Millar takes Thomas's place at road Worlds

British Cycling has announced that David Millar will replace Geraint Thomas in the British squad at the UCI road race World Championships in Melbourne, Australia, on October 3.

Welshman Thomas announced that he was withdrawing from the event on Thursday, citing poor post-Tour de France form. He will now concentrate on his participation for Wales in the individual pursuit (track), road race and road time trial at the Commonwealth Games in India, starting October 5.

Millar was already named in Britain's Worlds squad, riding in the road time trial. He now joins Jeremy Hunt in supporting Mark Cavendish's bid to become world champion in the men's road race.

Millar is currently riding in the Vuelta a Espana for the Garmin-Transitions team. The Scot is one of the few riders to have taken part in all three grand tours this year. He has won a stage of Criterium International, and a stage and the overall in Three Days of De Panne this season.

Millar took first place in the 2003 World Championships time trial, but was subsequently stripped of the result when he admitted to taking banned blood-boosting drug EPO. He was banned for two years from competition, returning to professional competition in 2006. Millar is now a staunch advocate of anti-doping in cycling.

Related links

Thomas withdraws from Britain's Worlds team

David Millar: Rider Profile