Great Britain is set to field a strong contingent at the upcoming UCI Road World Championships, with notable riders like Tom Pidcock and Zoe Backstedt spearheading the squad. The team's chances in the road race are considered high, particularly with the notable absence of two-time defending champion Tadej Pogacar, who is out for the remainder of the season due to injuries sustained in a crash at the Vuelta a Espana.
Pidcock, a double world champion and five-time Tour de France winner, is among the favorites. Backstedt is stepping up to the elite category after winning the U23 race last year. She will be joined in the elite women's time trial by Anna Henderson, who secured a silver medal in the same discipline at the Paris Olympics in 2024.
In the men's time trial, Ethan Hayter, who narrowly lost to Pogacar in the opening time trial of the recent Vuelta a Espana by a mere nine hundredths of a second, will compete alongside Callum Thornley. The favorite for the men's time trial is the defending champion Remco Evenepoel of Belgium.
Stephen Park, Performance Director for British Cycling, expressed enthusiasm for the squad, stating, "The Road World Championships are always one of the standout events in the cycling calendar, and we are excited to return with a highly competitive squad." He added, "This squad showcases the very best of British road racing, at a time when more British riders are making their mark across Europe and on the wider international stage than ever before. We're proud of the balance in this squad, from established world-class performers to riders taking the next step in their development."
The British squad for the championships includes:
Elite Women: Zoe Backstedt, Lauren Dickson, Pfeiffer Georgi, Anna Henderson, Anna Morris, Flora Perkins, Alice Towers
Elite Men: Mark Donovan, Ethan Hayter, Oscar Onley, Finlay Pickering, Tom Pidcock, James Shaw, Callum Thornley, Fred Wright, Adam Yates
U23 Men: Jacob Bush, Mattie Dodd, Elliot Rowe, Will Smith, Ben Wiggins
U23 Women: Cat Ferguson, Abi Miller, Awen Roberts, Imogen Wolff, Morven Yeoman
Junior Women: Aalia Clay, Peggy Knox, Gabriella McHugh, Zoe Roche, Melanie Rowe
Junior Men: Leon Atkins, Gus Dutton, Finlay Storrie, Dexter Townsend, Evander Wishart
The time trials will commence the competition in Montreal, with riders setting off individually at one-minute intervals. The event will be broadcast live on the BBC.