By Tom Degun

Sarah Storey_smiling_on_bikeJanuary 5 - Sarah Storey is one of six British Paralympic champions that will line up at the 2012 UCI Para-Cycling Track World Championships in Los Angeles next month after she was named by British Cycling as one of their 14 riders for the prestigious competition.


The 34-year-old from Manchester, who claimed two gold medals at the Beijing 2008 Paralympics, will be joined in Los Angeles by five other Paralympic champions with Darren Kenny, Jody Cundy, Anthony Kappes, Aileen McGlynn and Barney Storey, who will pilot for Neil Fachie, also selected for the event.

Storey will be particularly hopeful of a good performance after she saw her chances of becoming Britain's first athlete to compete at the Paralympics and Olympics dashed when she was dropped from the women's able-bodied team pursuit squad last month.

However, it is likely she will be part of a successful team in Los Angeles with British war hero Jon-Allan Butterworth included after a superb 2011.

The talented Shaun McKeown also heads to Los Angeles along with Lora Turnham, who will be piloted by Fiona Duncan, and Mark Colbourne who will make his track debut for Britain at the event

helen scott_05-01-12Helen Scott (pictured), who will pilot for McGlynn, completes the team for the event which will take place from February 9 until 12.

The Championships take on added importance as they are the final qualifying event for the Paralympic Games and performance manager Gareth Sheppard warned that the 14 riders must be at their best in order not to miss out on the chance to compete in the velodrome at the 2012 Paralympics later this year.

"The World Championships in LA are the final qualification event for the 2012 London Paralympic Games and we have selected a strong team to maximise medal opportunities and bring back vital qualification points," he said.

"Next time we meet our opponents will be on the boards of the London Velodrome in August, so LA is also the final opportunity for our track riders to measure their performance against the competition and we are looking forward to some exciting British performances."

Britain will also be fielding riders in the team sprint and Sacramento-based Mark Bristow, who retired from the British team last year, will be a guest rider for GB in the mixed scratch race.

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December 2011: Storey's Olympic dreams crushed after she is dropped from team pursuit squad
September 2011: Storey leads charge for Britain as team leave Para-Cycling Road World Championships with ten medals
August 2011: Exclusive - Storey backs top Paralympic stars competing in Olympic competition
August 2011: Storey will lead the challenge for Britain at World Championships
March 2011: Storey's double gold helps Brits top Para-Cycling Track World Championships