The Great Britain Cycling Team’s road riders make their return to international competition next week, lining up to represent their country at the UEC Road European Championships taking place in Plouay, France, from 24th -28th August.
Lizzie Deignan, Alex Dowsett and Tom Pidcock are amongst the squad of 23 riders who will represent Great Britain in the elite and under-23 categories.
The 2015 women’s road race world champion Deignan will be joined by Lizzy Banks plus Alice and Hannah Barnes to contest the elite women’s road race, while Lizzy Banks will also race in the time trial along with Hayley Simmonds. Alex Dowsett will compete in both the elite men’s road race and time trial, and in the road race he will be joined by Gabz Cullaigh, Ethan Hayter, Matt Holmes, Tom Pidcock, Scott Thwaites, Matt Walls and Fred Wright.
Pidcock will also take to the start line in the under-23 men’s time trial, along with Ethan Vernon. Vernon will also be representing Great Britain in the under-23 men’s road race with Rhys Britton, Alfie George, Max Rushby, Sam Watson and Xeno Young. In the under-23 women’s road race, the 2018 elite national champion Jess Roberts will line up alongside Anna Docherty, Anna Shackley and Amelia Sharpe with Roberts and Docherty also contesting the time trial event.
Performance Director Stephen Park said: “With the road race calendar still understandably uncertain, the European Road Championships are now a key feature for the Great Britain Cycling Team’s road squad and as such we are sending a strong team with real medal chances in each category and discipline.
“For me, personally, it’s great to see so many riders who progressed through our Academy programmes and onto professional teams come back to represent the Great Britain Cycling Team again, which is a testament to the strength of our pathway structure.
“As a team, we are remaining optimistic about the road worlds taking place in some form, and the European Championships will serve as good preparations for that as well as providing a great racing opportunity in its own right. I know the team we are taking are keen to do the jersey proud, and I know the road team will be ready for whatever happens in the coming weeks.”
Lizzie Deignan said: “Having the opportunity to represent my country is always special and I’m looking forward to meeting up with my Great Britain Cycling Team teammates for next week’s race. It’s obviously been a strange year to say the least, and the past couple of races definitely haven’t gone my way, but I’m looking forward to the European Championships. I’m recovering from crashes at Strade Bianchi and Giro dell’Emilia and I’m excited to race again. Plus it’s a course I know and love as we return to Plouay.”
Elite Women’s Road Race
Lizzy Banks
Alice Barnes
Hannah Barnes
Lizzie Deignan
Elite Women’s Time Trial
Lizzy Banks
Hayley Simmonds
Elite Men’s Road Race
Gabz Cullaigh
Alex Dowsett
Ethan Hayter
Matt Holmes
Tom Pidcock
Scott Thwaites
Matt Walls
Fred Wright
Elite Men’s Time Trial
Alex Dowsett
Under 23 Women’s Road Race
Anna Docherty
Jess Roberts
Anna Shackley
Amelia Sharpe
Under 23 Women’s Time Trial
Anna Docherty
Jess Roberts
Under 23 Men’s Road Race
Rhys Britton
Alfie George
Max Rushby
Ethan Vernon
Sam Watson
Xeno Young
Under 23 Men’s Time Trial
Tom Pidcock
Ethan Vernon
