Simon Gerrans will lead Australia at the UCI road world championships
VETERAN cyclist Simon Gerrans will be hoping to end a season riddled with crashes and broken bones by winning gold at the UCI road world championships this month.
VETERAN cyclist Simon Gerrans will be hoping to end a season riddled with crashes and broken bones by winning gold at the UCI road world championships this month.
The 35-year-old Victorian, who is currently racing the Vuelta a Espana, was named Wednesday in Australia’s nine-man team for the world titles in Richmond, the US, from September 19-27.
Gerrans is desperate to go one step further than his silver medal behind Polish rider Michal Kwiatkowski last year and to end a torrid 2015 season on a good note.
Gerrans missed the Australian summer after breaking his collarbone in a mountain bike fall then crashed out of Liege Bastogne Liege as the defending champion and the Tour de France in the opening week.
He will lead Australia’s team alongside Orica-GreenEDGE teammate Michael Matthews who has not raced since finishing the Tour de France in July with broken ribs.
Joining them in the team for the world championships will be Simon Clarke, Mathew Hayman, Rory Sutherland, Adam Hansen, Heinrich Haussler, Mitch Docker and Jay McCarthy.
Rohan Dennis and Michael Hepburn are confirmed starters for the time trial with Luke Durbridge on standby should Australia decide to fill its three available spots in the race against the clock.
Richie Porte could not be considered for selection due to a hamstring injury and Caleb Ewan — who won a stage of the Vuelta last week — is being rested.
The women’s team is headlined by Rachel Neylan who is fresh from winning stage race Trophee d’Or last week.
She will unite with Tiffany Cromwell, Loren Rowney, Gracie Elvin, Amanda Spratt, Elizabeth Williams, Lauren Kitchen and Katrin Garfoot — who will ride both the road race and time trial.
Young guns Harry Carpenter, Alistair Donohue, Jack Haig, Nicholas Schultz and Miles Scotson make up Australia’s under-23 team.
reece.homfray@news.com.au