Have you ever wondered how British Cycling make their decisions on who goes to the World Championships and who doesn’t?

With the World Championships in Champery (Switzerland) a month away we thought you might like a look at the selection process employed by British Cycling (the UK governing body). Read on, and note that selections will be made on Aug 9th (this coming Tuesday):

Selection for MTB Downhill and 4X World Championships 2011

Great Britain Cycling Team Strategy

The aims of the GB Cycling Team at the MTB Downhill and 4X World Championships remain consistent with previous year’s goals. These are simply to win medals and gain top ten places. Resources are prioritised for riders who are likely medal contenders. If it is not felt that there are British riders capable of attaining these performances, then a team will not be entered in that category of the World Championships. Selections may be made of younger, or less experienced riders who have an identified need to experience competition at this level and are deemed to have the potential to win medals in Major Championships in future years.

Selected riders may be required to undergo physiological and/or medical assessment in the period between the selection date and the event. This will be to confirm fitness following injury, illness or a period of marked under-performance. All physiological assessment will be conducted at the National Cycling Centre by British Cycling’s Olympic Programme’s Team Staff

Reserves may be named for any event. The selection panel may reconvene at a date between selection and competition to withdraw a rider from the World Championships if a case is subsequently put forward by a National coach or other suitably qualified individual with evidence that a rider is likely to under perform to a significant degree. A de-selected rider may be replaced only with another rider named as part of the team who is deemed by the selection panel to be performing better and likely to achieve a top 10 position. This can occur at any time between the selection deadline and competition but replacements can only be drawn from the selected athletes (including reserves) whose names were published at the time of selection.

All selections are made by a selection panel chaired by the Performance Director. A minimum of two further selection panel members are nominated by the Performance Director, who may include but is not restricted to Performance Manager, Senior Management Team members, coaching staff and expert advisers.

Downhill Individual

Elite men and women: The team will be selected for the elite events on a discretionary basis by the selection panel. The selection panel will consider only riders deemed to be competitive at this level, and may elect to take fewer than the maximum permitted riders for these events. The panel would consider the following factors in coming to a decision:
• International Race performances in the period 23rd April 2011 to 7th August 2011. Top ten World Cup performances in Downhill will be considered. The selection panel will take account of the age and experience of riders, the quality of field and the nature of the courses.
• Commitment to the GB Cycling team anti-doping policies.
• Specific nature of the course
Junior men and women: The team will be selected for the junior events on a discretionary basis by the selection panel. Only riders born in 1993 and 1994 are eligible for selection for the 2011 Junior World Championships events. The selection panel will consider both riders deemed to be competitive at this level, and those who have an identified need to experience competition at this level, who are deemed to have potential to win medals in Major Championships in future years. Selection is on a discretionary basis by the selection panel. The panel would consider the following factors in coming to a decision:
• International Race performances in the period 23rd April 2011 to 7th August 2011. Top 40 performances in elite World Cups will be considered. The selection panel will take account of the age and experience of riders, the quality of field and the nature of the courses.
• National Series. Top 3 riders will be considered. The selection panel will take account of the age and experience of riders, the quality of field and the nature of the courses.
• National Series/Championships. A rider must start a National event in the 2011season to be considered for selection
• Competitive performances in international events will receive a weighting.
• Commitment to the GB Cycling team anti-doping blood testing policies.
• Specific nature of the course

4X Individual

Elite men and women: The team will be selected for the 4X events on a discretionary basis by the selection panel. The selection panel will consider only riders deemed to be competitive at this level, and may elect to take fewer than the maximum permitted riders for these events. The panel would consider the following factors in coming to a decision:
• International Race performances in the period 23rd April to 10th July 2011. Top 8 World Cup performances will be considered. The selection panel will take account of the age and experience of riders, the quality of field and the nature of the courses.
• Commitment to the GB Cycling team anti-doping policies.
• Specific nature of the course.

Selection Panel will meet 9th August and teams will be announced immediately afterwards.