There will be no tilt at the world championship time trial for Bradley Wiggins in Limburg later this month after the Team Sky rider decided to opt out.
After enjoying unprecedented success this year, British Cycling Performance Director Dave Brailsford admitted it would be expecting too much of Wiggins to hold his form into the worlds. Chris Froome, Geraint Thomas and Alex Dowsett make up the three-man TT squad, with two to be given the nod.
The long-lists for all other disciplines for the championships, which will be held from 15-23 September, were announced by British Cycling today. Wiggins is in the squad for the men’s road race and would be expected to make the nine-man team having being selected. Froome, Mark Cavendish, Thomas and Jon Tiernan-Locke have also made the 14-man long-list.
“Once again we find ourselves in a very fortunate position of having a strong pool of riders across the board from which we can select the final team nearer the time,” said Brailsford. “Brad has opted out of riding the time trial at the worlds; this year’s focus for him has been fully on the Tour de France and the Olympics, so to expect him to hold form going into the Worlds is a big ask.”
Elite Men – Road Race (9 to start): Adam Blythe, Mark Cavendish, Steve Cummings, Alex Dowsett, Andy Fenn, Chris Froome, Peter Kennaugh, Jeremy Hunt, Luke Rowe, Ian Stannard, Ben Swift, Jon Tiernan-Locke, Geraint Thomas, Bradley Wiggins
Elite Women – Road Race (7 to start): Lizzie Armitstead, Hannah Barnes, Katie Colclough, Nicole Cooke, Catherine Hare, Nikki Harris, Dani King, Sharon Laws, Emma Pooley, Joanna Rowsell, Emma Trott, Laura Trott
Elite Women – Time Trial (2 to start): Wendy Houvenaghel, Sharon Laws, Emma Pooley, Julia Shaw
U23 Men – Road Race (3 to start): Mike Cuming, Josh Edmondson, Richard Handley, Ali Slater, Scott Thwaites, Simon Yates
U23 Men – Time Trial (2 to start): George Atkins, Sam Harrison, Joe Perrett
Junior Men – Road Race (6 to start): Germain Burton, Hugh Carthy, Jon Dibben, Tao Geoghegan Hart, Ed Laverack, Chris Lawless, Chris Latham, Sam Lowe, Harry Tanfield, Alex Peters, Will Stephenson, Oliver Wood
Junior Men – Time Trial (2 to start): Jon Dibben, Tao Geoghegan Hart
Junior Women – Road Race (5 to start): Elinor Barker, Lucy Garner, Emily Kay, Amy Roberts, Jessie Walker, Molly Weaver
Junior Women – Time Trial (2 to start): Elinor Barker, Amy Roberts
