British para-cycling squad named for road World Cups

“The squad has a nice blend of youth and experience, and with Paralympic qualification points up for grabs and selection for the World Championships at the forefront of everyone’s mind, it is the start of a crucial period for the team,”

British Cycling has named the Great Britain Cycling Team for the opening rounds of the 2015 Union Cyclist International (UCI) Para-cycling Road World Cup in Maniago, Italy, on 5-7 June and Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland on 13-16 June.

World road race champions Lora Turnham and Corrine Hall are in the 14-rider squad after opening their season with a victory in the tandem B time trial at April’s Verola Para-cycling Cup in Italy.

Paralympic silver medallist Karen Darke is also selected in a squad, which sees a host of new riders make selection for the first time on the road. New faces include Megan Giglia, Louis Rolfe and David Smith, who won rowing gold at the London 2012 Paralympics but has switched to cycling.

The team will again be looking to pick up important qualifying points for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

“The first World Cups of the year are always a good benchmark of where we are as a team as we look to the build toward the Road World Championships at the end of July,” said Paul Dring, Great Britain’s para-cycling road coach.

“The squad has a nice blend of youth and experience, and with Paralympic qualification points up for grabs and selection for the World Championships at the forefront of everyone’s mind, it is the start of a crucial period for the team,”

The UCI Para-cycling Road World Cup team includes:

Karen Darke H3

David Stone T2

Steve Bate piloted by Adam Duggleby

Lora Turnham piloted by Corrine Hall

Simon Price C2

Brian Alldis H4

Jon Gildea C5

Jaco Van Gass C4

Italy World Cup only:

Megan Giglia C3

Louis Rolfe C2

Liz Saul C4

Hannah Dines T2

David Smith C4

Josie Pearson H1

More information on Great Britain’s para-cycling Road World Cup team can be found at Paralympics GB’s website.