FOLLOWING her welcome return to the track at the first round of the Revolution Series in Derby, former world double world champion Becky James continued her slow and steady comeback with some encouraging results in Germany.

Competing as part of the Great Britain team at the Dudenhofen Grand Prix, James was fifth in the women’s sprint behind world champion Kristina Vogel and fourth in the keirin.

Prior to her return at Derby, James has been out of action for almost 18 months battling knee and shoulder injuries and also overcoming a cancer scare, which she told BBC Sport gave her a new-found perspective on life and sport.

The 23-year-old cyclist had a minor operation to remove abnormal cells following a cervical smear test in May, 2014, which contributed to her missing the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

James explained to BBC Wales that the scare made her realise that her health was her first priority.

"At the time I thought, ’It doesn’t matter about being injured, the main thing is I have to get my health right.”

Now she’s back on track in every sense of the word, James will join a world-class field including Sir Bradley Wiggins, Laura Trott and many of Great Britain’s other Olympic and Paralympic champions to compete at the 2015 British Championships in Manchester between September 25-27 where 22 gold medals will be handed out.

James will compete in the women’s sprint events and hope to make her mark at the final track championships before the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

Britain’s Olympic track team will be selected in mid-June 2016, with performances during the period running from October 1 2015 to June 1 2016 taken into consideration.

James revealed, “There was times when I didn’t know if I was going to get back and I used to get so upset about everything.

"But once I came through that I realised I love what I do and that’s why I’m coming back and why I want to get to the Olympics because I love my job and I love cycling."