Mark Cavendish headlines Manchester round of Revolution Series in January

Mark Cavendish will make his first outing for new team Dimension Data at round five of the 2015/16 Revolution Track Series in Manchester on January 2.

The 30-year-old Manxman will be stepping up his track work with just eight months to go until the start of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Cavendish is hoping to be selected to ride for Great Britain in the multi-discipline omnium event at the Games.

Cavendish joins a number of other leading riders in Manchester, including Sky's Peter Kennaugh and Elia Viviani, Team Wiggins' Owain Doull and Jon Dibben, and Team Pedalsure's Andy Tennant and Iljo Keisse.

Great Britain team pursuiters Laura Trott and Katie Archibald will also be riding the event, as they too start the year with their sights firmly aimed at the Rio Games.

>>> What does Mark Cavendish have to do to ride the Rio Olympics?

Cavendish qualified to ride the UCI Track World Cup at the end of August, after placing third in the omnium at the Dudenhofen Grand Prix in Germany. He will ride for GB at the third and final round of the Track World Cup in Hong Kong over January 16-17. With 2012 omnium bronze medallist Ed Clancy currently recovering from back surgery, Cavendish's chances of selection for Rio have increased.

Watch: Pro Bikes - Mark Cavendish's Specialized Venge

Sir Bradley Wiggins partnered Cavendish at the opening round of the Revolution Series in Derby, where the duo rode the Madison.

Part of Cavendish's deal with new squad Dimension Data was that he would be free to pursue his aim of riding on the track for GB at the Rio Olympics.

It was confirmed earlier this week that Cavendish will make his road debut with Dimension Data at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race in Australia on January 31.