The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Froome ready for world time trial challenge
Vuelta winner makes swift return to action for Britain in Norway
La Vuelta winner Chris Froome will compete in the time trial at the UCI Road World Championships in Norway next week, British Cycling has announced.
Froome, fresh from completing a rare Tour de France-Vuelta double in Madrid at the weekend, will not take part in the road race in Bergen. But he will take one of Britain’s two places in the time trial, with reigning British champion Steve Cummings getting the other.
The men’s time trial in Bergen a week today will be contested over a 31 kilometre course which features one significant climb up Mount Floyen at the finish.
Froome’s main rivals are expected to be Giro d’Italia winner Tom Dumoulin of Holland and reigning world time trial champion Tony Martin of Germany.
Froome, who took bronze in the Olympic time trial in Rio last year, also intends to ride in the team time trial – contested by trade teams – for Team Sky.
There is no space for Mark Cavendish in Britain’s nine-man squad for the men’s road race as the Manxman continues his recovery from the shoulder injury which ended his Tour de France in July, while Geraint Thomas is also absent after a testing season which saw him crash out of both the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France.
Instead, the team will features two Olympic gold medallists on the track – Owain Doull and Pete Kennaugh – along with Adam Blythe, Mark Christian, Jon Dibben, Tao Geoghegan Hart, Ian Stannard, Ben Swift and Scott Thwaites.
Former world champion Lizzie Deignan is fit to lead the women’s team following an appendectomy, and will be supported by Hannah and Alice Barnes, Elinor Barker, Dani King, Mel Lowther and Hayley Simmonds.
Hannah Barnes and Barker will contest the individual time trial.
British Cycling’s head coach Iain Dyer said: “Selection for this year’s road World Championships was a difficult one due to the depth of talent we have in Great Britain across the board, which is a good position to be in.
The week-long World Championships get under way on Sunday in Bergen.