Britain and the US have revealed the riders they’ll be sending to this year’s MTB World Championships in Leogang, Austria. British Cycling are sending an amazing pool of talent, including five former DH world champions… but America have a trump card in the form of Aaron Gwin.
Team GB
The big news is that Brendan Fairclough is demoted to a reserve position, having spent yet another year predominantly on the sidelines with injuries. Other than that, all the names you’d expect have made the cut, including Danny Hart (as defending world champ he’s automatically included, despite his shoulder injury), Gee Atherton and Steve Peat. Here’s a reminder of Danny’s amazing winning run last year:
On the women’s side of things, Tracy Moseley has fulfilled one of her season’s goals by achieving selection for the DH World Champs despite competing in several other disciplines this year, but she’s going to have her work cut out beating current World Cup leader Rachel Atherton. This is what the full British line-up looks like:
Elite men, DH: Danny Hart , Gee Atherton , Josh Bryceland, Marc Beaumont, Matt Simmonds, Joe Smith, Sam Dale, Steve Peat. Reserve: Brendan Fairclough
Elite women, DH: Rachel Atherton, Manon Carpenter, Tracy Moseley
Junior men, DH: Jono Jones, George Gannicott, Joe Connell, Fraser McGlone, Phil Atwill, Mike Jones
Junior women, DH : Tahnee Seagrave
Men, 4X: Scott Beaumont
Women, 4X: Katy Curd
Team USA
With two consecutive World Cup series titles under his belt, Aaron Gwin must be the favourite to win the downhill and fill the last remaining space in his trophy cabinet. His Trek World Racing teammate, and dual slalom national champ, Neko Mulally will double his chances by competing in both the DH and 4X, while former 4X world champ Jill Kintner is America’s strongest hope in the women’s DH.
Aaron Gwin will be gunning for gold in Leogang. Picture by Gary Perkin for Trek World Racing
Elite men, DH: Aaron Gwin, Luke Strobel, Mitch Ropelato, Eliot Jackson, Neko Mulally, Logan Binggeli, Duncan Riffle
Junior men, DH: Richie Rude Jr, Kevin Littlefield, Austin Hackett Klaube, Austin Warren, Alexander Willie, Cole Picchiattino
Elite women, DH: Jill Kintner, Jacqueline Harmony, Lauren Daney, Jaime Rees
Men, 4X: Neko Mulally, Blake Carney
Women, 4X: Melissa Buhl
The World Champs will take place from 31 August to 9 September. More info here. The DH finals will be streamed live on Red Bull TV.