British Cycling has named the riders who will represent Great Britain in the cross country and downhill disciplines at the 2017 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships taking place in Cairns, Australia, from 5 - 10 September.
Olympian Annie Last will take to the start-line in the elite women’s cross country mountain bike race having taken a career best world cup victory in Lenzerheide earlier this month. She will be joined by fellow Olympian Grant Ferguson who will contest the elite men’s event.
Senior academy rider Evie Richards, who has finished on the podium of all four world cups so far this season, along with Frazer Clacherty will compete in the under-23 events whilst Dan Tullett, Cameron Orr, Emily Wadsworth and Sophie Wright will race in the junior categories. Five of these selected riders will also compete in the team relay, the line-up for which will be confirmed nearer the time.
Nineteen British riders have been selected to race the downhill events, with reigning world champions Rachel Atherton and Danny Hart both looking to defend their titles in Australia.
Iain Dyer, head coach at British Cycling, said: “I believe we have selected a strong squad of riders with a lot of potential for both the cross country and downhill events at this year’s world championships.
“The cross country course includes physical and technical elements including rock gardens, jumps, drops and a stepped climb which will play to the strengths of a lot of our riders. In addition, the location of the event offers an opportunity to our junior riders to experience the impact of long haul travel and racing in heat and humidity.
“We’ve seen some impressive and consistent performances from the cross country riders this season and we’ll be looking for them to carry this form into the world championships.
“It’s good to see four-time world champion Rachel Atherton has recovered from a dislocated shoulder to make selection for the event and she is joined in the elite women’s race by Tahnee Seagrave, who also stood on the podium at the 2014 world championships.
“Defending world champion Danny Hart is included in the squad for this year’s event along with Laurie Greenland who took the silver medal last year.
“Great Britain has a wealth of talented downhill mountain bike riders who have enjoyed success on the world stage for many years and the team selected for this year’s world championships look set to continue this tradition.”
Great Britain Cycling Team for UCI Mountain Bike World Championships:
Cross Country
Elite men
Grant Ferguson
Elite women
Annie Last
Under-23 men
Frazer Clacherty
Under-23 women
Evie Richards
Junior men
Dan Tullett
Cameron Orr
Junior women
Sophie Wright
Emily Wadsworth
Downhill
Elite men
Gee Atherton
Adam Brayton
Laurie Greenland
Charlie Hatton
Danny Hart
Bernard Kerr
Jack Reading
Greg Williamson
Elite women
Rachel Atherton
Tahnee Seagrave
Junior men
Joe Breeden
Kade Edwards
Henry Kerr
George Kerr
Joe Parfitt
Kaos Seagrave
Matt Walker
Junior women
Maya Atkinson
