If there’s a job we wouldn’t have fancied, it was selecting the British team for the upcoming World Championships in Val di Sole. The strength in depth of British riders is phenomenal and some very big names have missed out on selection.
Britain will be sending out a 19 rider team that features four former World Champions to Val Di Sole on September 10-11 with the hope of bringing back multiple medals.
The women’s team looks a dead cert for some British glory with Rachel Atherton looking to defend her rainbow stripes and Tahnee Seagrave and 2014 winner Manon Carpenter ready to pick up any scraps.
The men’s team features rider of the moment and 2011 Champion Danny Hart as well as two time winner Gee Atherton. Current British champion Greg Williamson also makes the cut along with regulars Brendan Fairclough and Josh Bryceland. Adam Brayton and Laurie Greenland are selected for their first ever senior World Championships.
Keep an eye on the juniors as well where Matt Walker and Elliott Heap have been on the pace all year.
Without further ado, here is the British downhill team in full.
Elite men
Danny Hart
Greg Williamson
Brendan Fairclough
Gee Atherton
Josh Bryceland
Laurie Greenland
Adam Brayton
Elite women
Rachel Atherton
Tahnee Seagrave
Manon Carpenter
Katy Curd
Junior men
Matt Walker
Charlie Hatton
Elliott Heap
Kaos Seagrave
Joe Breeden
Joe Parfitt
James Purvis
Junior women
Aston Tutt
Michael Vickers, Great Britain cycling team mountain bike downhill and four cross co-ordinator, said: “Rachel Atherton has been in incredible form over the past 12 months but she will have real competition on her hands from her teammates Manon Carpenter and Tahnee Seagrave.
“The men’s race should also be incredibly competitive with a number of riders in with a medal shout and I’m looking forward to seeing how Laurie Greenland makes the step up from junior to elite competition this year.”
Hard lines to Bernard Kerr who currently sits higher than Bryceland, Fairclough and Greenland in the overall but still missed out on selection.
