Ed Clancy returns to defend Revolution Series title

Clancy will once again go head to head against friend and colleague Andy Tennant - with coverage on Eurosport and Eurosport Player - after the JLT Condor rider pipped his mate to the title in season 14 of the Revolution Cycling Series.

With season 15 launched at Manchester’s National Cycling Centre on Wednesday, Clancy - who has ridden in all but one season since the event was launched in 2003 - says he has lost none of his will to win despite not riding on a track since last season’s Champions League decider, which saw JLT Condor beat Tennant’s Team Pedalsure in the final race of the series.

“It feels great to have been part of Revolution, to be honest,” said 32-year-old Clancy.

“I remember the first race of the first series, when I was just a little kid lining up on the fence and my heroes, Bradley Wiggins and David Millar, were riding - those guys were the two big superstars of that event.

“I don’t like to predict bike races. For sure it was great to win last season, and we’ll try to win it again, and the key players will probably be the track based riders, perhaps from the UK and it’s a home series and we’ll put a lot of emphasis on it.”

Tennant will be back riding with his regular Team Wiggins outfit for season 15, and after Clancy played a starring role at his wedding, the former world and European team pursuit champion is keen to get one over on his mate.

“There’s always a battle with ginger Ed - he was my best man so I’ve got to get him back for his best man’s speech,” said Tennant.

“I’ll have to try and get one over on him in the races, but the problem is that he’s such a good sprinter I need to get away from him.”

There will also be a women’s Championship running alongside the men’s event - which encompasses race days at the UK’s three premier velodromes in Manchester, London and Glasgow.

Emily Kay is set to take to the boards for her new outfit, Team WNT and, after winning the Revolution Series’ Future Stars competition three times in her junior career, she has a soft spot for the event.

“It’s been part of my season since I was about 13 or 14,” said the 21-year-old. “It’s just great to have the opportunity to race against other riders from Britain, but also foreign riders and do that in front of a home crowd.”