Scotland's Craig MacLean has ruled himself out of Great Britain's Track Cycling World Championships squad but believes he can still secure a place at the Olympics.

MacLean, 36, has featured for Britain at each edition of the championships since 1995 but pelvic injury problems have held him back this season.

Ahead of the squad announcement, he told the Guardian: "I missed a lot of training and I've been playing catch-up ever since.

"It's like the other guys had a head start on me and I could never get them back.

"I'm optimistic I can go to Beijing. But I've not been at my best and I felt it was best for me to pull out of the World Championships. I made the decision at the weekend and I feel much happier - it's taken a weight off my shoulders.''

MacLean was a world champion in 2002 as a member of the British sprint team, and again struck gold with Scotland at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. He also won a silver medal in the team sprint at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

The Track Cycling World Championships take place in Manchester, beginning on March 26.

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Sporting Life / Eurosport