Great Britain have but to announce their squad for the UCI Road World Championships in Zürich however quite a lot of riders have confirmed that they’re hoping to placed on the nationwide staff equipment later this month.
The Worlds kick off in simply over a fortnight with the elite particular person time trial occasions held on Sunday 22 September, earlier than the highway races happen throughout the next weekend.
A 273.9km-long highway race route, that has essentially the most climbing metres since Imola in 2020, awaits the riders in Switzerland – with that more likely to be mirrored within the startlist, too.
In the center of his most profitable season up to now, Israel-Premier Tech’s Stevie Williams was one rider to stake his declare for a spot within the squad when he spoke to Cyclingnews on the Tour of Britain.
Williams, who claimed back-to-back victories on stage two and three, mentioned: “Yeah [it’s definitely on my radar], it’s not confirmed, however hopefully, choice for Worlds can be granted so I can go to Zürich to both attempt to be aggressive and race the ultimate or play a assist position for one in all our leaders.”
The present Tour of Britain chief admitted that he’s in a purple patch in the meanwhile, placing it right down to a robust finish to 2023 and competing at one other Grand Tour this season.
“The Tour de France was huge for me, getting my second consecutive Grand Tour yr in, it was an enormous enhance. To get two three-week races in over two years has boosted my degree,” Williams admitted.
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The Welshman, who received a stage and the general on the Tour Down Under earlier than clinching La Flèche Wallonne within the spring, has already featured in British colors this yr on the Paris Olympics.
Finishing thirty first, he described it as “an ideal race and an actual privilege to do for Great Britain.”
Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers) was one in all Williams’ teammates in Paris, and whereas efficiently defending his mountain bike title, might solely muster thirteenth within the highway race.
He confirmed that the World Championships have been a part of his plan for the rest of 2024, falling in between the Canadian one-day races and the Italian Classics.
Meanwhile, Oscar Onley (DSM-Firmenich PostNL) is hoping to make his World Championships debut this month after a brilliant yr with the Dutch WorldTour staff.
Despite two collarbone breaks, the Scotsman has nonetheless managed to assert a Tour Down Under stage, finishing his first Tour de France and a brilliant exhibiting on the Tour of Britain this week too.
Onley admitted: “I’m fairly assured that I’ll be going to Worlds, that’s the following goal after this. An excellent week of racing right here ought to set me up properly.”
For the person time trial, a 46.1km course in and round Zürich, Ethan Hayter is a rider eager to take one in all Great Britain’s two spots within the occasion.
“I believe I’m going to do the time trial Worlds, I’m nonetheless ready, it’s a bit just like the Olympics I simply have to determine if I’m going to do it or not,” the Ineos Grenadiers quickman revealed to Cyclingnews.
Hayter, who departs the British WorldTour staff for Soudal-QuickStep in 2025, added: “I used to be within the ballpark in Australia a few years in the past, I’ve had just a few points with my TT bike this yr and gear and sponsor adjustments so I have to get again to it.”
Josh Tarling, final yr’s bronze medallist within the occasion, deserted the Vuelta a España on stage 9 as a result of impacts of an earlier crash so it stays to be seen if the Brit is able to compete in Switzerland.