BC Announces Cyclocross Worlds Team Roster

British Cycling has today confirmed the team of cyclo-cross riders who will represent Great Britain at the forthcoming UCI Cyclo-Cross World Championships, taking place from 31st January – 1st February in Tabor, Czech Republic.

The 12-strong team includes recently-crowned elite national champions Helen Wyman and Ian Field who won the title for the ninth and the fourth time respectively at Abergavenny last weekend. Also included in the squad is Nikki Harris who has had a strong season so far, finishing on the podium at the home round of the World Cup series in Milton Keynes in November as well as junior national champion Amira Mellor who will step up to contest the elite women’s category.

However, due to British Cycling’s selection criteria, which discounts any rider unlikely to get a top ten placing, only Ian Field has been selected to represent the Elite Men. As BC puts it in its selection criteria document:
“The aim of the GB Cycling Team at the Cyclo-Cross World Championships is to develop towards top ten places. Criteria have been identified for each category to outline a pathway towards this aim. Great Britain Cycling Team will take a maximum of 4 riders in each category, however If it is not felt that there are British riders capable of attaining these performances, then no team nor any individuals will be entered in that category of the World Championships.”
Which means that many of our top cyclocross men are being denied a chance to represent their country at the World Championships due to BC’s ‘Win or don’t bother turning up policy’. Luckily, we have a very strong women’s field and so have the maximum of four racers in attendance (and with great chances of doing well).

Speaking of the selection, British Cycling’s cyclo-cross coordinator Stuart Blunt said: “We’ve selected a strong squad for this year’s World Championships, with some experienced riders particularly in the elite squads. As in previous years, the British elite women have been dominant on the world stage and, with Gabriella Durrin unavailable, Under-23 rider Hannah Payton and junior Amira Mellor join Nikki Harris and Helen Wyman to make up the elite women’s squad. Both Hannah and Amira have significantly moved up the UCI Rankings this year and the competition against the worlds-best will be valuable for their development.
 
“In the elite men’s category, Ian Field has performed consistently this season and recorded a career-best result in the Milton Keynes round of the World Cup Series.
“The Under-23 and junior men squads, which includes British Cycling’s Olympic Development mountain bike rider Will Gascoyne, have all had strong seasons domestically and will benefit from the experience of competing at world level.
“Overall, we have some exciting prospects across the board and stand to finish strongly in the UCI rankings as well as in the event itself.”

Great Britain Cyclo-Cross Team:
Elite Men
Ian Field
Elite Women
Nikki Harris
Amira Mellor
Hannah Payton
Helen Wyman
U23 Men
Nicholas Barnes
Jack Clarkson
Ben Sumner
Junior Men
Will Gascoyne
Arthur Green
Alfie Moses
Joshua Waters
However, at least they’re picking riders. According to Stickybottle.com the Irish Federation aren’t sending ANY riders to the Worlds, despite being allowed to send up to five riders for each event.

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