Baxter ready for debut in the velodrome

Posted: Friday 27th November 2009 | 13:11

FORMER Olympic skier Alain Baxter is set to make his long-awaited track cycling debut at the Revolution meeting at Manchester velodrome next month.

SADDLING UP: Alain Baxter will make his long-awaited cycling debut next month in Manchester (Getty Images)

The 35-year-old, who temporarily became Great Britain's first ever alpine skier to claim an Olympic medal in 2002, will appear in the 200m time trial event on December 5.

Baxter was expected to make his debut on the boards at the National Championships in Manchester, only for illness to rule him out.

Rather than racing for one of the eight Revolution teams, Baxter will be competing as a special guest, ensuring he will be squaring off against the likes of Olympic gold medallist Jamie Staff, as well as fellow Scot Ross Edgar.

"Revolution will be my first competitive race, so it's a bit like entering the unknown," said Baxter.

"But I'm really excited about it. I've been training hard at the sprints and was really disappointed about having to pull out of the Nationals.

"This will be my first chance to discover how I measure up against the pros."

Baxter will not be squaring off against four-time Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy but he will still have to overcome the likes of Olympic silver medallist Craig Maclean if he is to top the podium.

But the Scot is currently coached by Dave Clark - the former mentor of Hoy and Maclean - and Baxter cannot wait to make up for lost time.

"It's going to be pretty interesting going head-to-head with Craig, he's an awesome sprinter," he added. "There's no doubt about it, I'm up against a world-class field at Revolution. I'm just going to give it my best shot."

Meanwhile, Bradley Wiggins, a three-time Olympic gold medallist, looks set to make his comeback to the boards - the first time he has done so since the Beijing Games.

The 29-year-old captured individual and team pursuit gold in the Far East but has since turned his attentions to the road and finished fourth in this year's Tour de France.