Marchant ready to take on the nation's best

The sprinter won a quartet of gold medals the last time she appeared at the National Championships, back in 2016, but lost her titles when forced to miss the event 12 months ago through injury.

But having just returned from a fruitful training camp on Australia's Gold Coast – the host city for April's Commonwealth Games – she is feeling confident of reclaiming those national stripes.

"To miss last year was a huge disappointment," she told British Cycling. "Injuries are never good but to miss the opportunity to race on home soil is really disappointing, so I'm really looking forward to getting back this year.

"Riding against your teammates is always a good experience. You could say it's an advantage because you know how the other person rides, but then equally they could say the same about you.

"When I get on the track I try not to look at who I'm racing. I just go out with a game plan and ride my race, and hopefully come away with the win."

The Great Britain Cycling Team's sprinters have been soaking up the sun and putting in the hard yards as they familiarised themselves with the Anna Meares Velodrome, in Australia.

And with Marchant set to make her Team England debut in April, the Yorkshire rider is hopeful of bringing home a Commonwealth medal, or two.

"It's quite funny because at training we've got quite a few Welsh riders, a lot of Scottish riders, and now we're going to the Commonwealth Games as opponents," said Marchant.

"It's always really nice to go and represent your country, and it will be a different experience going there to represent England rather than Great Britain as we do at World Cups and World Championships.

"It's going to be a great atmosphere."