In a great boost for British cycling, the Linda McCartney Foods Cycling Team have confirmed that Max Sciandri will travel to Britain for the National Road Race Championship in June.

The Olympic bronze medallist in Atlanta will be leading his country on the road in Sydney in September, so it is a great chance for British fans to see him in action on home roads.

"I'm coming to try and win it," said the Anglo-Italian from his home in Tuscany today. "In the past I've been with French and Italian teams who weren't too interested in Britain, so I haven't been able to do this race before. Now I'm with a British team, it's a great opportunity for me. I raced with Sean Yates when he was champion and I was jealous of that white jersey!"

The British Champion has the right to wear a white jersey ringed with red and blue bands for the whole year of his tenure. The race is scheduled for the 25th of June and will be run over the rolling Midlands roads south west of Birmingham before finishing in Solihull.

Max was born in Derby, and spent much of his childhood in Bournemouth, where his mother's family still live. "My grandmother and all that side of the family are there and I love coming back. I've always raced well in the UK - I won the Kellogg's Tour of Britain in 1993, and when there used to be a round of the World Cup in England I won that too, so it's good for me."

The McCartney team will also be represented by Matt Stephens, the 1998 champion. "I spoke with Matt about the race earlier this season, and he told me some things about the circuit," said Max. "I think it will be great for us to race together there, and I hope that if I don't win, then Matt will. But I want it to be me!"