Australia reveal road cycling Worlds squad

“The team has a very strong blend of experience with our more experienced and medal potential athletes being joined by several young athletes who have recently put their hand up which is great to see."

Cycling Australia announced their team for the UCI Para-Cycling Road World Championships to be held in Baie-Comeau, Canada, from 29 August-1 September.

The team is headlined by two reigning road world champions in Canberra’s Susan Powell (C4) and Queensland’s David Nicholas (C3). The pair both tasted success on the road at the London 2012 Games, with Nicholas winning gold in the time trial and bronze in the road race, while Powell claimed silver in the time trial.

Fellow 2012 Paralympic champion Carol Cooke of Victoria (T2) has also been named, along with multiple world and Paralympic track cycling gold medallist Michael Gallagher (C5) of Victoria and Jayme Richardson (C1) of New South Wales.

West Australia’s Nigel Barley (H3), who claimed Paralympic silver in the Handcycle time trial, will line up, as will a number of debutants including South Australia's Bianca Woolfood (T1) and Victoria’s Alistair Donohue (C5) who secured selection following recent strong domestic performances.

“The team has a very strong blend of experience with our more experienced and medal potential athletes being joined by several young athletes who have recently put their hand up which is great to see,” said Para-Cycling Performance Director and head cocach Peter Day.

“With the selection of six Handcyclists across the various classifications, selectors continued Cycling Australia and the Australian Paralympic Committees initiative to progressively and strategically strengthen the Australian contingent across the very competitive disciplines within international handcycling,” Day said.

The riders will depart Australia in early August to compete in the UCI World Cup event in Matane, Canada, on 23 August.

“We see this World Cup as a tremendous opportunity for the athletes, who will still be acclimatising and adjusting to time differences, to compete in a international event as part of their preparation for the World Championships,” added Day.

Here's the full Australian team:

Men

David Nicholas C3

Michael Gallagher C5

Nigel Barley H3

Stuart Tripp H4

Craig Parsons H1

Michael Taylor H2

Jarrod Moncur H2

Jarrad Langmead T2

Matt Formston B

Michael Curran Pilot

Alistair Donohoe C5

Grant Allan H3

Women

Jayme Richardson C1

Carol Cooke T2

Sue Powell C4

Alexandra Green C4

Bianca Woolford T1

Claire McLean C5

Simone Kennedy C3