Yorkshire’s Clancy sidelined from a return to London

Sir Bradley Wiggins is the most notable absentee from the men’s endurance squad, after the former Tour de France winner made it known in the summer that he wanted to return to the boards for the run up to Rio 2016.

The London meet was going to be his next serious competitive outing but he has not been selected.

Wiggins won silver on his track return at the Commonwealth Games and had been targeting the London leg of the World Cup series. He is now unlikely to be seen in competitive action at the velodrome until 2015.

The other impending absence is that of Ed Clancy, Yorkshire’s most decorated track cyclist, who has bowed to ill health.

Clancy, who has barely missed a major meet in the last decade and is traditionally the first name on the team sheet, is a non-travelling reserve in the British squad.

The 29-year-old two-time Olympic team pursuit champion has endured a poor run of health and has therefore been unable to build up the requisite base of training.

He will only compete if there is illness or injury to either Steven Burke, Andy Tennant, Mark Christian, Owain Doull and Jon Dibben.

Alongside Laura Trott, Phil Hindes, Jason Kenny and Joanna Rowsell, Burke is one of five Olympic champions returning to the scene of their 2012 triumph.

British Cycling technical director Shane Sutton said: “The home round of the World Cup series is a competition the whole team looks forward to and the fact that this event is taking place in the Lee Valley VeloPark makes this event extra special for us. The crowd support during London 2012 was phenomenal and gave the team a huge lift so hopefully the public will get behind us once again and support us on our journey to Rio.”

The London meet is the second of three World Cup events this winter, following this month’s races in Guadalajara and January’s final meet in Cali, Colombia.

The world track championships are held in Paris in February, when Clancy, Wiggins and the British squad will be hoping to claim a first world title in the team pursuit since 2012.

Great Britain team for Track World Cup in London,Men’s sprint: Phil Hindes, Jason Kenny, Callum Skinner, Matt Crampton*.

Women’s sprint: Jess Varnish, Vicky Williamson, Danni Khan*.

Men’s endurance: Steve Burke, Mark Christian, Ed Clancy*, Jon Dibben, Owain Doull, Andy Tennant.

Women’s endurance: Katie Archibald, Elinor Barker, Ciara Horne, Joanna Rowsell, Laura Trott.

* Indicates non-travelling reserves.