Who should ride for Great Britain in the road race at the World Championships in Switzerland?
Britain will have nine riders in the elite men’s road race in Mendrisio on September 27. It’s the biggest GB team since 12 riders lined up in Ronse, Belgium, in 1988.
But who should be in the team?
Last week 12 riders travelled to Mendrisio for a two-day training camp with British Cycling coach Rod Ellingworth. Bradley Wiggins and David Millar are also in the frame but were unable to travel because of other commitments.
The final nine will be chosen around ten days before the Worlds. The road race is 265km long and features almost 4,600 metres of climbing.
Who would be in your Great Britain World Championship team? We list the 14 riders in contention. Make your selection in the ‘add your comments’ section below.
THE LONG LIST
These 14 riders are in the frame for the team. Only nine can ride. Who would you select?
JONNY BELLIS
Saxo Bank
Age: 21 on August 16
Birthplace: Douglas, Isle of Man
Best results in 2009
8th Tour de Rijke
7th stage one, Bayern Rundfahrt
Previous World Championships elite road race experience
None
MARK CAVENDISH
Columbia-HTC
Age: 24
Birthplace: Douglas, Isle of Man
Best results in 2009
1st Milan-San Remo
Six Tour de France stage wins
Three Giro d’Italia stage wins
11 other wins
Previous World Championships elite road race experience
2007 - DNF
STEVE CUMMINGS
Barloworld
Age: 28
Birthplace: Clatterbridge, Wirral
Best results in 2009
Stage win, Giro del Capo
5th Giro di Reggio Calabria
7th Trofeo Laigueglia
Previous World Championships elite road race experience
2008 – DNF
2005 – DNF
RUSSELL DOWNING
CandiTV-Marshalls Pasta
Age: 31 on August 23
Birthplace: Rotherham
Best results in 2009
1st overall, Tour of Ireland
Stage win, Tour of Ireland
Stage win, Cinturon Mallorca
7th overall, FBD Insurance Ras
8th East Midlands Classic
9th overall, Cinturon Mallorca
Four Premier Calendar wins
Previous World Championships elite road race experience
2008 – 47th
2006 – DNF
DAN FLEEMAN
Cervélo Test Team
Age: 27
Birthplace: Yoxall, Staffordshire
Best results in 2009
16th GP di Lugano
22nd overall, Tour of Langkawi
27th GP Miguel Indurain
Previous World Championships elite road race experience
None
ROGER HAMMOND
Cervélo Test Team
Age: 35
Birthplace: Oxford
Best results in 2009
Stage win, Tour of Qatar
3rd overall, Tour of Denmark
3rd overall, Tour of Qatar
5th National Road Race Championships
11th Dwars Door Vlaanderen
13th Tour of Flanders
15th Paris-Roubaix
18th overall, Bayern Rundfahrt
Previous World Championships elite road race experience
2007 – DNF
2006 – 62nd
2005 – 41st
2003 – 85th
1998 – DNF
JEREMY HUNT
Cervélo Test Team
Age: 35
Birthplace: Macklin, Saskatchewan, Canada
Best results in 2009
Stage win, Tour of Denmark
3rd Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne
5th Delta Tour Zeeland
10th Ghent-Wevelgem
19th Paris-Roubaix
Previous World Championships elite road race experience
None
DAN LLOYD
Cervélo Test Team
Age: 29
Birthplace: Surrey
Best results in 2009
2nd National Road Race Championship
4th overall Tour of Qatar
9th Monte Paschi Eroica
13th Giro dell’Insubria
28th Ghent-Wevelgem
Previous World Championships elite road race experience
None
DAVID MILLAR
Garmin-Slipstream
Age: 32
Birthplace: Mtarfa, Malta
Best results in 2009
3rd stage four, Dauphiné Libéré
5th stage 18, Tour de France
5th stage one, Paris-Nice
9th overall, Dauphiné Libéré
10th overall, Tour of the Algarve
16th overall, Tour of the Mediterranean
Previous World Championships elite road race experience
2008 – DNF
2007 – 54th
2006 – 35th
2003 – 86th
2002 – DNF
2001 – DNF
CHRIS FROOME
Barloworld
Age: 24
Birthplace: Nairobi, Kenya
Best results in 2009
Stage win, Giro del Capo
3rd, stage six Tour of the Mediterranean
4th National Road Race Championships
14th overall, Tour of the Mediterranean
18th overall, Vuelta a Burgos
36th overall, Giro d’Italia
Previous World Championships elite road race experience
2008 – DNF
IAN STANNARD
ISD
Age: 22
Birthplace: Chelmsford
Best results in 2009
46th Tour of Austria
160th Giro d’Italia
Previous World Championships elite road race experience
2008 – DNF
BEN SWIFT
Katusha
Age: 21
Birthplace: Rotherham
Best results in 2009
2nd Nokere Koerse
2nd, stage five, Tour of the Basque Country
3rd, stage two Giro d’Italia
3rd, stage two, Tour of the Basque Country
4th, stage four, Tour of the Basque Country
5th, stage one Criterium International
6th stage six, Tour of Austria
8th GP di Lugano
8th, stage 13 Giro d’Italia
9th, stage one Tour of Austria
10th GP dell’Insubria
Previous World Championships elite road race experience
None
GERAINT THOMAS
Barloworld
Age: 23
Birthplace: Cardiff
Best results in 2009
31st GP dell’Insubria
Previous World Championships elite road race experience
2008 – DNF
BRADLEY WIGGINS
Garmin-Slipstream
Age: 29
Birthplace: Ghent, Belgium
Best results in 2009
4th overall Tour de France
1st, stage three Three Days of De Panne
2nd, stage 21 Giro d’Italia
2nd, stage one Paris-Nice
2nd, stage three Criterium International
3rd, stage one Tour de France
5th, stage 15 Tour de France
6th, stage 18 Tour de France
7th, stage 12 Giro d’Italia
23rd Ghent-Wevelgem
25th Paris-Roubaix
Previous World Championships elite road race experience
2005 – 112th
WHO SHOULD RIDE? Pick your nine-man team and enter it in the 'add your comments' section below.
Reader comments
Add your comments
Paul Garé
August 11 20:07
Who should ride at the World Championships? 1. Roger Hammond 2. Steve Cummings 3. Jeremy Hunt 4. Bradley Wiggings 5. Ben Swift 6. David Millar 7. Russel Downing 8. Mark Cavendish 9. Charly Wegelius . His non-selection again, what a shame! Nobody here in Holland understands, why the British Cycling coach can not solve a problem from years ago. Charly is a climber, a very valuable rider on this very demanding circuit. Cycling Weekly should pay attention to this problem!!!
Stefan
August 11 21:19
Cav Wiggo Millar Froome Swift Cummings Downing Thomas Lloyd
Roger Hughes
August 11 21:20
Russell Downing Mark Cavendish Ben Swift Bradley Wiggins David Millar Chris Froome Dan Fleeman Dan Lloyd Iain Stannard
keith warmington
August 12 09:33
My team :Wiggins cavendish hunt Hammond Millar LLoyd Swift Froome Cummings . Team to ride for wiggins .
Mark Jones
August 12 10:41
Wiggins Downing Millar Hammond Cavendish Froome Lloyd Swift Stannard/Hunt depending whether we want to go for experience or youth
Michael Nowicki
August 12 10:55
Mark Cavendish Bradley Wiggins David Miller Steve Cummings Chris Froome Ben Swift Dan Lloyd Roger Hammond Jeremy Hunt The team should ride for Wiggins as the course would suit him more than Cav.
Leigh Holmes
August 12 11:53
1, wiggins 2, cavendish 3, downing 4, swift 5, millar 6, hunt 7 froome 8,hammond 9, kennaugh.p
Jimmy
August 12 12:24
wiggins cavendish millar swift lloyd cummings downing froome hammond others have done little to warrant selection (thomas, fleeman) or unsuited to the circuit (hunt, bellis, stannard)
John
August 12 14:30
In support of Wiggins Downing Swift Miller Froome Flleman Lloyd Cummings Cav (just in case he gets to the finish) Also would be good to see people making more of a effort this year, Russel put all of the Pro tour riders to shame last year.
Danny Rose
August 12 15:48
Charlie Wegelius representing Italy again? Glad he's not on the list.
Rob Powell
August 12 19:26
Mark Cavendish Bradley Wiggins David Miller Steve Cummings Chris Froome Ben Swift Dan Lloyd Roger Hammond Jeremy Hunt
Garrigou
August 12 19:47
Wiggins, Cavendish, Millar, Froome, Cummings, Lloyd, Downing, Thomas, Swift. And as some have wished for in earlier posts.....let's hope we see more than just Russell Downing making it round this time.
Howard Wheatcroft
August 13 08:50
1. Roger Hammond 2. Bradley Wiggins 3. David Millar 4. Chris Froome 5. Russel Downing 6.Geraint thomas 7. Dan Lloyd 8.Ben Swift 9. Charley Wegelius (he is a climber and it is hilly course, combined with Froome and Lloyd they could get Wiggo to the finale, or is it a case of that british disease personality, just because some suit was upset. shades of cricket selectors)
DAVID NOAKES
August 13 12:47
RUSSEL DOWNING,ROGER HAMMOND,BEN SWIFT,CHRIS FROOME,JEREMY HUNT, BRADLEY WIGGINS,MARK CAVENDISH,CHRIS FROOME,GERAINT THOMAS,DAN LLOYD. ALL TO RIDE FOR WIGGINS,NO ARMCHAIR FOR CAV .WORK OR DON'T GO,
Sean Fulton
August 13 12:51
Its all very well calling for Wegelius to be selected, but the fact that he didn't show at the British championships when pretty much every other European pro did says to me that he's really not that fussed by riding for Britain or becoming its road champion. Had he turned up in Wales and showed that he cares about riding for/representing his country then maybe it would be different. Obviously I know that the championships weren't selection, but the act of turning up could have shown that he doesn't see the team who pays his wages as more important than his country. Don't get me wrong, it's fine if he doesn't, he just shouldn't be selected. Afterall what he did a few years ago wasn't just upsetting some 'suit' he completely defied team orders and rode for the Italians against his team captain. Why risk selecting him again and see him ride for Boonen/whoever is leading their team this year, as he's now employed by Belgians. And again don't get me wrong, he's a great pro and would be an assett to the team, but I completely understand his continued non-selection. For me the team should be: Swift Millar Cav Hammond Cummings Froome Lloyd Thomas Downing/Wiggins depending on whether Wiggins want to ride the main race or just focus on the ITT. If Wiggo does we should support him, if not then try and drag Cav over the climbs and set him up for a MSR-esque win!
Sam
August 13 16:49
My team to ride: Cummings Cavendish Wiggins Millar Froome Lloyd Wegelius Downing Swift Reasoning: Cummings is a proven hilly rider, his biggest win the Copa Bernochi last year. He's a hard worker and could lead the team in the future. Cav can win next year or the year after and could do with the experience. However, he needs to work for his team. Wiggins - leader. We know he can climb but it all depends on form. Millar - lieutenant. Straight from the Vuelta, he has the most experience in the world's and is pretty good on the hills. Froome is another prospect for the future, he placed highly in the Giro and has done in previous hilly Italian classics. Lloyd has shown himself to be incredibly strong with his stage race wins last year and his rides in the classics this year. A perfect team mate. Wegelius - the management should forget such a petty little argument over a situation that would appear the norm over on the continent. CW should address this. If he will ride he is an astounding team mate, revered in the peloton. Downing is an exceptionally hard worker and Britain's top finisher last year. Swifty has ridden astonishingly well this year and deserves a place in a race he could ride as leader some time soon
Peter Riddell
August 17 10:14
1. Wiggins 2. Wegelius 3. Russ Downing 4. Millar 5. Froome 6. Lloyd 7. Swift 8. Cavendish 9. Hunt The Wegelius knockers really need to get over it; such tactics have always been a part of pro cycling. The selection of Wegelius this year would give Wiggins a much stronger chance of putting in a good ride. As for those selecting Cummings and Thomas, they have both had a very quiet 2009 and surely cannot be justified on current form?
GAVIN COOK (Rotherham)
August 24 11:09
Downing ( WITHOUT DOUBT !!! ) Swift Wiggins Miller Froome Flleman Lloyd Cummings Hunt Cav wouldn´t get to the finish on this course.
Mick Furn
August 24 11:22
The team should be based on the course, with a 50% chance of at least 4 finishers. Russell Downing most consistant rider Steve Cummings also Time Trial David Millar Bradley Wiggins also Time Trial Dan LLoyd Kristian House vertue of national champion Charley Wenguiles could be helpful Chris Froome Johnny Belis Horses for courses policy, Rus Downing has proved he can beat the best, on the day, and is the most guttest rider, worth a million pound contract to anytime pro team.
Dan Gregory
August 24 12:26
RUSSELL DOWNING ROGER HAMMOND JEREMY HUNT DAVID MILLAR BEN SWIFT BRADLEY WIGGINS CHRIS FROOME MARK CAVENDISH CHARLY WEGELIUS
Nigel Gregory
August 24 12:29
Russell Downing -a superb everyman Hunt House Lloyd Swift Cummings Froome Hammond Thomas They should all be riding for Downing Cavendish wont get over the climbs Wiggins isn't interested Millar done for drugs
Mark Jones
August 24 15:06
19/22 voters included Downing in their final 9 (most before his Tour of Ireland win) - the selectors should have a serious rethink and surely the fact that he was the only Brit to finish last year should make him a dead cert.
Chairman Mat - Harworth CC
August 24 15:14
Russ Downing deserves to ride - the event would suit him and he will give 100% as we saw in Ireland and last year's event
ash
August 24 18:17
russ downing deserves to ride as time and time again he proves himself beating top pro riders if russ and wiggo get together could be a deadly combination!!!
MickD
August 24 20:33
Russell Downing deserves a ride, Charly Wegelius should be brought back in if he is up for it. Perhaps he didnt do the nats due to his late call up to the Tour and his postoned /rescheduled wedding, time to give the guy a break, at least he rode for the italians, who wouldnt given the situation he was in at the time. Just hope the brits make a better race of it than last year, I Watched the whle race live last year and it was terribly disappointing to see the brits pull out one by one, bar Russell Downing, so I would be non selecting some of last years non performers and going with someone that shows some commitment to the jersey and the fans.
Matt Williams
August 24 20:53
Russ Downing Ben Swift Roger Hammond Dan lloyd Chris Froome Mark Cavendish Wiggo Jez Hunt Kristian House (He is our National Champion after all, he's selection hould come with the Jersey)
Dave Marsh
August 24 22:03
Bradley Wiggins, Mark Cavendish,Russell Downing, Ben Swift,David Millar, Steve Cummings, Geraint Thomas, Johnny Bellis, Ian Stannard
matt
August 24 22:15
STEVE CUMMINGS RUSSELL DOWNING DAN LLOYD CHRIS FROOME BRADLEY WIGGINS DAVID MILLER DAN FLEEMAN ROGAR HAMMOND JEMERY HUNT
Reece
August 25 00:06
wiggins millar downing cavendish cummings froome lloyd thomas hammond would like to see swift give it one last go in under 23 good luck all and lets hope its a good year!!
Lionel Birnie
August 25 11:37
Regarding Reece's comment about Ben Swift, although he is still under 23 years of age, he's ineligible for the espoirs road race at the World Championships because he is contracted to a ProTour team and has ridden ProTour races this season. Last season Dan Martin rode for Ireland in the under-23 race despite being contracted to Garmin, but at the time Garmin were not in the ProTour, so he was eligible.
Routemeister
August 25 23:02
Wiggins Downing Millar Lloyd Froome Swift Wegelius Cummings Cavendish The course is very hilly so will likely not suit Cavendish, but he will be selected to gain experience so I have included him, plus I'm sure he would do his part to help Britain do well. Wiggins, Wegelius, Froome and Lloyd are all very good climbers, as is Cummings. If Wegelius is still 'barred' from national colours, then Fleeman is a good climber, or any one of Hunt, Stannard or Hammond would do a good job for the team. Millar also can ride well on hilly terrain in a supporting role. Swift has been excellent this season and Russell Downing should clearly be selected. He has proven to be the best in Britain over the last 2 years, he finished 49th last year when all the bigger names failed to do so, and he is in excellent form defeating half the Saxobank team on his own to win the Tour of Ireland. If they all performed to their ability and worked as a team we would have a strong team capable of doing well, and if we could get a rider or two up there at the sharp end - someone like Wiggins, Froome or Downing, who knows what could happen? Why could, for example Wiggins, not pull off an attack like Ballan last year? Why could not Downing take on the bigger names in a long sprint? It's about time we made a decent fist of challenging in this race, rather than the majority of our team not finishing as we saw last year.
Peter Ryalls
August 26 18:30
It beggars believe that Russel Downing is now only in the frame because of the Tour of Ireland. The selection process should have been easy, eliminate all with very little to show for the whole season, that done you will have difficulty reaching 9 riders.
dim
August 28 12:56
Firstly Kristian House I think it is absolutely ridiculous, and frankly bang out of order by the selecters that the british champion is not on the list.. He beat everyone else in the british championships, that should guarantee him a ride... then.. (easy ones) Dave Miller Brad Wiggins Mark Cavendish (experienced ones) Cummings Hammond Hunt (Young Un) Swift (Merit) Russ Downing
stewart smith
August 29 09:54
1. Russell Downing - pure genius 2. Bradley Wiggins 3. David Millar 4. Ben Swift 5. Steve Cummings 6. Dan Lloyd 7. Charlie Wegelius 8. Jez Hunt 9. Roger Hammond