British Cycling has confirmed the nine riders that will represent the Great Britain Cycling Team at the 2017 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.

Steve Bate and pilot Adam Duggleby will be aiming to win their first set of rainbow stripes after winning one gold and two bronze medals at world cups in Maniago and Emmen. The pair have enjoyed success in Pietermaritzburg previously, winning two medals at the same venue in 2015.

Lora Fachie and Corrine Hall will be looking to recapture the form that saw them win world titles on the road in 2013 and 2014. A silver medal in the time trial in Emmen means that they go into the world championships with realistic ambitions of getting back on the podium once again.

Craig Collis-McCann will compete in his first road world championships for the Great Britain Cycling Team after enjoying a 2017 season that has seen him emerge as a genuine contender to the dominant German rider Hans Peter Durst. Collis-McCann took second place in the road race in Maniago after Peter Durst suffered a mechanical, before returning a week later at the second world cup of the season in Belgium to beat the Paralympic champion in a sprint finish.

Simon Price will be aiming to win his first world championship medal since winning bronze in the road race in Denmark in 2011. Price goes into the event in good form having won bronze in the time trial and gold in the road race in Emmen.

Crystal Lane-Wright will feature at a road world championship for the first time since winning bronze in the road race at the 2011 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships in Denmark. Lane-Wright has enjoyed some good results on the road in the last 12 months, winning bronze in the road race at the Paralympics, and winning a silver medal in the time trial at the world cup in Maniago.

Will Bjergfelt will also be hoping to round off a promising first year for the Great Britain Cycling Team in South Africa. The Podium Potential rider is selected after winning a bronze medal in the road race in Emmen.

Ben Watson will wear Great Britain Cycling Team colours for the first time in South Africa. Watson is selected for his first world championships after medalling in Emmen as an independent rider.

Great Britain Cycling Team, para-cycling head coach, Jon Norfolk, said:

“A post Paralympic year often presents new challenges with opportunities to try different approaches, work on long term development and expose some of our new riders to international competition.

“While it has been something of a transitional year for the squad the team has continued to be very successful winning medals on the track and at the road world cups and we’ll be hoping to finish the road season on a high with the riders highly motivated at the prospect of getting their hands on the coveted rainbow jersey.

“It’s been really encouraging to see new riders like Will Bjergfelt and Ben Watson step up at world cups and more than justify their selection for their first world championships. It’s a great opportunity for them to test themselves against the best riders in the world early on in their careers."

Great Britain Cycling Team squad for the 2017 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships:

Steve Bate (piloted by Adam Duggleby)
Will Bjergfelt
Craig Collis-McCann
Lora Fachie (piloted by Corrine Hall)
Crystal Lane-Wright
Simon Price
Ben Watson