Nice Britain have but to announce their squad for the UCI Highway World Championships in Zürich however various riders have confirmed that they’re hoping to placed on the nationwide workforce package 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 prone to be mirrored within the startlist, too.
In the midst of his most profitable season to this point, 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, stated: “Yeah [it’s definitely on my radar], it’s not confirmed, however hopefully, choice for Worlds might be granted so I can go to Zürich to both attempt to be aggressive and race the ultimate or play a help function for considered one of 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 powerful finish to 2023 and competing at one other Grand Tour this season.
“The Tour de France was massive for me, getting my second consecutive Grand Tour 12 months in, it was an enormous increase. To get two three-week races in over two years has boosted my stage,” Williams admitted.
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The Welshman, who received a stage and the general on the Tour Down Underneath earlier than clinching La Flèche Wallonne within the spring, has already featured in British colors this 12 months on the Paris Olympics.
Ending thirty first, he described it as “an incredible race and an actual privilege to do for Nice Britain.”
Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers) was considered one of 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 had been a part of his plan for the rest of 2024, falling in between the Canadian one-day races and the Italian Classics.
In the meantime, Oscar Onley (DSM-Firmenich PostNL) is hoping to make his World Championships debut this month after a shiny 12 months with the Dutch WorldTour workforce.
Regardless of two collarbone breaks, the Scotsman has nonetheless managed to say a Tour Down Underneath stage, finishing his first Tour de France and a shiny displaying on the Tour of Britain this week too.
Onley admitted: “I’m fairly assured that I’ll be going to Worlds, that’s the subsequent goal after this. A very good week of racing right here ought to set me up nicely.”
For the person time trial, a 46.1km course in and round Zürich, Ethan Hayter is a rider eager to take considered one of Nice Britain’s two spots within the occasion.
“I feel 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 resolve if I’m going to do it or not,” the Ineos Grenadiers quickman revealed to Cyclingnews.
Hayter, who departs the British WorldTour workforce for Soudal-QuickStep in 2025, added: “I used to be within the ballpark in Australia a few years in the past, I’ve had a number of points with my TT bike this 12 months and gear and sponsor modifications so I have to get again to it.”
Josh Tarling, final 12 months’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.