Mark Christian and Simon Yates of 100% Me fought off a determined effort from Alex Dowsett of Sky and Tom Murray of IG Sigma Sport to take Gold in a very fast paced National Madison Championship at the National Cycling Centre in Manchester.

Christian and Yates took the first Sprint and went on to dominate the early stages of the race, building up a healthy lead. A mid-race charge by Dowsett and Murray - aided, eventually, by Owain Doull and George Atkins, also of 100% Me - looked as though it would make things interesting. But shortly after Dowsett & Murray and Doull and Atkins lapped the field - which they'd blown apart in the process - Christian and Yates also made the junction to the back of the string.

With two sprints remaining they were 11 points clear with 10 more up for grabs it was going to require the boys in the GB kit to lose a lap. Doull & Atkins had a pop in the closing stages, but Christian & Yates never let them get too far ahead and held on for a healthy win.

Full report to follow. 

Do you want to ride a steep indoor track but have not had the confidence or had the opportunity?

Fast Track Coaching - run by trackcycling coaching columnist Lee Povey and multiple World Masters Champion Dave Le Grys - have a Beginners-Intermediate clinic at Calshot Velodrome on 31st March and 1st April 2012.

Probably the best and most fun way to learn track cycling in the world…. This 2 day weekend clinic will cover all aspects of track cycling and how to ride a steeply banked wooden track.

There will be groups of differing abilities allowing you to progress in safety at your own pace. The sessions are aimed at novice and intermediate riders and will give you the confidence and ability to ride on Britain’s oldest indoor track. Once you can ride Calshot, you can ride anywhere!

You will leave the course with the knowledge and competence of a skilled track rider, having learnt in a fun and unintimidating environment. Track bikes are available to hire direct from the velodrome.

Course includes

• How to ride a banked track
• Basic track riding etiquette
• Group riding skills
• Track awareness
• Advanced Track skills and techniques
• Mock races (day 2)
• Accommodation Saturday night, evening meal and breakfast Sunday

All abilities welcomed, you don't even need to have ridden a track bike before. This will be a limited size camp to ensure each rider gets a lot of individual attention, encouragement and feedback.

Email info@fasttrackcoaching.biz for more details or call for a booking form David Le Grys 07930 648469 Lee Povey 07967 000269

The Team Sprint squad for London 2012 was always going to be a challenge. The chances of Jamie Staff making it to another games at the age of 39 were slim at best. Track Sprint Coach Iain Dyer has been talking to British Cycling about the search for a new line-up.

The Final day of competition at the Laoshan Velodrome saw the conclusion of the Women's Omnium, the Men's Madison, the Men's Sprint and the Women's Keirin round off a busy four days of racing.

The Chinese women continued their domination of the women's sprint competitions while it was the French, in the end, that cleaned up in the men's sprint and keirin.