A five-strong Great Britain Cycling Team head to the final round of the 2017/18 Tissot UCI Track Cycling World Cup in Minsk, Belarus this weekend in search of medals and qualifying points for February’s UCI Track Cycling World Championships.
Olympic and world champion Elinor Barker is the most experienced rider heading to the Minsk Arena Velodrome and is joined by sister Megan, Senior Academy sprinters Lauren Bate and Georgia Hilleard, and endurance rider Chris Latham.
The team
Points race world champion Elinor Barker has been in flying form at the world cup this season with two gold medals and a silver to her name.
The 23-year-old took Madison silver at round one in Poland before double gold in Manchester, triumphing as part of the team pursuit before enjoying victory in the Madison with Katie Archibald.
She is expected to take on the one-day, four-discipline omnium at the Minsk Arena before linking up with sister Megan in the Madison.
In addition to the Madison, Megan Barker will be looking to take inspiration from her older sibling as she rides in the points race.
World scratch race bronze medallist Chris Latham is racing the omnium for the first time since round one in Pruszkow back in November, where he finished seventh.
There are world cup debuts for promising sprint duo Lauren Bate and Georgia Hilleard, who will link up in the team sprint. The pair won bronze at last year’s UCI Junior Track Cycling World Championships.
World junior sprint silver-medallist Bate will also test her legs in the individual sprint and keirin events.
About the world cup
The Tissot UCI Track Cycling World Cup is a five-round competition which takes place between November and January.
The 2017/18 series began in Pruszkow, Poland from 3-5 November before heading to the home of British Cycling at the HSBC UK National Cycling Centre for round two in Manchester one week later.
Round three took place from 1-3 December in Milton, Canada with the fourth round a week later in Santiago, Chile.
The series now concludes in the new year, with the fifth and final round taking place in Minsk, Belarus, from 19-21 January.
Riders will do battle to be crowned world cup winners in individual disciplines, with an overall team prize also up for grabs.
As well as world cup honours, valuable qualification points for future world championships are also available throughout the series.
The venue
Opened in 2010 at a cost of $350m, the Minsk Arena houses an ice rink in addition to the 2,000 capacity velodrome.
In 2013, the venue hosted the UCI Track Cycling World Championships, which saw Great Britain's Becky James win a memorable sprint and keirin double.
Schedule (UK times)
Friday
8am-10.15am
Women's team pursuit qualifying
Men's team pursuit qualifying
3pm-5.34pm
Women's team sprint qualifying
Men's team sprint qualifying
Women's points race final
Men's points race final
Saturday
7am-11.30am
Men's individual pursuit qualifying
Women's sprint qualifying, 1/16, 1/8 and 1/4 finals
Women's team pursuit first round
Men's team sprint first round
Women's omnium rounds one and two - scratch race and tempo race
Men's keirin round one and repechage
2pm-6.30pm
Men's individual pursuit finals
Women's sprint 1/2 finals and finals
Men's team sprint finals
Women's omnium rounds three and four - elimination race and points race
Men's keirin semi-finals and final
Men's Madison
Women's scratch race
Sunday
8.30am-11.56am
Men's sprint qualifying, 1/16, 1/8 and 1/4 finals
Men's team pursuit first round
Women's team sprint first round
Men's omnium rounds one and two - scratch race and tempo race
Women's keirin round one and repechage
2.30pm-6.30pm
Men's sprint 1/2 finals and finals
Women's team sprint finals
Men's omnium rounds three and four - elimination race and points race
Women's keirin semi-finals and final
Women's Madison
Men's scratch race
How to follow
- Updates on British Cycling’s Twitter.
- Daily reports will appear on the British Cycling website.
