British Worlds Team Announced

andyp
andyp Posts: 10,549
edited September 2008 in Pro race
6 riders have been selected for the Worlds in Varese;

David Millar
Chris Froome
Steve Cummings
Mark Cavendish
Ian Stannard
Russell Downing

More here;

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/Bri ... 67793.html

Comments

  • afx237vi
    afx237vi Posts: 12,630
    Kinda strange that they pick Bellis and Swift for the Olympics but then leave them out of the Worlds.

    But it's a good team. I'd have left out Cavendish and put in Swift.

    Edit: Oh, unless Bellis and Swift are in the U23 race?
  • GroupOfOne MkII
    GroupOfOne MkII Posts: 1,289
    Yeah I think Bellis and Swift are both in the U23 race, it's their final year at that level I believe.

    Bit surprised at Cav, as I'd have thought going for Fleeman or Lloyd would have been better looking at the course. Though I suppose if it comes down to a sprint and you've got Cav...
  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 18,908
    russell was coming off the boil and its not going to suit cav

    still.. probably the strongest team we have ever sent...

    going to be a bit far for russell
    "If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm
  • jhamlin38
    jhamlin38 Posts: 20
    i doubt the race in varese is going to come to a sprint. Maybe they'll "give" an opportunity to Cav after he wins green, or ciclamino. He's just become a revelation this year.
    I'd bet craploads of moolah that cav will don the wc jersey in the next two/three years... just not this year...
  • graeme_s-2
    graeme_s-2 Posts: 3,382
    jhamlin38 wrote:
    i doubt the race in varese is going to come to a sprint. Maybe they'll "give" an opportunity to Cav after he wins green, or ciclamino. He's just become a revelation this year.
    I'd bet craploads of moolah that cav will don the wc jersey in the next two/three years... just not this year...

    I'm sure I read an interview with Cav sometime this year where he said he'd seen the WC courses for the next couple of years and they were courses that would suit him.
  • GroupOfOne MkII
    GroupOfOne MkII Posts: 1,289
    Well isn't next year (09) at Mendriso, just over the border from Varese, so on a similar hily course to this year.

    Think 2010 is Australia isn't it? Melbourne way, and I've been told that will suit the sprinters down to the ground.
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,549
    Next year is in Mendrisio. Still not sure how Varese and then Mendrisio got awarded the Worlds. They are no more than 25 kms apart.

    If Cavendish wants to win the Worlds then he'd better get saving as a team of 6 riders would struggle to get him in a winning position in the Worlds. He might need to recruit a few domestiques for the day.
  • graeme_s-2
    graeme_s-2 Posts: 3,382
    GroupOfOne MkII wrote:
    Well isn't next year (09) at Mendriso, just over the border from Varese, so on a similar hily course to this year.

    Think 2010 is Australia isn't it? Melbourne way, and I've been told that will suit the sprinters down to the ground.

    Maybe I've mis-remembered it and he said he would target the worlds in 2 years when it was flat rather than the next couple of years.
  • Moomaloid
    Moomaloid Posts: 2,040
    So glad Downing got a spot. Well deserved!
  • richa
    richa Posts: 1,632
    andyp wrote:
    If Cavendish wants to win the Worlds then he'd better get saving as a team of 6 riders would struggle to get him in a winning position in the Worlds.
    The Italians seem to get 9 places. What would GB have to do get more places? Presumably wins would help. Are Cavs GT wins enough to move us towrads more places.

    Re: Australia. I believe Robbie is hanging from retiring until after Oz so assume it will suit a sprinter?
    Rich
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    Do the home nation get more places ? We havent had a road worlds since what 82 ? Goodwood ?
  • afx237vi
    afx237vi Posts: 12,630
    I think the current system in based on the number of riders who've scored points in the various UCI continental classifications. Just a couple of years ago GB only had 3 riders.
  • milton50
    milton50 Posts: 3,856
    That climb near the end of the circuit is going to kill Cavendish I would have thought, but you never know.

    Is there any British entry for the ITT?
  • afx237vi
    afx237vi Posts: 12,630
    afx237vi wrote:
    I think the current system in based on the number of riders who've scored points in the various UCI continental classifications. Just a couple of years ago GB only had 3 riders.

    To be more precise:

    http://www.uci.ch/Modules/BUILTIN/getOb ... d=NDAzMDY&

    Basically, the first 10 countries on the Pro Tour nations classification get 9 riders each. GB are currently 24th...
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,549
    Cavendish has dropped out due to fatigue. Not a surprise really given how much racing he's done this season.

    The GB selectors will name a replacement tomorrow.
  • teagar
    teagar Posts: 2,100
    I think Canvendish would probably have to show himself in a race like Milan-San Remo or Paris-Tours before he can legitimately claim to have a good shot at a flattish WC course. That extra 50km or so makes all the difference.
    Note: the above post is an opinion and not fact. It might be a lie.
  • FJS
    FJS Posts: 4,820
    teagar wrote:
    I think Canvendish would probably have to show himself in a race like Milan-San Remo or Paris-Tours before he can legitimately claim to have a good shot at a flattish WC course. That extra 50km or so makes all the difference.
    Yes, the distance, plus at least as important, the tactics and strategy of a major one day classic are completely different from a flat stage in a tour.
  • eh
    eh Posts: 4,854
    So Stannard was picked to support/lead out Cav who now isn't going, not very well thought out. Personally i think GB are barking up the wrong tree here you don't need specially trained lead out men, the way to win these races is to have a really viable option 2, both olympic RR wins being a case in point.

    I haven't seen the course but if it is hilly then I don't expect Stannard or Downing to get even close to finishing, so once again it will be left to Millar to do something.
  • Bronzie
    Bronzie Posts: 4,927
    It's 15 laps of this circuit - totals 3,500m climbing in 260km / 160 miles

    big404_3_200709231433.jpg
    It's a Lifestyle! -+-+- Coggan Training Levels
  • Tempestas
    Tempestas Posts: 486
    Another snub for our GB RR champion then.....

    It's a one day road race and he proved he can cut it in the first day of the Tour of Britain, on recent performances alone he should be in the squad
  • Bronzie
    Bronzie Posts: 4,927
    Big difference riding 90 mile ToB stages to 160 miles though (same applies to Russell Downing though). I agree that Rob seems to be in pretty good form at the minute though.
    It's a Lifestyle! -+-+- Coggan Training Levels
  • GroupOfOne MkII
    GroupOfOne MkII Posts: 1,289
    Geraint Thomas called up to replace Cav. Bit of a strange decision, as Thomas seems to have no form at the moment, whereas someone like Dan Fleeman is going very well, and probably far better suited to the hilly nature of the circuit.

    I know Thomas is/has a big talent, but really I'd have thought it was a perfect opportunity to give Fleeman the chance he deserves.
  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 18,908
    Tempestas wrote:
    Another snub for our GB RR champion then.....

    It's a one day road race and he proved he can cut it in the first day of the Tour of Britain, on recent performances alone he should be in the squad

    I wonder why?
    "If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm
  • k-dog
    k-dog Posts: 1,652
    I thought GB had a policy of never having anyone in the team who had been banned/caught for drugs.

    How does Dave Millar get in then?

    Or am I thinking of athletics?
    I'm left handed, if that matters.
  • richa
    richa Posts: 1,632
    Olympics.
    Rich
  • Bronzie
    Bronzie Posts: 4,927
    k-dog wrote:
    How does Dave Millar get in then?
    That's a British Olympic Committee byelaw - not British Cycling's.
    It's a Lifestyle! -+-+- Coggan Training Levels
  • Ste_S
    Ste_S Posts: 1,173
    mididoctors wrote:
    Tempestas wrote:
    Another snub for our GB RR champion then.....

    It's a one day road race and he proved he can cut it in the first day of the Tour of Britain, on recent performances alone he should be in the squad

    I wonder why?

    http://www.veloriders.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=74633&highlight=
  • Bronzie
    Bronzie Posts: 4,927
    Ste_S wrote:
    http://www.veloriders.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=74633&highlight=
    As you need a logon to VeloRiders to read posts, thought I'd just re-post what it says:
    Rob Hayles on VeloRiders wrote:
    Just to let you know before more mud is thrown.

    I Was part of the 6 man Worlds team but had a discussion at length about
    This and decided for several reasons not take the place.

    One of the reasons being I Have a close family member very sick in hospital and as of tommorrow morning will be helping my family with this.
    I have therefore now finished my 2008 season and so before anyone comes up with conclusions as to why I will not be racing on Sunday, you now know.
    Many thanks,

    Rob Hayles
    It's a Lifestyle! -+-+- Coggan Training Levels
  • sing_for_absolution
    sing_for_absolution Posts: 1,908
    GroupOfOne MkII wrote:
    Geraint Thomas called up to replace Cav. Bit of a strange decision, as Thomas seems to have no form at the moment, whereas someone like Dan Fleeman is going very well, and probably far better suited to the hilly nature of the circuit.

    I know Thomas is/has a big talent, but really I'd have thought it was a perfect opportunity to give Fleeman the chance he deserves.

    thomas has ridden and finished two grand tours. I'd rather give him a spot than Fleeman simply because of that. :lol:

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