Queally named in 19-strong British squad for Worlds

FORMER Olympic champion Jason Queally has earned a call-up to the Great Britain squad for the upcoming UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Copenhagen.

TEAM DREAMS: Former Olympic champion Jason Queally has been named in the Great Britain squad for the World Track Cycling Championships in Copenhagen (Getty Images)

The 39-year old, who struck 1km time trial gold and team sprint silver at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, originally retired from the sport after failing to qualify for the Beijing Olympics two years ago.

The eight-time World Championship medalist had turned his attention to the 2012 Paralympics, riding as a tandem pilot with Anthony Kappes.

But Queally revealed on Wednesday he was focusing on a team pursuit spot at 2012 and has now been named in the 19-strong British squad for the Championships which take place between March 24 and 28.

"At 40, I was never going to get an opportunity like this again," said Queally.

"Even if I don't make it to London, I know I have had the opportunity to go for it. If I'm successful, fantastic, if not, I have given it my best shot."

Four-time Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy is a stand-out name amongst the remaining 18 as the 33-year old returns to the World Championships after missing last year's event with a hip injury.

Victoria Pendleton will also be back to defend her sprint title while Lizzie Armitstead, Wendy Houvenaghel and Joanna Rowsell will be favourites to defend their team pursuit crown having broken the world record earlier in the season.

And British Cycling performance manager Shane Sutton admits Copenhagen is the perfect chance to assess how much work needs to be put in as the squad looks towards 2012:

"The World Championships will be about assessing where we are right here, right now," said Sutton.

"We know what is going to be needed at the London Olympics so we need to go to the Worlds and assess where we are and how far we have got to go.

"I've noticed a high morale across the team and there is a bit of buzz around these Worlds as the days to 2012 are counting down."

FULL GREAT BRITAIN SQUAD FOR WORLD TRACK CYCLING CHAMPIONSHIPS:

Men's Sprint:

Matt Crampton, Dave Daniell, Ross Edgar, Chris Hoy, Jason Kenny

Men's Endurance:

Steven Burke, Ed Clancy, Chris Newton, Jason Queally, Ben Swift, Andy Tennant

Women's Sprint:

Rebecca James, Victoria Pendleton, Jess Varnish

Women's Endurance:

Lizzie Armitstead, Anna Blyth, Katie Colclough, Wendy Houvenaghel, Joanna Rowsell