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

GB Para-Cycling track team will face its first major test ahead of London 2012 at the UCI Para-Cycling Track World Championship in Motichiari, Italy, taking place on 11-13 March. The competition is the first opportunity for the British team to earn track qualification points for the London 2012 Paralympic Games under a new classification system and a lengthy break from racing.

British athletes will meet some of their biggest opponents for the first time since Beijing 2008 as a number of nations were missing from the Para-Cycling Track World Championships in Manchester in 2009, where Britain claimed 13 medals. Among British athletes competing for vital qualification points will be seven Paralympic Champions, a current double World Champion and a handful of promising London 2012 hopefuls making their World Championship debut.

The three day event will kick off with the Men's C class Pursuits and the Men's and Women's Tandem Kilos. On Saturday 11 March the Brits will ride the Women's C Class Pursuit, the Men's Tandem Pursuit and the Men's C Class Kilos. The final day of competition will see the Men's Tandem Sprint, the Women's Tandem Pursuit, the Team Sprint and the Women's 500mTT.

FRIDAY 11 MARCH

Women's tandems will clash in the afternoon in the Kilo with Paralympic and World Champion Aileen McGlynn, undefeated in the event since Athens in 2004, looking to defend her title with new pilot Helen Scott. Lora Turnham, piloted by Fiona Duncan, will also ride in the event.

SATURDAY 12 MARCH

Paralympic Champion in the Pursuit Sarah Storey (above) will be going into the competition with confidence on Saturday morning after clenching Gold in the able-bodied Team Pursuit at the Manchester Track World Cup last month, nearly breaking the current World Record. But she won't be feeling complacent with the ever improving Anna Harkowska from Poland hungry for the top spot after a close combat with Sarah at last year's Road World Championships in Canada.

SUNDAY 13 MARCH

More tandem action will follow with the Women's Tandem Pursuit in which Aileen McGlynn and Helen Scott and Lora Turnham and Fiona Duncan will be up against strong competition from Karissa Whitsell, current World Champion from the USA. Sarah Storey will look to defend her World Champion title in the 500mTT. Threatening the attempt will be Chinese rider Ju Fang Zhou, 2007 World Champion who was absent from competition in 2009.