Great Britain for the Road Worlds Announced
Story posted September 3
Update: Cooke headlines GB team for Road Worlds -- Cavendish withdraws
The riders for the 2008 World Road Championships in Italy have been confirmed. They are:
ELITE WOMEN RR
Nicole Cooke
Sharon Laws
Emma Pooley
Lizzie Armitstead
Jess Allen
TIME TRIAL
Sharon Laws
Emma Pooley
ELITE MENS RR
David Millar
Chris Froome
Steve Cummings
Russell Downing
Ian Stannard
Geraint Thomas
TIME TRIAL
David Millar
Stephen Cummings
UNDER 23 RR
Ben Swift
Peter Kennaugh
Alex Dowsett
Jonny Bellis
Jonny McEvoy
TIME TRIAL
Alex Dowsett
Russell Hampton
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The Long List
In the last 24 hours, British Cycling has spoken to two major stars in the World of cycling, Olympic Champion Nicole Cooke and Tour de France star Mark Cavendish to see what their plans are post Olympics for the World Road Championships. You can read the interview with Olympic Women's Road Race Champion Nicole Cooke here.
To find out what Mark Cavendish’s plans were for the road worlds, British Cycling spoke to the British cycling star quickly this morning as he rushed through airports on his way to America and the Tour of Missouri. The four time Tour de France stage winner this year admits he was unsure after the Olympics whether the road worlds was still an option.
“Post Olympics, I wasn't sure I would go for it after all the time I had spent on the track and then I rode Ireland and the form was okay. I certainly could not have ridden the Worlds this weekend but with three weeks to go, I should be fine. At the moment I want to do it, and know that I can be ready for it. Anything though can happen in cycling and sure, if I go crap in Missouri and lose morale, then I won't. Right now though, I want to do it, totally want to do it.”
When we put it to him it would be an important step for him to ride the Road Worlds with an eye on future Worlds where the course may be kinder to a rider like him, or the race in Italy stays together like it did in Madrid for Tom Boonen, he replied "exactly. I don't care if the course this year suits me or not, I need to learn how these races go. I have already sat down and thought about the race and planned it out. I'll sit in the peloton and see how the race goes”.
Winner Mark Cavendish winning this time last year at the Tour of Britain.
Mark then had to rush off, being the jet setter he is but he left no doubt that he was well up for the Road Worlds and giving Great Britain a few options with the likes of Steve Cummings, David Millar and Chris Froome able to go with breaks and win from small groups and himself being able to win from a large bunch gallop. Good luck to Mark in Missouri and we look forward to seeing him in Great Britain colours in a few weeks!
In other team news, some of the riders selected for the Women's road race at the World Championships, Nicole Cooke, Emma Pooley, Sharon Laws, Cath Hare, Rachel Heal and Jess Allen, will be travelling to France to compete in the Tour of Ardeche.
In the Elite Men's team, Steve Cummings, David Millar, Ian Stannard, Geraint Thomas, Rob Hayles, Russell Downing, Daniel Lloyd and Dan Fleeman will be competing in next weeks Tour of Britain while Chris Froome races in Italy. Ben Swift and Jonny Bellis are also competing in the Tour of Britain as part of their training for the Under 23 World RR Championship.
The final selection for the Road Worlds will be made nearer the time.
World Championships Road Team (long list)
The Great Britain Cycling team have announced the long list of riders for the 2008 Road World Championships in Italy. A further selection of the riders to travel to Italy for the championships will be announced closer to the event which starts on the 23rd of September.
The list includes the Olympic Women's Road Race Champion Nicole Cooke, and the Olympic Silver medallist in the Women's Time Trial Emma Pooley.
In the events GB will be allowed 6 riders in the mens elite road race, 7 including the Olympic champion (otherwise 6) for the Women's road race, 5 for the Under 23 Road Race and two each for the Time Trials.
The nominations for Road Worlds are as follows:
Road Race
Elite
Mark Cavendish
Steve Cummings
Chris Froome
David Millar
Ian Stannard
Geraint Thomas
Rob Hayles
Russell Downing
Daniel Lloyd
Dan Fleeman
Under 23
Ben Swift
Peter Kennaugh
Alex Dowsett
Jonny Bellis
Jonny McEvoy
Andy Tennant
Russell Hampton
Mark McNally
Women
Nicole Cooke
Emma Pooley
Sharon Laws
Rachel Heal
Jessica Allen
Lizzie Armitstead
Catherine Hare
Time trial
Under 23
Alex Dowsett
Russell Hampton
Elite Men
Steve Cummings
David Millar
Chris Froome
Women
Emma Pooley
Sharon Laws
Nicole Cooke
Varese 2008 Schedule
Monday, 22nd September '08 – 9.00 p.m.
OPENING CEREMONY
Tuesday, 23rd September '08 – 2.00 p.m.
UNDER 23 MEN TIME TRIAL
33,55 km
Wednesday, 24th September '08 – 2.00 p.m.
ELITE WOMEN TIME TRIAL
25,15 km
Thursday, 25th September '08 – 1.00 p.m.
ELITE MEN TIME TRIAL
43,70 km
Friday, 26th September '08 – 12.15 p.m.
UNDER 23 MEN ROAD RACE
10 laps - 173,35 km
Saturday, 27th September '08 – 1.00 p.m.
ELITE WOMEN ROAD RACE
8 laps - 138,80 km
Sunday, 28th September '08 – 10.30 a.m.
ELITE MEN ROAD RACE
15 laps - 260,25 km