Joanna Rowsell withdraws from Track Cycling World Cup opener to focus on form

Individual Pursuit World Champion Joanna Rowsell has withdrawn from the first round of the UCI Track Cycling World Cup to focus on her longer term form.

Rowsell was due to travel with the rest of the Great Britain team to Mexico for the first round of the World Cup series, which starts on Friday, November 7, but has opted to stay and train in Britain.

The second round of the series takes place in London next month, where Rowsell is hoping to be performing at the "highest level".

British Cycling said: "Great Britain's Joanna Rowsell has withdrawn from the first round of the 2014/15 UCI Track Cycling World Cup series in Guadalajara to focus on conditioning training with the longer-term aim of performing at the highest level at the London round of the world cup series."

Rowsell's withdrawal means coach Chris Newton will have to alter his Women's Team pursuit line-up of Katie Archibald, Elinor Barker, Joanna Rowsell and Laura Trott that beat Russia in October's Track European Championship final.

Fellow team pursuiter Laura Trott faces a tough weekend of racing in Mexico with both the women's omnium and team pursuit taking place on Saturday, November 8.

Here's the revised Great Britain Team for the first round of the UCI Track Cycling World Cup:

Men's sprint: Matt Crampton, Phil Hindes, Jason Kenny, Callum Skinner.

Women's sprint: Danni Khan, Jess Varnish, Vicky Williamson.

Men's endurance: Steve Burke, Mark Christian, Ed Clancy, Jon Dibben, Andy Tennant.

Women's endurance: Katie Archibald, Elinor Barker, Ciara Horne, Laura Trott.