Commonwealth Games England have named 25 Great Britain Cycling Team athletes as part of their squad for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
The 31-strong squad of cyclists who will represent Team England at the Commonwealth Games was confirmed today at the National Cycling Centre in Manchester.
Olympic champions Laura Trott, Joanna Rowsell, Dani King, Ed Clancy, Steven Burke, Jason Kenny and Philip Hindes, as well as Matt Crampton who won a silver medal in the team sprint at the 2006 Games in Melbourne, are amongst the riders who are selected to ride the track events taking place at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome from 24 – 27 July.
Para-sport cycling makes its debut on the Commonwealth Games track programme, with 2014 two-time world champion Sophie Thornhill selected to represent Team England, piloted by Helen Scott.
Sir Bradley Wiggins makes selection for the road team, as does Alex Dowsett who won the silver medal in the Time Trial in Delhi 2010 and Steve Cummings who enjoyed Commonwealth Games victory on the track in the team pursuit in Melbourne 2006. Representing the women is Delhi 2010 silver medallist Lizzie Armitstead who is joined by a strong team of riders including road professionals Emma Pooley and Lucy Garner.
Olympian Annie Last headlines the mountain bike squad.
Laura Trott said: "I'm delighted to be representing England at the Commonwealth Games in August. Nothing beats putting on national kit and competing for your home nation. I'll try my best to do everyone proud!"
Ed Clancy said: “I’m proud to have made selection for the England team at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. My first Commonwealth Games was in Melbourne 2006, it was my first major Games and it was a valuable experience for me as an athlete. The racing is always of a very high standard and it would be great to add a Commonwealth Games medal to the collection.”
Lizzie Armitstead said: “It’s always an honour to be selected to represent your country, and I’m proud to be a part of the England team. I won the British national road race in Glasgow last year which took in part of the Commonwealth Games course. The crowds were amazing then so I’m sure this summer will be something else.”
Team England Chef de Mission Jan Paterson said: "This cycling team is undoubtedly the best we have ever seen selected for Team England. To have eight Olympic Champions line up alongside previous Commonwealth Games medallists and some supremely talented younger athletes is genuinely exciting for us. Whether it’s on the track, the road or at the mountain bike course cycling fans are in for a treat when Team England are competing."
Technical Director Shane Sutton said of the selection: “I believe we have selected a very strong team for this year’s Commonwealth Games, and it’s great that we have such a talented pool of English cyclists to select from. It’s also promising to see some of our young academy riders, such as Danni Khan, also make selection for something as big as the Commonwealths. I speak on behalf of all the team when I say we can’t wait for the racing to begin in Glasgow.”
Team England for the Commonwealth Games
Men
Steven Burke (track endurance)
Ed Clancy (track endurance)
Matt Crampton (track sprint)
Stephen Cummings (road)
Jon Dibben (track endurance/road)
Alex Dowsett (road)
Kian Emadi (track sprint)
David Fletcher (mountain bike cross-country)
Philip Hindes (track sprint)
Jason Kenny (track sprint)
Tom Moses (road)
Paul Oldham (mountain bike cross-country)
Ian Stannard (road)
Andy Tennant (track endurance/road)
Scott Thwaites (road)
Sir Bradley Wiggins (road)
Women
Lizzie Armitstead (track endurance/road)
Hannah Barnes (road)
Alice Barnes (mountain bike cross-country)
Beth Crumpton (mountain bike cross-country)
Lucy Garner (road)
Dannielle Khan (track sprint)
Dani King (track endurance/road)
Annie Last (mountain bike cross-country)
Emma Pooley (road)
Joanna Rowsell (track endurance/road)
Helen Scott (track para-cycling pilot)
Sophie Thornhill (track para-cycling)
Laura Trott (track endurance/road)
Jess Varnish (track sprint)
Vicky Williamson (track sprint)
