Sky Academy Scholar Lucy Garner thrilled with GB call-up at World Championships
Friday 24 March 2017 12:53, UK
Rising cycling star Lucy Garner has revealed her delight at being named in Great Britain’s squad for the UCI Road World Championships later this month.
The World Championships take place from September 19-27 in Richmond, United States with the road races following a sprinter-friendly course.
Mark Cavendish will lead the British team in the men's race, while Lizzie Armitstead, who recently won the UCI Women's Road World Cup for the second successive year, is likely to be the protected rider in the women's race.
It is an incredible achievement by Garner, who will line up alongside Alice Barnes, Molly Weaver, Jessie Walker and Hayley Simmonds in the British team.
The 20-year-old Sky Academy Scholar told Sky Sports: "It will be my first time ever in America and my third senior World Championships so I feel honoured to be a part of the team again and help fight for the title.
"I'm really looking forward to being part of the British team. I feel in very good shape at the moment and I'm motivated more than ever to help fight for the stripes.
"I have one race to go before the championships and that is in Madrid. It's a big goal of mine but also good preparation leading up to the Worlds.
"The course will be tough, it is known to be like a classics course with a cobbled climb and short hills."
The women's elite time trial will take place on Tuesday, September 22, and the women's elite road race will be held on Saturday, September 26.
Great Britain team coach Iain Dyer added: "We've selected a really exciting team of riders to contest this year's road World Championships.
"We have high hopes for a number of riders in terms of medal prospects, but it will also be a fantastic opportunity for some of the younger and less experienced members of the team to compete at an international event for the first time."
GB team for UCI Road World Championships
Elite women: Lizzie Armitstead, Lucy Garner, Alice Barnes, Molly Weaver, Jessie Walker, Hayley Simmonds.
Elite men: Ian Stannard, Mark Cavendish, Ben Swift, Stephen Cummings, Geraint Thomas, Andy Fenn, Luke Rowe, Scott Thwaites, Alex Dowsett.
Junior women: Lizzie Holden, Grace Garner, Abby Mae Parkinson, Ellie Dickinson.
WHAT'S COMING UP FOR OUR SCHOLARS...
SEPTEMBER 8-14: Jack Bateson and Savannah Marshall - Feliks Stamn boxing tournament, Poland
SEPTEMBER 10-21: Olivia Breen - Warm weather training
SEPTEMBER 12: Holly Bradshaw - Gateshead
SEPTEMBER 26: Sam Oldham - Gymnastics London Open
