Thomas relishing return to the track

GERAINT Thomas admits he will swap road for track with immediate effect after failing to finish the UCI Road World Championships in Mendrisio.

WELCOME RETURN: Geraint Thomas will head back to the Manchester Velodrome after a summer on the road

Thomas arrived in Switzerland in fine form having finished sixth in the general classification on the Tour of Britain.  

But only two of Great Britain's nine-strong team completed Sunday's gruelling 262km men's road race - with Steve Cummings and Roger Hammond in 52nd and 92nd respectively.

Thomas rode an aggressive race and helped chase down an early break before retiring on the penultimate lap.

The 23-year-old will now go back to the Manchester Velodrome in preparation for the Track Cycling World Cup which gets underway at the end of October.

And Thomas - Olympic gold medallist in the team pursuit - admits he cannot wait to return to his old stomping ground after a summer on the road.

"I'm really looking forward to getting back on the track and with all the boys in our team," said Thomas.

"Ed Clancy and Ben Swift are good team-mates of mine and they are great riders and brilliant lads so hopefully we can get out there and do well in the team pursuit.

"There aren't many men out there faster than Ed on the track so I'm confident we can get out there and get involved with the team pursuit."

Clancy was also part of Great Britain's team pursuit squad in Beijing, with Bradley Wiggins and the now retired Paul Manning completing the quartet.

Swift - who captured his first professional win on the Tour of Britain's seventh stage - is set to replace Manning and Clancy has backed the 21-year-old to slot straight in.

"I know we have got a good team with the likes of Ben, who done well at the Tour of Britain, involved and I am really looking forward to that," said Clancy.

"We're obviously looking to do well in the team pursuit and hopefully we can win a few things in that and see how things go."