GB Team Selection - 2008 MTB Downhill & 4X World Championships

 

The Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships are to be held in Val-di-Sole, Italy from 17th to 22nd June 2008. Selection date for the Great Britain Downhill and 4X World Championships team is the week of 3rd June 2008 to accommodate results from Vallnord World Cup. There will be a longlist selected prior to this date following the first two rounds of the NPS to allow for the administration process of completing entries for the World Championships.

Strategy

The aims of the GB Cycling Team at the MTB Downhill World Championships remain consistent with previous year's goals. These are simply to win medals and gain top ten places. Resources are prioritised for riders who are likely medal contenders. If it is not felt that there are British riders capable of attaining these performances, then a team will not be entered in that category of the World Championships. Selections may be made of younger, or less experienced riders who have an identified need to experience competition at this level and are deemed to have the potential to win medals in Major Championships in future years.

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 Team Staff

Reserves may be named for any event. The selection panel may reconvene at a date between selection and competition to withdraw a rider from the World Championships if a case is subsequently put forward by a National coach or other suitably qualified individual with evidence that a rider is likely to under perform to a significant degree. A de-selected rider may be replaced only with another rider named as part of the team who is deemed by the selection panel to be performing better and likely to achieve a top 10 position. This can occur at any time between the selection deadline and competition but replacements can only be drawn from the selected athletes (including reserves) whose names were published at the time of selection.

All selections are made by a selection panel chaired by the Performance Director. A minimum of two further selection panel members are nominated by the Performance Director, who may include but is not restricted to Performance Manager, Senior Management Team members, coaching staff and expert advisers.

 

Downhill Individual

Elite men and women: The team will be selected for the elite events on a discretionary basis by the selection panel. 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:

• International Race performances in the period 1st March 2008 to 3rd June 2008. Top ten World Cup performances will be considered. The selection panel will take account of the age and experience of riders, the quality of field and the nature of the courses.
• National Series. Top 3 riders will be considered. The selection panel will take account of the age and experience of riders, the quality of field and the nature of the courses.
• Competitive performances in international events will receive a weighting.
• Commitment to the GB Cycling team anti-doping policies.
• Specific nature of the course

Junior men and women: The team will be selected for the Junior events on a discretionary basis by the selection panel. Only riders born in 1990 and 1991 are eligible for selection for the 2008 Junior World Championships events. The selection panel will consider both riders deemed to be competitive at this level, and those who have an identified need to experience competition at this level, who are deemed to have potential to win medals in Major Championships in future years. Selection is on a discretionary basis by the selection panel. The panel would consider the following factors in coming to a decision:

• International Race performances in the period 1st March 2008 to 3rd June 2008. Top 40 performances in elite World Cups will be considered. The selection panel will take account of the age and experience of riders, the quality of field and the nature of the courses.
• National Series. Top 3 riders will be considered. The selection panel will take account of the age and experience of riders, the quality of field and the nature of the courses.
• 2007 International race performances (where applicable) and National series performances in both Junior and Youth categories for the 1990 and 1991 born riders may be considered in light of the few race opportunities before selection date.
• Competitive performances in international events will receive a weighting.
• Commitment to the GB Cycling team anti-doping blood testing policies.
• Specific nature of the course

4X Individual

Elite men and women: The team will be selected for the 4X events on a discretionary basis by the selection panel. 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:

• International Race performances in the period 1st March 2008 to 3rd June 2008. Top 8 World Cup performances will be considered. The selection panel will take account of the age and experience of riders, the quality of field and the nature of the courses.
• National Series. Top 4 riders will be considered. The selection panel will take account of the age and experience of riders, the quality of field and the nature of the courses.
• Competitive performances in international events will receive a weighting.
• Commitment to the GB Cycling team anti-doping policies.
• Specific nature of the course.