Railway News: This year's World Railway Championships will start in London in two weeks. This morning, host country Great Britain was one of the first nations to announce their squad. The two superstars Bradley Wiggins (Team Wiggins) and Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) will also be there.
While Bradley Wiggins had long been in the Brits' squad, Mark Cavendish's selection remained a question mark until the very end. In recent years, the 30-year-old has mostly avoided trips to the track, as his then team boss Patrick Lefevere at Etixx - Quick-Step demanded full focus on the road. With Cavendish's move to Dimension Data this season, the Brit seems to have more freedom to compete for victories in the world's velodromes.
Mark Cavendish's big goal is a place in Britain's top-flight track squad for the Summer Olympics in Rio. That's what he's working towards - in January he was already at the Track World Cup in Hong Kong to collect the necessary qualifying points for participation in the World Championships. It's hard to imagine that riders who didn't take part in the World Cup will be given a place in the squad in Rio in the summer. Cavendish has now taken the first step towards the Olympics: Today he was appointed to the omnium squad for the World Cup. He will also compete at the Madison alongside longtime friend Bradley Wiggins - the duo who won the 2008 World Championship.
Via Instagram, 'Cav' revealed: “I will wear the British jersey with pride at the Track World Championships in London this year and be part of this highly talented team. It will be my premiere at the Olympic Velodrome there.”
But of course it is also clear that Cavendish will have to reduce his workload on the road for March for the Track World Championships. The schedule is getting fuller and the double burden is undoubtedly a sensitive balancing act in training. We are excited!
The British squad for the Track World Championships 2016:
Men
- Steven Burke
- Mark Cavendish
- Ed Clancy
- Jon Dibben
- Owain Doull
- Chris Latham
- andy tennant
- Sir Bradley Wiggins
- Matt Crampton
- Phil Hindes
- Jason Kenny
- Callum Skinner
Women
- BeckyJames
- Katy Marchant
- Jess Varnish
- Katie Archibald
- Elinor Barker
- Ciara Horne
- Emily nelson
- Joanna Rowsell Shand
- Laura Trot
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