Team GB track cycling pursuit team boot camp – in pictures

The camp is a chance to put the team pursuit riders through a block of intense training under the supervision of the support staff in Manchester, with the aim being gold at London 2012. The team pursuit is seen as a key indicator of a nation's cycling strength because there is direct crossover with the road racing pyramid topped by the Tour de France. The British tradition in this event goes back to the previous London Games in 1948, and since the Olympic track disciplines were controversially rejigged post-Beijing, this is the only endurance medal left with any real tradition or history Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

The endurance head coach, Dan Hunt, outlines what awaits the squad in the coming days Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

The first activity for the team when they hit the track is endurance-interval training, with Hunt pacing the team on a motorbike. After a warm up, the riders complete blocks of 20 minutes on the track with a five-minute rest between blocks. The pace for the 20-minute blocks is between 52 and 58 kilometres per hour Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

The squad park up their bikes for one of the five-minute breaks during the tough morning session Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Ed Clancy's expression confirms how tough it has been. It's no wonder Clancy describes the camp as "days of doom" Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Steven Burke glugs a drink during a break. The riders typically drink broccoli juice Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

The performance director, Dave Brailsford, talks to the team Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Steven Burke and Sam Harrison pair up in the morning and chase another duo of riders Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Brailsford keeps an eye on his charges' progress Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

The team get some rest time after two hours on the track. They receive a massage along with flexibility and injury trouble-shooting with a physio - here Andy Tennant screams out in agony as he gets treatment from a physiotherapist who seems to be enjoying his job Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

The riders also get a once over from the team doctor. Here Tennant has his knee examined to see how it is healing after a crash in the previous week Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

The nutritionist, Nigel Mitchell, conducts a skin-fold test for fat on Steven Burke. There's also time for any necessary media commitments and relaxing with an x-box in the team room Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Sam Harrison, Peter Kennaugh and Ben Swift eat lunch. The emphasis is on healthy, high-energy food such as rice and quinoa salad with chicken, ham and sweetcorn Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

The squad are back on the track in the afternoon with Andy Tennant heading the group Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

The afternoon session includes formation training, with the squad this time led by the young Welshman Sam Harrison Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Steven Burke changes his own chainring Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Ed Clancy, Sam Harrison, Peter Kennaugh and Ben Swift feel the strain as they push hard during timed 5000m sessions Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

After they come off the track at 5pm the riders head to the gym for half an hour of stretching. Rollers are often used to work on the quadriceps muscles and help flexibility Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

After a hard day's training where they've covered close to 70 miles on the track, Swift, Harrison and Kennaugh leave the velodrome and head back to the hotel for dinner, a rest and then bed in order to be ready for the following day's road ride Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian