The British squad for the road European Championships has been confirmed, with Lizzie Deignan, Alex Dowsett and Tom Pidcock leading the charge.
Taking place in Plouay, France from August 24-28, the UEC Road European Championships will be the first competition for the Great Britain Cycling Team after the coronavirus lay-off.
With huge talent lining up in the both the women’s and men’s races, British riders look to be in with a strong chance of taking home medals.
In the women’s road race, former world champion Deignan will be leading the team with support from Alice and Hannah Barnes, with Lizzy Banks completing the four-rider squad.
For the men’s road race, younger riders will be carrying the British hopes with Tom Pidcock, Gabz Cullaigh and Ethan Hayter lining up.
The rest of the men’s team on the road will be Alex Dowsett, Matt Holmes, Scott Thwaites, Matt Walls and Fred Wright.
In the European time trials, Lizzy Banks and Hayley Simmonds will race against the clock in the women’s race while Alex Dowsett will be the only British rider in the elite men’s category.
Pidcock will then also be racin the under-23 time trial alongside Ethan Vernon.
British Cycling performance director Stephen Park said: ““With the road race calendar still understandably uncertain, the European Road Championships are now a key feature for the Great Britain Cycling Team’s road squad and as such we are sending a strong team with real medal chances in each category and discipline.”
The 2020 World Championships, initially scheduled for Switzerland in late September, have been cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic, as the UCI have said they will try to find an alternative venue for this year’s Worlds.
Despite the uncertainty, the British team are keen to use the Euros as a preparation race for the World Championships.
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Park said: “As a team, we are remaining optimistic about the road worlds taking place in some form, and the European Championships will serve as good preparations for that as well as providing a great racing opportunity in its own right. I know the team we are taking are keen to do the jersey proud, and I know the road team will be ready for whatever happens in the coming weeks.”
Great Britain Cycling Team for the European Championships 2020
Elite Women’s Road Race
Lizzy Banks
Alice Barnes
Hannah Barnes
Lizzie Deignan
Elite Women’s Time Trial
Lizzy Banks
Hayley Simmonds
Elite Men’s Road Race
Gabz Cullaigh
Alex Dowsett
Ethan Hayter
Matt Holmes
Tom Pidcock
Scott Thwaites
Matt Walls
Fred Wright
Elite Men’s Time Trial
Alex Dowsett
Under 23 Women’s Road Race
Anna Docherty
Jess Roberts
Anna Shackley
Amelia Sharpe
Under 23 Women’s Time Trial
Anna Docherty
Jess Roberts
Under 23 Men’s Road Race
Rhys Britton
Alfie George
Max Rushby
Ethan Vernon
Sam Watson
Xeno Young
Under 23 Men’s Time Trial
Tom Pidcock
Ethan Vernon
