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Jason Kenny confirmed as absentee from GB squad for Track World Championships

By Andy Charles

Wednesday 8 March 2017 17:16, UK

Great Britain's Jason Kenny after winning the gold medal in the Keirin poses with fiance Laura Trott who won gold in the omnium
Image: Laura and Jason Kenny, expecting their first child, will be absent from the World Track Championships

British Cycling have confirmed Jason Kenny will miss next month's UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Hong Kong.

Kenny has been on an extended break since the Rio Olympics, where he won three gold medals, and his name is not on a 20-strong squad list for the event, which runs from April 12-16.

Wife Laura, who is expecting the couple's first child, and pursuit star Ed Clancy are among the other experienced squad members to miss out.

But Olympic champions Katie Archibald, Elinor Barker, Steven Burke and Callum Skinner are all included in a team that will see some younger riders given a chance to impress.

Head coach Iain Dyer said: "The team is made up of a good mix of experienced and developing riders across all the disciplines.

"Throughout the earlier World Cups and at the UEC European Track Championships last year, there was a good opportunity to bring some new riders into the front line. They gave a really good account of themselves and that's reflected in the selections we have made.

"I am looking forward to seeing them step up into world championship level competition.

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Callum Skinner, Jason Kenny, Rio 2016, Olympic Games
Image: Kenny's sprint rival and team sprint team-mate Callum Skinner, (L) will be on show in Hong Kong

"It is also great to have some of our Olympians in the squad. This year's worlds will allow them to race different events which were not possible in previous years due to the focus on the Olympic events.

"This is particularly true for the endurance riders who can broaden their experience in the new format omnium plus the Madison, which both have the potential to feature in the Tokyo 2020 track cycling programme.

"It is a great experience for our younger riders to make their debut performances alongside such established athletes and I am sure they will learn a lot from this opportunity."

Great Britain's Katie Archibald during the Women's Madison during day two of the UCI Track Cycling World Cup at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, Glasgow.
Image: Great Britain's strong squad also includes Katie Archibald

Great Britain team:

Women's Endurance: Katie Archibald, Elinor Barker, Ellie Dickinson, Neah Evans, Emily Kay, Manon Lloyd, Emily Nelson

Men's Endurance: Matt Bostock, Steven Burke, Kian Emadi, Chris Latham, Mark Stewart, Andy Tennant, Oliver Wood

Sprint: Jack Carlin, Katy Marchant, Lewis Oliva, Ryan Owens, Callum Skinner, Joe Truman

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