Skinner gears up for Euro Championships in Lithuania

Capital cyclist Callum 
Skinner will take to the track 
at the European Track 
Championships in Panevezys, Lithuania, tomorrow for the first of two appearances in the competition.

The 20-year-old City of 
Edinburgh rider will link up with Welshman Lewis Olivia and England’s Matt Crampton to contest the team sprint. 
Skinner, the recently crowned British individual sprint champion – beating Oliva in a hotly contested final – has been in fine form this season. In addition to posting a personal best time during individual 
qualifying at the British Championships, he has also set new standards for the team sprint in the man three position.

Skinner will be back in the saddle on Saturday to compete in the individual sprint against a 32-strong field that includes familiar faces such as world junior record older Max Niederlag of Germany, a rider Skinner has beaten in the past, and Julien Palma of France, who got the better of the Scot on his way to winning the 2010 Edinburgh Grand Prix at Meadowbank.

Among the other contenders are the Greek Olympian 
Christos Volikakis and Crampton, who has a busy weekend ahead as he will also defend the Keirin title he won in Holland last year.