Ellie Richardson forms part of strong Scots revolution team

Double Scottish track cycling champion Ellie Richardson will wear Scotland colours for the first time when she competes in round two of the Revolution in Glasgow on Saturday.

The 27-year-old from Gairloch, who is now based in Manchester, will race in the sprint and the keirin at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.

"This is the first time that I get to officially represent Scotland," said Richardson, a former 100m runner.

"I'll be very proud to do that."

The physiotherapy graduate is taking a temporary break from her postgraduate studies to focus on maximising her chances of qualifying for the Scotland team for the Commonwealth Games next year.

She won the 500m time trial in 36.55 seconds and the team sprint, with Alison Chisholm of Edinburgh RC, at the Scottish Track Championships in October, and added a silver in the sprint which was won by Emma Baird.

Earlier in the year she broke Victoria Pendleton's 11-year-old record for the 500m time trial at the British University Track Cycling Championships.

The keirin, though, is rather new territory for a rider who has been competing for only two years and who is still getting used to racing in a bunch.

She said of the keirin and sprint: "It will be an interesting one for me because both of those events aren't really my preferred events.

"I'm more of a 500m time trial and team sprint rider, but it will be great experience for me.

"It will be great to put on the Scotland skinsuit and riding in front of a home crowd will be really good."

Richardson hopes riding in a packed velodrome will help prepare her for next summer's target.

"This is the track that the Commonwealth Games will be on so any sort of psychological experience is going to be invaluable, just to get the feel of what it's like to have the whole crowd behind you and to get to grips with the nerves and things like that," she added.

"I know the track. We train here with the Scotland team so that will stand us in good stead, knowing the transitions of the track."

Glasgow spectators will be able to watch possible Commonwealth 2014 Team Scotland riders James McCallum, Evan Oliphant, Andy Fenn, Ross Edgar, John Paul, Callum Skinner, Kenny Ayre and Chris Pritchard.

In the women's events, Richardson is joined by fellow Scots Jenny Davis and Baird in the sprint events, plus Scottish Cycling performance endurance athletes Kayleigh Brogan, Eileen Roe and Charline Joiner.

They will race against riders from Germany, France, Austria, the Netherlands and Slovenia.

Craig Burn, chief executive of Scottish Cycling, said: "We are delighted that the Revolution Series is making its return to Glasgow's Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, with strong representation from Scottish Cycling riders.

"It will give cycling fans the chance to see world class riders in action on home soil."

Sir Chris Hoy will be at the velodrome named in his honour. He will take a track session with the current crop of HOY Future Stars which includes Scots Jack Carlin, Matthias Barnet and Stuart Balfour.

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