Great Britain's 2012 medal hopefuls tackle Dalby event

Annie Last is among the cyclists on the GB Academy Programme

Great Britain's best 2012 Olympic medal prospects will be aiming for a strong start in the UCI Mountain Bike Cross-Country World Cup at Dalby Forest.

The North Yorkshire leg is the first of nine events across nine countries.

The 28-year-old Liam Killeen won gold at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, and won the World Cup U-23s in 2003 and 2004.

His coach Gary Ford told BBC Radio York; "He's a great hope for the London Olympics. He's got strength right to the last pedal-stroke of the event."

Ford admits Killeen faces a tough task to feature on the podium at Dalby. "There's a grid system in World Cup racing. He's not on the front row, but he could come through strongly later on."

It's what I want, it's my profession. Everything I want will come from cycling.

GB Academy cyclist Dave Fletcher

Annie Last, 19, from Bakewell, made headlines when she beat Olympic gold medallist Sabine Spitz in a sprint finish during last June's Tour de L'Ain in France. At that point she had only just left school.

"I'm not going into the (Dalby) race with a result in my head," she told BBC Radio York. "I just want to race the best that I can and see what I come out with."

Lily Matthews, 20, from Builth Wells in mid-Wales, also featured well in the Tour de L'Ain.

"I only did one World Cup race last year. I was 53rd so I'll be looking to improve on that. I'd be very happy with a top 50 result," she said.

Dave Fletcher, 21, from Edwinstowe near Nottingham, has two U-23 national championship titles to his name.

Earlier, in 2007, he finished third in the World Championships (juniors). "That's probably the highlight of my career so far," he said.

"It's everything now, cycling. I've got to watch what I eat, I can't really go out, but it's what I want, it's my profession. Everything I want will come from cycling.

"I'm aiming for a good result. A top 50 would be nice, top 40 would be good."