A YOUTHFUL Great Britain team will compete at the third Track World Meeting of the season in Beijing between January 13 and 15, without the likes of Sir Chris Hoy and former Mildenhall racer, Victoria Pendleton.

Experienced duo Hoy and Pendleton are preparing for February’s leg of the four-event series in London, meaning Becky James and Sam Harrison will lead out the 11-rider team at the competition which doubles up as the Olympic test event.

James is a Commonwealth medallist while Harrison won gold at the Beijing Track World Cup in 2011 and both will be looking to impress at the scene of Great Britain’s dominance in the 2008 Olympics.

British Cycling performance director Dave Brailsford said: “Beijing is a great opportunity for the young riders to gain competition experience at elite level, whilst allowing for our podium athletes to focus on the next round of the World Cup in London before travelling to Australia for the World Championships.”

James and sprinter Victoria Williamson, set to make her World Cup debut, are the two females involved in the team.

Also featuring are Owain Doull, Joe Kelly and Callum Skinner along with Phillip Hindes, Peter Mitchell, George Atkins, Mark Christian and Simon Yates.