Preview: GB riders going for glory at Para-cycling Track World Championships in Rio

Nearly two years after Great Britain’s Para-cyclists stormed the medal table at Rio 2016 – winning 21 medals including 12 golds – the best riders the country has to offer will be back on the Brazilian boards once again.

The return of the Para-Cycling Track World Championships gives the British racers another chance to conquer the world as they head to South America with a squad brimming with talent, pedigree and medal potential.

Fourteen men and eight women will don the British Cycling colours in the hope the red, white and blue will become rainbow by the end of events at the Rio Olympic Veldrome.

Here is a rundown of everything you need to know ahead of the championships.

The women’s squad boast a rich pedigree of podium finishes and titles at the top level.

Megan Giglia won two golds at the 2016 World Championships in Montichiari in the C3 time trial and pursuit, as well as individual pursuit gold at Rio 2016.

Lora Fachie and pilot Corrine Hall are no strangers to podiums, having claimed Paralympic gold and bronze in the individual pursuit B and road time trial B two years ago.

They will no doubt be targeting an elusive world track gold, with Fachie scooping silver in the tandem B pursuit in Montichiari in 2011 and bronze in the same event five years later.

There are also high hopes for Sophie Thornhill, who has won four world track titles as well as two Commonwealth crowns and one Paralympic gold medal.

Crystal Lane-Wright has secured podium finishes at Paralympic and both world track and road levels, while Katie Toft is making her senior debut in Britain’s colours.

Dame Sarah Storey was initially announced to compete after taking a break from the sport after the birth of her second child, but illness has forced the 14-time Paralympic champion to withdraw.

Five of Britain’s Paralympic gold winners will return to Rio in the hope of adding another major crown to their bulging cabinets.

Jon-Allan Butterworth, Jody Cundy, Louis Rolfe and Steve Bate and pilot Adam Duggleby spearhead a strong line-up, which also includes Welshman James Ball, piloted by Pete Mitchell, who will be aiming to return the Tandem B kilo and sprint titles he won at last year’s world championships in Los Angeles.

Cundy is a 13-time world track champion and also has four Paralympic cycling titles under his belt.

Neil Fachie will once more have the top spot of the podium on his radar, with the Aberdeen-born star, piloted by Matt Rotherham, who also competes in Tandem B sprint and kilo, having already amassed ten world track titles, one Paralympic and two Commonwealth crowns.

William Bjergfelt and Ben Watson bring a further wave of pedigree at the top level, while Blaine Hunt is the sole member of the team making his debut.

Jon Gildea, who won two titles in LA in 2017, and Jaco van Gass make up the 14-strong men’s team.

Full squad list

Women Lora Fachie (piloted by Corrine Hall) – gold in Rio, yet to win Megan Giglia Crystal Lane-Wright Sophie Thornhill (piloted by Helen Scott) Katie Toft

Men James Ball (piloted by Pete Mitchell) Steve Bate (piloted by Adam Duggleby) William Bjergfelt Jon-Allan Butterworth Jody Cundy Neil Fachie (piloted by Matt Rotherham) Blaine Hunt Jon Gildea Louis Rolfe Jaco van Gass Ben Watson

The action gets under way at the Rio Olympic Veldrome tomorrow, with the first action – the women’s C2 and C3 and men’s C1, C2 and C3 individual pursuit qualifications the first events on the agenda between 1pm and 4.45pm UK time. Thursday’s full schedule is below.

1pm - 4.45pm (UK time) Women’s C2 and C3 3km individual pursuit qualifications Men’s C1, C2 and C3 3km individual pursuit qualifications

6pm - 11.50pm Women’s C4 and C5 500m time trial finals Men’s C4 and C5 1km time trial finals Women’s C1, C2 and C3 3km individual pursuit finals Men’s C1, C2 and C3 3km individual pursuit finals

For all the latest reports and reaction, be sure to keep checking our website and Facebook and Twitter channels.