Selectors for the British national team are delaying their final selection for the World Championship road race team until Thursday morning with hopes that Mark Cavendish will be able to participate.
Cavendish won an incredible six stages at this year’s Tour de France, and his participation would have been without question had he not come down with bronchitis earlier this month.
While the road race course in Mendrisio, Switzerland doesn’t suit launching the “Manx Missile” to the line, this race will mark the first time in history that Great Britain has qualified for the maximum allocation of riders to the worlds. Cavendish alone contributed nearly 70 percent of the points needed to qualify, so he’s earned his way onto the team.
If Cavendish does end up taking part in Mendrisio, it will be interesting to see the world’s fastest sprinter take on the roll of a domestique.
Great Britain for the World Championships:
Elite Men’s Road Race (Thursday it will be cut to 9):
Mark Cavendish, Stephen Cummings, Russ Downing, Chris Froome, Roger Hammond, Dan Lloyd, David Millar, Ian Stannard, Ben Swift, Geraint Thomas
Elite Men’s Time Trial:
Chris Froome, Bradley Wiggins
Elite Women’s Road Race:
Lizzie Armitstead, Katie Colclough, Nicole Cooke, Nikki Harris, Sharon Laws, Lucy Martin, Emma Pooley
Elite Women’s Time Trial:
Wendy Houvenaghel, Emma Pooley
Under 23 Men’s Road Race:
Mark Christian, Peter Kennaugh, Jonny McEvoy, Luke Rowe, Erick Rowsell
Under 23 Men’s Time Trial:
Alex Dowsett, Andy Fenn