British Cycling has announced a star-studded roster for the UCI Road World Championships in Flanders, which begins in just five days, with the likes of Tom Pidcock, Lizzie Deignan and Ethan Hayter earning selection.
The Men’s Elite Road Race team comprises Mark Cavendish, who recently tied Eddy Merckx’s record for stage victories at the Tour de France, and Tour of Norway winner Hayter.
Tokyo 2020 mountain-bike gold medalist Pidcock and Jake Stewart are also included after their phenomenal 2021 seasons, as well as Ben Swift, Connor Swift, Luke Rowe and Fred Wright. Hayter will also participate in the Men’s Elite Time-Trial with Dan Bigham.
Former road race World Champion Deignan is scheduled to ride the Women’s Elite Road Race with Anna Shackley after the pair united for the road race at the Tokyo Olympics Games.
They will line up with Alice Barnes and Anna Henderson, as well as Pfeiffer Georgi and Joss Lowden. Georgi and Lowden are also set to represent in the Women’s Elite Time-Trial.
Lowden is coming into the World Championships on fine form, beginning her season by unofficially breaking the Hour Record and stating her intentions to officially attempt the Hour Record this month.
The Drops Le Col rider is pencilled in for the newer event of the Mixed Team Time Trial too, with Dan Bigham as their team leader. An exciting discipline that pairs some of Britain’s best women and men together, Alex Dowsett, John Archibald, Alice Barnes and Anna Henderson are set to post a blistering time.
Participants for the U23 Men are Lewis Askey, Robert Donaldson, Oliver Stockwell, Ethan Vernon (Road and TT) and Sam Watson. The Junior Men includes Finlay Pickering (Road and TT) and Junior CiCLE Classic winner Joshua Tarling (Road and TT), in addition to Jack Brough and Junior Tour of Yorkshire winner Max Poole.
Lining up for the Junior Women will be Zoe Bäckstedt (Road and TT) and Maddie Leech (Road and TT) with Millie Couzens – who recently won three gold medals at the European Track Cycling Championships – and Flora Perkins.
Bäckstedt won the Junior Tour of Yorkshire in June, with Couzens second and Perkins third. Couzens, Leech and Bäckstedt also recently won gold in the European Track Cycling Championships in the Women’s Junior Team Pursuit, setting a world record in the process.
Dates:
Sunday 19th September, Men’s Elite Individual Time Trial
Monday 20th September, Men’s U23 Individual Time Trial
Monday 20th September, Women’s Elite Individual Time Trial
Tuesday 21st September, Women’s Junior Individual Time Trial
Tuesday 21st September, Men’s Junior Individual Time Trial
Wednesday 22nd September, Team Time Trial Mixed Relay
Friday 24th September, Men’s Junior Road Race
Friday 24th September, Men’s U23 Road Race
Saturday 25th September, Women’s Junior Road Race
Saturday 25th September, Women’s Elite Road Race
Sunday 26th September, Men’s Elite Road Race