Long list for British World Champs team announced

The long list of riders selected to represent Great Britain at the 2012 UCI Road World Championships later this month has been announced. The event takes place in Limburg, Netherlands, over September 15-23.

Current road world champion Mark Cavendish has been named on the 14-rider list for the men's road race - nine riders will actually take part in the event for Great Britain. Tour de France champion Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome, Geraint Thomas and Ben Swift are also named on the provisional roster.

Jonathan Tiernan-Locke is included on the list after what has been his major breakthrough season in the professional ranks having taken a raft of international wins during 2012.

Cavendish has openly stated that the hilly road race course does not suit him, and he will ride in capacity of team helper rather than leader.

British time trial champion Alex Dowsett, Froome and Thomas have also been named on the men's time trial start list - two riders will take part. Wiggins will not contest the event despite taking the Olympic gold medal in the discipline.

"Once again we find ourselves in a very fortunate position of having a strong pool of riders across the board from which we can select the final team nearer the time," said British Cycling performance director David Brailsford.

"Brad has opted out of riding the Time Trial at the Worlds, this year's focus for him has been fully on the Tour de France and the Olympics, so to expect him to hold form going into the Worlds is a big ask."

Lizzie Armitstead, Nicole Cooke, Sharon Laws and Emma Pooley are all present on the women's 12-strong long list, of which seven riders will take to the start line. Double Olympic track gold medallist Laura Trott is also named.

British TT champion Wendy Houvenaghel joins Laws, Pooley and Julia Shaw on the women's time trial long list, for which two riders will be selected.

Defending junior women's champion Lucy Garner heads up a strong young British contingent, which also includes the talented Germain Burton in the junior's men's list.

This year's World Champs also includes a trade team time trial. The Sky line-up will likely include British riders.

Elite Men - Road Race (9 to start)

Adam Blythe

Mark Cavendish

Steve Cummings

Alex Dowsett

Andy Fenn

Chris Froome

Peter Kennaugh

Jeremy Hunt

Luke Rowe

Ian Stannard

Ben Swift

Jon Tiernan-Locke

Geraint Thomas

Bradley Wiggins

Elite Men - Time Trial (2 to start)

Alex Dowsett

Chris Froome

Geraint Thomas

Elite Women - Road Race (7 to start)

Lizzie Armitstead

Hannah Barnes

Katie Colclough

Nicole Cooke

Catherine Hare

Nikki Harris

Dani King

Sharon Laws

Emma Pooley

Joanna Rowsell

Emma Trott

Laura Trott

Elite Women - Time Trial (2 to start)

Wendy Houvenaghel

Sharon Laws

Emma Pooley

Julia Shaw

U23 Men - Road Race (3 to start)

Mike Cuming

Josh Edmondson

Richard Handley

Ali Slater

Scott Thwaites

Simon Yates

U23 Men - Time Trial (2 to start)

George Atkins

Sam Harrison

Joe Perrett

Junior Men - Road Race (6 to start)

Germain Burton

Hugh Carthy

Jon Dibben

Tao Geoghegan Hart

Ed Laverack

Chris Lawless

Chris Latham

Sam Lowe

Harry Tanfield

Alex Peters

Will Stephenson

Oliver Wood

Junior Men - Time Trial (2 to start)

Jon Dibben

Tao Geoghegan Hart

Junior Women - Road Race (5 to start)

Elinor Barker

Lucy Garner

Emily Kay

Amy Roberts

Jessie Walker

Molly Weaver

Junior Women - Time Trial (2 to start)

Elinor Barker

Amy Roberts