Cannot play media. Sorry, this media is not available in your territory.

Go behind the scenes at the Manchester Velodrome with Chris Boardman's exclusive video tour

Team GB dominated last year's event in Majorca, winning seven gold medals.

Victoria Pendleton, who won three titles in 2007, is going for four golds while Chris Hoy and Bradley Wiggins are also hot favourites to triumph.

Wiggins said: "We haven't been in a position like this for a while or been this confident going into a big event."

There is also the added incentive for Britain's cyclists with the winners of the 10 Olympic events winning a berth for their country at Beijing 2008.

606: COMMENT Riders have been warming up, warming down or powering round at speeds of up to 70kph BBC Sport's Andy Nicolson in Manchester

The championships is the first of 14 international events in 2008 supported by UK Sport's lottery-funded World Class Events Programme, with �275,000 contributed to the Manchester spectacle.

Below is a list of highlights during the five-day event at the Manchester Velodrome.

In the men's individual pursuit Olympic champion Bradley Wiggins will be looking to defend his world crown.

Cannot play media. Sorry, this media is not available in your territory.

Bradley Wiggins is enjoying a return to track cycling

Wiggins: "It's a mini dress-rehearsal for Beijing where I'll also be trying to win three golds"

In the men's team sprint, Great Britain will be looking for revenge over France, who beat them to gold by two thousandths of a second last year.

Shanaze Reade - GB's hope for BMX gold in Beijing - will be hoping to improve on her fifth place last year in the women's 500m time trial.

Victoria Pendleton leads Great Britain in the women's team sprint, an event she won with Shanaze Reade in Spain last year.

Cannot play media. Sorry, this media is not available in your territory.

Interview: Victoria Pendleton ready for title defence

Pendleton: "I've got no desire to look like some of my other competitors and their very masculine approach - I like going to the hairdressers and wearing dresses and high heels!"

Meanwhile, Bradley Wiggins leads a strong British men's pursuit team which could feature Steve Burke in his first senior World Championships as they look to defend their title.

Rebecca Romero, former world rowing champion and Olympic silver medallist, will be hoping to improve on the silver individual pursuit medal she won in Spain last year.

The women's team pursuit makes its debut at the World Championships, with Wendy Houvenaghel, Rebecca Romero, Jo Rowsell and Lizzie Armistead in contention for places in the three-rider race.

Victoria Pendleton goes for gold in the women's sprint final and Chris Hoy defends his title in the men's Keirin.

Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins are GB's pair for the men's Madison, with all the nations aiming for Madison qualification at the Olympic Games.

Reigning champion Chris Hoy will be going for glory in the men's 1K time trial, while Victoria Pendleton will be gunning for gold in the women's Keirin.