When the British Cycling track squad saddle up at next year's Tokyo Olympics they will race for gold on a bicycle deigned and made here in Gloucestershire and hailed as "ground-breaking".

In a nod to the iconic Olympic gold medal-winning bike (Lotus Type 108) ridden by Chris Boardman in 1992, British Cycling has unveiled a machine which also carries the Lotus decals and jet-black paint of the bike eventually banned for being 'too fast'.

Collaboratively developed by revered cycling component manufacturer Hope Technology, and British automotive consultancy legends Lotus Engineering - it is Gloucestershire engineering giant Renishaw which has made the unusual-shaped ultra-aerodynamic bike possible.

Wind tunnel testing has taken place in Southampton, but the frame and forks of the bike come from Gloucestershire, East Anglia and Lancashire.

British riders have just begun putting it through its paces at British Cycling's base at the HSBC UK National Cycling Centre in Manchester.

Tony Purnell, head of technology for the Great Britain Cycling Team, said: "It's a dream team of engineering prowess - Hope Technology bring high quality manufacturing standards and Lotus Engineering is renowned for lightweight design and outstanding aerodynamic efficiency.

"Both supported and advised by additive manufacturing experts Renishaw, who have ensured that Lotus and Hope have access to the most modern and fastest turnaround process from design to usable pieces."

The bike has already had its first out already, with the British team at the 2019/2020 Tissot UCI Track Cycling World Cup series at the Minsk Arena Velodrome this weekend (1 - 3 November).

British fans will then be able to see the bike for themselves on home soil this weekend (November 8 to 10) at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow, where no less than six Olympic medallists have been named in the Great Britain Cycling Team squad.

Stephen Park OBE, Performance Director for the Great Britain Cycling Team, added: "The feedback from riders and coaches in testing so far has been positive.

"The bike forms just one part of the world-class support we are able to offer our riders across all of the Olympic and Paralympic cycling disciplines as our focus narrows on Tokyo 2020."

The Lotus Type 108 was ridden to Olympic glory by former racing cyclist turned walking and cycling commissioner Chris Boardman in the individual pursuit at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992.

It is one of the most iconic bikes in the history of cycling, featuring an advanced aerofoil cross-section and a monocoque carbon frame to minimise weight and maximise aerodynamic performance.

Read more: Renishaw tech enables growth of advanced bicycle frame business