Location: Roskilde, Denmark
Event: 8-11 September 2011
Report: Scott Hobro
"It's a massive event, it's important for us and everyone else. Every other nation will be at these World Championships with the same intention as us. It will give us a good idea of where we and other team are in terms of performance."
With less than one year to go until the 2012 Paralympics in London, GB Para-Cycling Team Coach Jayne Ellis is under no illusions as to the significance of the upcoming Para-Cycling Road World Championships in Denmark and its part in the preparations for the Games next year.
"It's our last major road event where the athletes can test themselves against other nations and the last major event for collecting points for the 2012 Games," Ellis said.
"These World Championships are our peak road event in what has been a very good year for us. Our athletes have been building up to this event by competing in a series of World Cup events and will now have an opportunity to put a marker down" she added.
The 13 rider team for the four-day event is made up of very experienced riders such as Jody Cundy, Sarah Storey, David Stone and Rachel Morris in addition to relatively new talent. The likes of Simon Price, Mark Colbourne and Crystal Lane will be going to Denmark to gain valuable experience in competing at the highest level and showcase their abilities to stake a claim for a spot on the 2012 Paralympic team.
"There's always an opportunity for someone to put their hand up and produce podium and gold medal performances, the door is never closed. Those new to the team are looking very strong but they still have a lot of work to do," Ellis commented.
The championships also have significance for Ellis who, having played an important part in the GB Para-Cycling Development Programme, will be stepping up to the role of lead coach in Roskilde. Ellis has been pleased with the riders' preparation ahead of the event and is relishing the prospect of seeing them in action this week.
"I'm looking forward to taking the team out there. We have worked incredibly hard this year and done a lot of travelling to race and train and the athletes have coped with it extremely well. I can't wait to see what they do in Denmark."
"We had a great pre-worlds training camp in Italy at the end of July and we also took part in the ParalympicsGB pre-Games simulation camp in Bath which was fantastic. It was a real eye opener for our athletes who then raced in Leige for a final part of their pre-worlds prep. Everyone is in a very good place."
The 2011 UCI Para-Cycling Road World Championships start on the 8 September. To keep up to date with the Great Britain Para-Cycling Team's progress check out our dedicated Road World Championships page.
