Great Britain has named a strong squad – chock full of European champions – for the first round of the World Cup Series in Guadalajara, Mexico in early November – including new trackcycling blogger and European Team Pursuit Champion Ciara Horne.
Opportunities to score points towards qualification for Rio 2016 start to come thick and fast as the 2014-15 World Cup series comes hot on the heels of the European Track Championships. The opening round in Guadalajara will see Great Britain send a mix off established stars and up and coming riders – including no fewer than 9 European Gold medalists.
Along with three of the men’s Team Pursuit squad – Individual Pursuit winner Andy Tennant, Jon Dibben and Ed Clancy – and all of women’s squad – Individual Pursuit champion Katie Archibald, Elinor Barker, Ciara Horne, Joanna Rowsell and Omnium Champion Laura Trott – Kilometre Time Trial Champion Callum Skinner is part of the men’s sprint squad.
Matt Crampton, Phillip Hindes and Jason Kenny provide the rest of the men’s sprint line-up with Danni Khan, Jess Varnish and Vicky Williams representing the women. Mark Christian and Steve Burke are the other two men’s endurance riders.
British Cycling’s Shane Sutton reflected in the selection saying “We won eight medals in Guadeloupe and our aim is now to build on this and carry the momentum onto the world stage. As we’re now in Olympic qualifying, we’re keen to start the ball rolling with scoring points early on to relieve the pressure as we get closer to Rio, and for that reason we’re fielding what I believe to be a strong team.”
Men’s sprint
Matt Crampton
Phil Hindes
Jason Kenny
Callum Skinner
Women’s sprint
Danni Khan
Jess Varnish
Vicky Williamson
Men’s endurance
Steve Burke
Mark Christian
Ed Clancy
Jon Dibben
Andy Tennant
Women’s endurance
Katie Archibald
Elinor Barker
Ciara Horne
Joanna Rowsell
Laura Trott