Mark Cavendish makes his return to the velodrome today fresh from his finest professional triumph - a phenomenal victory in the famous Milan-San Remo road race.

The 23-year-old from the Isle of Man is set to ride in this evening's men's 15km scratch having made a remarkable U-turn in agreeing to join Great Britain's 19-strong team at the Track Cycling World Championships in Pruszkow, Poland.

Cavendish, winner of four Tour de France stages last July, insisted his track days were "finished" following a ninth-placed finish alongside Bradley Wiggins in the Madison at last August's Beijing Olympics.

But now, after storming out of the Laoshan Velodrome as the only member of Britain's team to finish the Games without a medal, Cavendish is beginning his bid to make up for that failure with Olympic glory in London 2012.

He arrived in Poland buoyed by a brilliant display in Italy on Saturday where he won the a road race known as one of the "five monuments of cycling".

The Milan-San Remo is the longest professional one-day race at 185miles and although he is best known for his pace in the flat sprints, Cavendish handled the climbs equally well and passed Heinrich Haussler in the last 200 meters to become the first British winner of the event since 1964.

After the race he admitted: "I really didn't expect to win. It's unbelievable."

Cavendish is now going for success on the track and has a world title to defend, having won the Madison alongside Wiggins in Manchester last March.

He is set to compete in that event on Saturday alongside fellow Manxman Peter Kennaugh.

The championships began yesterday, with Britain claiming two silver medals and two bronze, and are the first major cycling event since Beijing and a crucial part of the long build-up to London.

Victoria Pendleton won Britain's first medal of the championships with bronze in the women's 500metres time-trial.

The 28-year-old competes in her second event, the women's team sprint, alongside Shanaze Reade today before going in the individual sprint and keirin at the weekend.

She said: "I'm in pretty good condition and feeling quite positive for the team sprint. The sprint is where I focus most of my attention and where I hope to excel."

Britain's silver medals came in the men's team sprint and through Wendy Houvenaghel in the women's individual pursuit. Beijing silver medallist Houvenaghel had hoped to succeed Olympic gold medallist Rebecca Romero as the world champion but fell short.

Houvenaghel, Rowsell and Armitstead will aim to defend Britain's women's team pursuit title today, while Matt Crampton, Jason Kenny and Ross Edgar will aim to succeed Sir Chris Hoy as men's keirin champions.

Kenny, who turned 21 on Monday, won silver alongside Jamie Staff and Crampton in the team sprint, but now turns his attentions to individual events.

Kenny said: "It's another chance to do well and hopefully be competitive and push for a medal."

Britain have opted not to enter the men's individual pursuit.

The 4,000 metre event takes place today without Britain offering a challenge to American favourite Taylor Phinney, with Olympic champion Wiggins - the winner in 2003, 2007 and 2008 - absent to concentrate on road racing.

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