WITH SUCCESS of the British Olympic cycling team still ringing in our ears, it was a weekend of top class track cycling played out at opposite ends of the country.

After a successful first season based in France, Isle of Wight's Keiran Page made a return to the Manchester Velodrome boards that have made him one of the most exciting prospects in British cycling.

The Revolution 6 event read like a Who's Who of track cycling champions, with riders like British Olympic gold medallists Bradley Wiggins and Chris Hoy, Paris Roubaix Classic winner Magnus Backstedt and women's Tour of Italy winner Nicole Cooke.

The madison is tremendously exciting, yet incredibly confusing. One rider circles the top of the track while his partner races at the bottom. As they meet again the riders grab hands to sling their teammate into the race.

The event saw Portsmouth's Rob Hayles take bronze with Bradley Wiggins at the Athens Olympics. In a race run off at over 30mph, it takes not only skill, but also a mammoth pair of lungs to even hang in there.

With riders coming in on top form from the continental six-day circuit, the final race of the night lived up to its billing. Hayles teamed up again with Olympic teammate Wiggins and Page joined world junior champion Geraint Thomas to try and overcome the continentals.

At the midway point it was the big Swede, Backstedt, partnered by Dane Jimmi Madsen, who made the move with Dutchmen Robert Slippens and Danny Stam.

They were joined at the front by Hayles and Wiggins who were being willed around the track by a partisan crowd - on their way to third place, one lap ahead of youngsters Page and Thomas who fought valiantly, but could not get back on to the same lap as the leaders.

Page now heads for the USA to ride the second round of the world track cup before heading back to his new base in the South of France for 2005.

While Revolution 6 was played out in a full stadium, Calshot Winter League enjoyed a rather smaller crowd for the latest round of the annual series (October to February).

Simon Saunders from the Isle of Wight, a former teammate of Page, took four wins out of five to close within 20 points of overall leader John Marriner. Not to be outdone, Southampton youngster Matt Coates stamped his authority on the B League with an astounding six victories in one afternoon. The 17-year-old, developing into an exciting prospect, will benefit from the experience of his Portsmouth-based VC St Raphael team which has a reputation for producing champions.

Revolution 6 results:

20K Madison, Team 3 - Manchester City Council: 1 Robert Slippens (Netherlands) 9 pts, 5 Danny Stam (Netherlands).

Team 5 - The Madison Group 2: Magnus Backstedt (Sweden) 6pt, 9 Jimmi Madsen (Denmark).

Team 1 - Science In Sport: 3 Bradley Wiggins (Credit Agricole) 6pt, 10 Rob Hayles (Team Persil).

Team 10 - Face Partnership: 4 Geraint Thomas (Wales),13 Kieran Page (UVC Aude) 18 pt @ 1 lap.

Other results:

Calshot Winter Track League: Mens Scratch: 1 Simon Saunders (SP Systems-Wightlink RT/MCS/The Sign Shop ), 2 John Marriner (Bournemouth Jubilee Whlrs), 3 Nick O'Hara (Sotonia CC).

Men's A League Points: 1 Simon Saunders, 2 Nick O'Hara.

Senior A League Sprint: 1 Simon Saunders, 2 Gavin Martin (primera_bournemouth.co.uk), 3 Nick O'Hara.

Senior Distance Race: 1 Simon Saunders, 2 Ian Greenstreet (Newbury Road Club), 3 Nick O'Hara.

Vets & Womens Unknown Distance: 1 Matt Coates (VC St Raphal/Waite Contracts/Hewitt Cycles), 2 Pete Moore (SP Systems- Wightlink RT/MCS/The Sign Shop).

Vet: Pete Moore, Jun: Matt Coates.

Senior B League - 28-Lap Scratch: 1 Matt Coates .

Points Race: 1 Matt Coates.

Unknown Distance: 1 Matt Coates

Sprint: 1 Matt Coates

Distance Race: 1 Matt Coates.