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2011 Road European Championships Selection Criteria

Story posted January 6

The 2011 Road Cycling European Championships will be held in Italy from the 14th to 17th of July 2011. This is during the key preparation period for the 2011 Track European Championships which will also be a target of the Great Britain Cycling Team's Junior and Under 23 riders in 2011 so any team of riders selected will be made from those not targeting track events.

The course is severe and hilly, and team composition will be considered with this in mind, with the aim of only sending riders who are competitive at podium level and a strong support team who are able to be there to the end of the finish.  

The aim of the GB Cycling Team at the Road European Championships is twofold, to win medals in International competition, and for identified riders to experience a major area competition.  If it is not felt that there are British riders available who are capable of attaining these performances, then a team will not be entered in that category of the European Championships. 

Selected riders will comply with the relevant anti doping rules. These include UCI and UK anti doping rules (British Cycling Rules) both of which incorporate the ADAMS whereabouts system for notified riders who are on the National and/or International testing pools.

Selected riders may be required to undergo physiological and/or medical assessment in the period between the selection date and the event. This will be to confirm fitness following injury, illness or a period of marked under-performance. All physiological assessment will be conducted at the National Cycling Centre by British Cycling’s Olympic Programme’s nominated qualified personnel.

Any rider racing internationally and wishing to be considered for selection has a responsibility to keep the Olympic Programmes Administrator up to date with their road results. 

Under 23 and Junior Time Trial Championships maximum four places across all events with a maximum of two riders in any category.

The selection panel will consider only riders deemed to be competitive at this level, and may elect to take fewer than the maximum permitted riders for these events.  The panel would consider the following factors in coming to a decision:

-- Race performances in comparable international competition in the period 17thJanuary 2010 to 15th June 2011.
-- National “10” – results will be taken into account in combination with the other selection factors. A win may not guarantee a place, although it will add to an already strong case for selection based on international results.
-- Specific nature of the course.
-- Developing rider with identified need to experience major area championships
-- Commitment to the GB Cycling team anti-doping and blood testing policies
-- Laboratory tests may also be required to establish current fitness or to aid in selection decisions where there are more competitive riders than places.

Riders wishing to be considered for selection must put a formal expression of interest in writing to the GB Cycling Team admin office, or via e-mail to AlisonJohnson@britishcycling.org.uk by 31st May 2011 setting out their season’s main goals and how they are intending to provide evidence of performance. 

Riders must advise which time trial events they are competing in during the year, outlining which are the key events they plan to perform at, and would wish to be considered by the selection panel. The selection panel reserves the right to utilise only the events they consider to be of a high enough quality of field and course and of a similar nature to the European Road Championships course.

Under 23 Men’s & Women’s Road Races
The selection panel will consider only riders deemed to be competitive in this event, and may elect to take fewer than the maximum permitted riders for these events. Selection is on a discretionary basis by the selection panel. The panel would consider the following factors in coming to a decision:

--  Race performances in international and outstanding performances in Premier (men) and National Road & Circuit Series (women) calendar competition in the period 1st March 2011 to 15th June 2011.
-- UCI ranking
-- Commitment to the GB Cycling team anti-doping blood testing policies.
-- Specific nature of the Road course
-- The profile of riders selected to ensure optimal team composition, including ability and commitment to a team support role if required.

Junior Men’s & Women’s Road Races
The selection panel will consider only riders deemed to be competitive in this event, and may elect to take fewer than the maximum permitted riders for these events.  Selection is on a discretionary basis by the selection panel.  The panel would consider the following factors in coming to a decision:

-- Race performances in international and National level competition in the period 1st March 2011 to 15th June 2011.
-- UCI ranking
-- Commitment to the GB Cycling team anti-doping blood testing policies.
-- Specific nature of the Road course
-- The profile of riders selected to ensure optimal team composition, including ability and commitment to a team support role if required.