A host of Welsh cyclists will attempt to ride their way into Commonwealth Games contention at the HSBC UK | National Track Championships this weekend.

The showpiece event of the domestic track calendar takes place at Manchester’s HSBC UK | National Cycling Centre between Friday and Sunday, with seven Olympic and nine Paralympic champions set to compete for national titles.

One of those Olympic champions is Cardiff’s Elinor Barker, who followed up her Rio 2016 success by claiming her maiden individual world title last year.

Of the national championships, she says:

“I know everybody says it, but that’s because it’s true - there really is so much strength in depth and it’s really tough racing.

“I’ve actually won more world titles that I have national titles in my career, which I think just shows how tough the competition at national level is.”

Barker will be competing in the points and scratch races in Manchester, and will be joined on the start line for both events by fellow Welsh Olympic champion, Dani Rowe.

Rowe, who won the team pursuit at London 2012 alongside Laura Kenny and Joanna Rowsell Shand, committed her future to the country last month, and will ride for Team Wales in Manchester.

Also lining up in national kit will be sprinter Lewis Oliva, who will be defending his national keirin title; two-time world medallist Sam Harrison; Zachery May; Ellie Coster and Rachel James.

Further up-and-coming Welsh talent will also be riding as part of the Team Wales under-23 Academy, while three additional Commonwealth Games contenders will be lining up in the women’s endurance events, with former double European champion Ciara Horne taking to the track alongside Manon Lloyd and Megan Barker.

Tickets for the HSBC UK | National Track Championships are available to buy here.