Richardson to ride in cycling league after defection

Former Australian cyclist Matthew Richardson will compete in the Track Champions League, even though his shock defection means a two-year ban from riding for Great Britain.

Richardson, who won two silver medals and a bronze in the sprint events for Australia at the Paris Olympics, stunned the sport in August when he announced he would switch to the country of his berth.

It is understood AusCycling has gone ahead with a two-year non-competition clause.

But Richardson's league confirmation indicates the ban only applies to him competing in the British team.

The track league is a joint venture between cycling's world governing body the UCI, Warner Brothers and Discovery Sports. The riders are not on national teams in the league.

It is a five-round European series, featuring most of the sport's top names, and starts on November 23 at the Olympic velodrome in St-Quentin-en-Yvelines outside Paris. These will be Richardson's first international events since he switched nations.

Richardson is on a roster of 18 riders in the men's sprint events, which also features Australians Tom Cornish, Leigh Hoffman and rising star Tayte Ryan.

Hoffman and Richardson combined with Matt Glaetzer to win bronze in the team sprint at the Olympics - their first medals at the Games.

Richardson then won silver in the sprint and keirin, with Glaetzer also taking keirin bronze.

Confirmation of the sprint fields finalised the 72 riders who will compete in the league, with the endurance riders announced earlier.

The league will be the first time Richardson will race against his former compatriots since he switched to Great Britain.

Dutch star Harrie Lavreysen won gold in all three sprint events at the Games. Richardson's medals confirm he will be a key rival for Lavreysen at the Los Angeles Olympics and probably the Brisbane Olympics as well.

The duels between Lavreysen and Richardson will be among the top highlights of the series. They have competed against each other previously in the league.

Immediately after Richardson revealed his nationality switch, AusCycling performance boss Jesse Korf said they were looking into the two-year non-competition clause, together with the Australian Sports Commission.

The women's sprint field in the champions league will feature Australian Kristina Clonan, who also competed at the Olympics, while Blake Agnoletto is entered in the men's endurance events.

AusCycling was contacted for comment.