The Coffee Ride #7 with Reece Homfray

BRAD McGee remembers a 1998 phone call from Cycling Australia's then selector Shayne Bannan pleading with him to ride the world championships.

South Aussie cyclist Rohan Dennis shows off his Australian Coat of Arms tattoo.

AUSSIE CYCLING FRESHLY BREWED EVERY WEDNESDAY MORNING EXCLUSIVE TO ADVERTISER.COM.AU

BRAD McGee remembers a time in 1998 when he got a phone call from Cycling Australia's then selector Shayne Bannan pleading with him to ride the world championships.

"Basically begging me to come along to do the world championships because they were short and only had two riders on the books," McGee this week recalled.

"Of course I went along and got duly smashed being a first-year pro, but it's a big contrast to what we've got now. We've got blokes lining up out the door who are willing and able to fill those roles."

In his first year in charge of the Australian team, having taken the reins from Matt White, McGee could have nearly picked two teams of nine riders even with a spate of injuries and curveballs thrown his way.

The curveballs started in July when the Cyclones lost their road captain Stuart O'Grady to retirement and his subsequent doping confession. McGee says Matt Hayman will assume the mantle of team captain in Florence this month.

Then one of the three men who carried Australia's hopes of winning the road race at the world titles, Simon Gerrans, crashed during the Vuelta a Espana and had to abandon both the race and any hope of the world champs with a fractured hip.

The next curveball was the remarkable form of neo-pro Rohan Dennis who simply made himself impossible not to select.

Richie Porte is a natural walk-up start for the time trial but Dennis has edged national time trial champion Luke Durbridge and even Cadel Evans for the second TT spot.

Durbridge had an unbelievable neo-pro season in 2012 and started 2013 on fire by winning both the road race and time trial at nationals. He won the TT at the Circuit de la Sarthe, which he won overall last year, but has struggled to really get going after that. Durbo will however still ride the teams time trial for Orica-GreenEDGE.

The next curveball thrown at McGee was Adam Hansen declaring himself unavailable for selection, having just completed his seventh consecutive Grand Tour.

Hansen is a loyal workhorse who would have been invaluable at worlds and even showed his hand at winning by taking out a stage of the Giro d'Italia in a solo break in the rain this year.

But his absence has opened the door for others and CA high performance director Kevin Tabotta said Australia as always, still expected to at least podium at worlds.

"Despite recent high profile omissions through injury, this group is capable of delivering across the categories," Tabotta said.

The Coffee Ride this week is a special world championship preview edition so enjoy:

WHAT: 2013 UCI Road World Championships

WHERE: Toscana, Italy

WHEN: September 22-29

TV: Eurosport, Foxtel Ch511, daily as below (AEST):

Sept 22 LIVE 10.30pm - Men's TTT

Sept 23 LIVE 10.00pm - U/23 ITT

Sept 24 LIVE 10.30pm - Women's ITT

Sept 25 LIVE 09.15pm - Men's ITT

Sept 27 LIVE 09.00pm - U/23 Road Race

Sept 28 LIVE 10.15pm - Women's Road Race

Sept 29 LIVE 06.00pm - Men's Road Race

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22: Team Time Trial (for trade teams) 42.7kmWOMEN / 57.2kmMEN

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23: Junior women, Under 23 Individual Time Trial 16.2km/43.4km

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24: Junior men, Elite women Individual Time Trial 22km

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25: Elite men Individual Time Trial 57.9km

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27: Junior women, Under 23 road race 82.8km/173.1km

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28: Junior men, Elite women road race 140km

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29: Elite men road race 272km

MEN'S TEAM - A THREE-PRONGED ATTACK

RICHIE PORTE

Tasmania, 28, Sky Procycling

2013 results: 1st overall Paris-Nice, 2nd overall Criterium du Dauphine, 1st time trial and 2nd overall Criterium International, 1st stage five and 2nd overall Pais Vasco.

McGee says: "Richie is rock solid. He's gone back to what they do best at Sky, long, tedious training camps up in the mountains. They've definitely set a new level as far as professional cycling goes in what the requirements are to deliver results so it's good to see he's been able to get straight back into it after such a fantastic Tour and early season, and Richie feels good and strong and confident."

SIMON CLARKE

Victoria, 27, Orica-GreenEDGE

2013 results: 1st stage four team time trial Tour de France.

McGee says: "He's a future (world) championship rider, he's strong in the Vuelta now and there's a role for him now but there's also a mind for the future."

CADEL EVANS

Victoria, 36, BMC

2013 results: 3rd overall Giro d'Italia, 3rd overall Tour of Oman, 3rd stage one Tirreno-Adriatico.

McGee says: "I had a good discussion with him once the dust had settled after the Tour (de France) and Cadel true to his spirit said he's not done for the year, he threw up a plan and his motivation was coming along and that's continued ever since. We can expect a fighting Cadel, we'll have a look how he comes out of Canada but definitely one of our protected lead riders."

Gold medalist

ROHAN DENNIS

South Australia, 23, Garmin-Sharp

2013 results: 1st overall Tour of Alberta, 2nd time trial Criterium du Dauphine, 3rd time trial Tour of California, 9th time trial Tour of Romandie.

McGee says: "I had a chance to have a coffee with Rohan yesterday and I'm really impressed with his performances but also his maturing mind, coming from the track (to) a new culture, new team, so very promising. I think it's only a drop in the ocean as far as his capacity and potential from what we've seen this year."

MATTHEW HAYMAN

New South Wales, 35, Sky Procycling

2013 results: 3rd Dwars door Vlaanderen.

McGee says: "That's where Matt's role in the team would be, as captain. He will definitely pick up the baton where Stuey (O'Grady) left it. He's played that sort of role in the past anyway and we've been monitoring him. It's a tough course but there is some work to be done before, and it's not just about race day, it's about the whole preparation and team unity. Matty will definitely bring that spirit into the team."

MICHAEL MATTHEWS

ACT, 22, Orica-GreenEDGE

2013 results: 1st stage five, 1st stage 21 Vuelta a Espana, 1st stage two, stage four Tour of Utah, 2nd stage three Tour of California, 2nd stage three Criterium du Dauphine.

McGee says: "By all accounts he's still driving right through (the Vuelta) and they're having a hard time keeping him settled and calming the bunch so he's not showing signs of fatigue. He's going to get belted on this circuit but that's all right, there'll be things to pick up and confidence building, and definitely with an eye on the future. He'll still be able to deliver very well for the team I believe."

CAMERON MEYER

Western Australia, 25, Orica-GreenEDGE

2013 results: 1st time trial Tour de Suisse, 1st road race Oceania championships, 1st criterium national championships, 1st stage four team time trial Tour de France, 5th overall Tour of California.

McGee says: "He false started a little bit with his comeback from the Tour (de France) but that's all right, he's a pure professional who knows exactly where he's at and what he needs to do. Cam is an outstanding bike rider, he's come of age and showed himself during the Tour this year, and we expect to see more of that from Cam."

DAVID TANNER

Victoria, 28, Belkin Pro Cycling

2013 results: 12th stage 17 Vuelta a Espana, 2nd Tour des Fjords TTT, 5th stage five Tour de Pologne, 14th stage one Bayern-Rundfahrt.

McGee says: "Dave has been on my list from day one because of his true ability to deliver the championship at this time of year. Some riders have a big peak in the middle of the year, some at the start and the end, everyone is a bit different. You've got to really look at those riders who are naturally going to be (going well) at this time of year and Dave is one of them and he's having a good one down at the Vuelta so it's good prep."

RORY SUTHERLAND

ACT, 31, Saxo-Tinkoff

2013 results: 7th stage one, stage six Tour of Colorado, 6th stage three Tour of Turkey.

McGee says: "We've been monitoring him, he's a smart, able, talented bike rider that can deliver team tactics so he's definitely got the right to be in the top nine."

WOMEN'S TEAM - ALL-ROUND STRENGTH

THE world championships are only one week away but Shara Gillow says there is still time to improve.

The 22-year-old Queenslander who will ride the road race and time trial in Italy was third in the time trial at the Chrono Champenois earlier this week.

"It's great training before worlds," Gillow said.

""I think it's important to take every opportunity I can to race a time trial. The more I race, the more opportunity I have to correct my mistakes.

"There are still so many things I can improve. I look at my effort today, and I see a lot of areas where I hope to make minor adjustments before worlds."

Cycling Australia high performance director Kevin Tabotta said Gillow and Adelaide's Tiffany Cromwell had recorded some of the best Australian women's results "in recent memory" heading into worlds.

"And on a good day this road racecourse will be well suited to them," Tabotta said.

One rider who won't be there is Rachel Neylan who stunned everyone by winning a silver medal in last year's road race.

Australia's Shara Gillow in action on the road in Geelong.

Neylan was on the long list but didn't make final selection, having battled a knee injury throughout the season for Hitec Products.

"Obviously this is an enormous disappointment not to represent Australia on the world stage 12 months after the proudest moment of my life," Neylan wrote on her online blog.

"A complex knee injury mid-way through this year resulted in minimal race days in the past few months, hence racing against time for optimal preparation required to race a world championship.

"Currently I am extremely happy to have made a comeback competing in some late season races and rounding out what has been a very successful season for Hitec Products.

"I am looking forward to big picture goals beginning with rebuilding over the off-season in Australia I smile while I anticipate a very different 2014 season."

valkenburg

Director Martin Barras gives us an insight into why each rider was selected and what their role is likely to be:

SHARA GILLOW

Queensland, 22, Orica-AIS

2013 results: 1st time trial national championships, 2nd overall, 1st time trial Thüringen Rundfahrt der Frauen, 3rd time trial Chrono Champenois, 4th overall Giro Rosa.

Barras says: "Shara has been mainstay of our time trial since 2010 when she placed top-10 in the worlds in Geelong. She won a major international time trial in July and was third in Chrono Champenois this week. Her qualities as a climber lend herself well to the world championships course."

GRACIE ELVIN

ACT, 24, Orica-AIS

2013 results: 1st road race national championships, 2nd stage one Lotto-Belisol Tour, 2nd stage one, 4th overall Ladies Tour of Qatar, 3rd criterium national championships.

Barras says: "The first 60km to Florence is on dead flat roads and with quite a sizeable bunch, we've split our team in three parts. We've got riders to take care of race on the flat section and that's where Gracie fits. She has a history of being very consistent in terms of finding a position and holding it and she is able to assert herself in the breaks."

AMY CURE

Tasmania, 20, Jayco-AIS

2013 results: 1st overall, 1st stage two, four, five Tour De Feminin, 1st overall Jarvis Subaru Adelaide Tour, 2nd individual pursuit world championships, 2nd team pursuit world championships.

Barras says: "Amy is one of our all-rounders, she cannot only ride well on the flat but can also climb well and go a certain distance on the circuit itself. She is the surprise package of the season after coming to the road from the track and has been instantly successful. She started winning races in June and we always want to pick riders who are on form."

TIFFANY CROMWELL

South Australia, 25, Orica-AIS

2013 results: 1st Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, 2nd stage one Tour de l'Ardeche, 3rd overall Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic.

Barras says: "Throughout the course of the season Tiffany has been one who been there at the business end of things. The course fits her qualities and everything being equal we see her going very deep into the race and she is one of the riders we'll support to try to deliver a result for us."

LAUREN KITCHEN

New South Wales, 22, Wiggle Honda

2013 results: 10th overall Ladies Tour of Qatar, 5th Rabobank 7-Dorpenomloop Aalburg, 5th Open De Suède Vargarda TTT.

Barras says: "Lauren falls in the same position as Elvin, she's new to the team and this year has been by far her best season on the road. She has been super consistent at holding a really good position and if she's given a job, the job gets done so that's a quality we hold very dear."

AMANDA SPRATT

New South Wales, 25, Orica-AIS

2013 results: 3rd team time trial Open de Suede Vargarda, 4th Trofeo Alfredo Binda, 6th overall Thuringen Rundfahrt.

Barras says: "Spratty has become the mainstay of our team and it's fair to say she's just about the first bike rider we select. Her overall professionalism and qualities make her extremely reliabe on all terrain and she is likely to captain the team."

CARLEE TAYLOR

South Australia, 24, Lotto-Belisol

2013 results: 5th road race Oceania championships, 14th La Fleche Wallonne Feminine, 7th stage one Lotto-Belisol Tour.

Barras says: "Carlee has been trying to break onto the world championship team for quite a few years but has always fallen short. This year particularly early in the season she was really strong. Team order prevented her from getting results but on a selective course she was riding well. She had a lull mid-season but last month started to ride very strongly again and looking at that and the course, it made her a natural fit."

UNDER-23 TEAM:

CAMPBELL Flakemore couldn't have timed his world championship preparation any better, winning the time trial at the Chrono Champenois in France.

Flakemore beat home Jayco-AIS teammate Damien Howson for the gold medal - continuing his unbeaten run in European time trials this season after victories at the Olympias Tour and Thuringen Rundfahrt.

How well Caleb Ewan can negotiate the tricky climbs on the course will determine whether he can produce another podium in the road race following his silver medal last year.

Oceania under-19 road race winner Bradley Linfield, Herald Sun Tour champion Calvin Watson, Adam Phelan (fourth overall Internationale Thuringen-Rundfahrt) and Samuel Spokes (seven top-10s in European races this season) are all more than capable of big performances.

CALEB EWAN

New South Wales/Jayco-AIS

CAMPBELL FLAKEMORE

Tasmania/Huon-Genesys

DAMIEN HOWSON

South Australia/Jayco-AIS

BRADLEY LINFIELD

Western Australia/Jayco-AIS

ADAM PHELAN

ACT/Drapac Professional Cycling

SAMUEL SPOKES

New South Wales/Jayco-AIS

CALVIN WATSON

Victoria/Jayco-AIS

HERALD SUN TOUR ON THE MOVE

THE Herald Sun Tour is finally moving to February, three years after organisers first mooted the plan.

Australia's oldest stage race has also regained UCI status in a bid to attract WorldTour teams to Victoria.

The race was moved from October to January this year but in 2014 will run from February 5-9, putting it straight after the Tour Down Under in Adelaide from January 19026.
Organisers hope WorldTour teams will extend their stay in Australia following the TDU and race the Sun Tour before returning to Europe.

"The response from those World Tour Teams and riders we have spoken to about the potential for a February Herald Sun Tour has been overwhelmingly positive," race director John Trevorrow said.

"Many are keen to extend their summer racing and training in Australia before they return to Europe for the spring Classics and they are already expressing a strong desire to participate."

Conspiracy theorists will argue the Herald Sun Tour is positioning itself to one day challenge the Tour Down Under for Australia's UCI WorldTour licence - which organisers have previously denied.

TDU race director Mike Turtur would not buy into that this week.

"I wish them all the best and hope it goes well for them," Turtur said.

QUOTES OF THE WEEK:

"Welcome to the big leagues, kiddos."

- Orica-AIS sport director Martin Barras on Amy Cure's eventful time trial at the Giro della Toscana last week. Cure switched helmets six minutes before the start, had trouble with her electronic gears and followed the motorbike into the deviation area instead of the finish.

"I've been a professional for almost 20 years so this represents a lifetime of hard work. My daughters are 16 and 14, and my son is 11 so they are old enough to appreciate this. Many riders winning in their 20s and early 30s have small children but mine are at the age where they can appreciate what Dad is doing."

- Vuelta a Espana champion Chris Horner on becoming the oldest ever winner of a Grand Tour at the age of 41.

"The claims in this so-called dossier are a complete fabrication. They are totally untrue and are not supported by a scintilla of evidence."

- UCI president Pat McQuaid responds to a document of corruption allegations.

TWEET TWEET ...

Congratuations @hornerakg ! Really happy for you to bag a big one. imagine what u can do when u gain experience & maturity ;)

— Robbie McEwen (@mcewenrobbie) September 15, 2013

- Robbie McEwen congratulates Vuelta winner Chris Horner.

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