Great Britain has finalised its cycling team for the upcoming Summer Olympics in Beijing, with a powerfully deep track squad expected to repeat its recent World Championship gold medal effort.
"On behalf of the Board and of the members of British Cycling, I would like to congratulate all those who have been selected and wish the whole team every success," said Brian Cookson, president of British Cycling. "I know a massive amount of work has been put in by everyone concerned, not just the riders themselves, but also by every single member of the support staff, and I am sure because of this, that the team will live up to the high standards we have now come to expect."
Other British favourites include Nicole Cooke, in the women's road race. Cross country mountain bike racer Oli Beckingsale will be participating in his third Olympics. Road racers Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins will represent Britain on the track. Cavendish won Stage 5 of the 2008 Tour de France after winning two stages of the recent Giro d'Italia.
“The Great Britain Cycling team has continued to develop to such a point where it is clearly both the strongest and most professional Cycling team from Great Britain in living memory," said Dave Brailsford, Britsh Cycling Performance Director and Team GB Cycling Team Leader. "The very tough selection decisions which had to be made are a testament to the strength and depth of talent within our programme. In keeping with the overall philosophy of the Great Britain Cycling team this squad will leave no stone unturned in its quest for success.”
Great Britain's Olympic Cycling Team roster:
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 (Women's 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)
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)
Mountain Bike
Oliver Beckingsale, Liam Killeen
BMX
Shanaze Reade (Women’s BMX), Men's BMX - (One rider to be announced)
