Cavendish out of Great Britain squad

Mark Cavendish

Mark Cavendish has dropped out of the Great Britain World Championships only hours after being named to the team. It is expected that Geraint Thomas will take his place in the road race. Cavendish was selected by British Cycling to race the Worlds road race, but shortly after the announcement, his name was taken off the list again with the mention that he ‘withdrew’.

So now the men’s road team will have David Millar, Chris Froome, Steve Cummings, Russell Downing, and Ian Stannard. Geraint Thomas is still to be confirmed. Millar and Cummings will also ride the time trial.

Olympic Champion Nicole Cooke will lead the women’s team. She will be supported by Sharon Laws, Emma Pooley, Lizzie Armitstead, and Jess Allen. Law and Pooley will ride the time trial.

For the U-23 team, Ben Swift, Peter Kennaugh, Alex Dowsett, Jonny Bellis and Jonny McEvoy will ride the road race, with Dowsett and Russel Hampton in the time trial.

GB announce Cycling World Road Champs team

The Great Britain cycling team have announced the long list of riders for the 2008 Road World Championships in Italy.

In the events GB will be allowed six riders in the Men’s Elite road race, seven including the Olympic champion (otherwise six) for the Women’s road race, five for the Under 23 road race and two each for the time trials.

The Elite riders for the road race are Mark Cavendish, Steve Cummings, Chris Froome, David Millar, Ian Stannard, Geraint Thomas, Rob Hayles, Russell Downing,  Daniel Lloyd and Dan Fleeman.

The Under 23 riders are Ben Swift, Peter Kennaugh, Alex Dowsett, Jonny Bellis, Jonny McEvoy, Andy Tennant, Russell Hampton and Mark McNally.

Cooke and Pooley are joined in the women’s team by Sharon Laws, Rachel Heal, Jessica Allen, Lizzie Armitstead and Catherine Hare.

In the time trial, the Elite Men are Steve Cummings, David Millar and Chris Froome; the Women are Emma Pooley, Sharon Laws and Nicole Cooke; and the Under 23s are Alex Dowsett and Russell Hampton.

British Olympic Cycle Squad Named

The British Olympic Association has announced the cycling members for Team GB for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games (8-24 Aug).

The athletes are:

BMX
Shanaze Reade (Women’s BMX)
Plus one male rider TBC

Mountain Bike
Oliver Beckingsale
Liam Killeen

Road
Jonny Bellis (Men’s Road Race)
Steve Cummings (Men’s Road Race & Individual Time Trial)
Roger Hammond (Men’s Road Race)
Ben Swift (Men’s Road Race)
Nicole Cooke (Women’s Road Race)
Sharon Laws (Women’s Road Race)
Emma Pooley (Women’s Road Race)

Track
Steven Burke (Team Pursuit)
Mark Cavendish (Madison)
Edward Clancy (Team Pursuit)
Ross Edgar (Team Sprint and Keirin)
Chris Hoy (Sprint, Team Sprint and Keirin)
Jason Kenny (Sprint and Team Sprint)
Paul Manning (Team Pursuit)
Chris Newton (Points Race)
Victoria Pendleton (Sprint)
Rebecca Romero (Pursuit and Points Race)
Jamie Staff (Team Sprint)
Geraint Thomas (Team Pursuit)
Bradley Wiggins (Individual Pursuit, Team Pursuit and Madison)
Wendy Houvenaghel (Women’s Individual Pursuit)

Glamorous Victoria Pendleton

Victoria Pendleton was quoted as saying: “It’s an honour to be selected especially in such a strong squad,” Pendleton said. “I’m looking forward to going to Beijing and building on my form from the Worlds in Manchester earlier this year.”

I wish the entire team the best of luck for the event which starts in less than a month’s time. The race of truth has always been my favourite so an extra good luck to the guys and girls taking part in the pursuit and individual time trial.