British Cycling have released the criteria for riders hoping to fly the flag at the UCI Downhill World Championships in Leogang.
With the 2020 World Championships in Leogang just a few weeks away, British Cycling have announced their selection criteria for their downhill team.
With no British National Champions crowned this year, the criteria weighs heavily on 2019 World Cup and World Championships results. So will we see the same team as last year heading to Austria?
The full British Cycling Downhill World Champs team selection document can be found here.
2020 British World Champs Team Selection Criteria
7.3 Elite Men and Women
7.3.1. British Cycling Coordinator recommendation;
7.3.2. Race Performances in 2019 UCI MTB DHI World Cup events (Round 1 -8)
7.3.3. Race Performances at the 2019 and 2018 Leogang DHI World Cups;
7.3.4. World Cup Overall Ranking 2019
7.3.5. UCI Current Ranking (at the time of the selection panel)
7.3.6. 2020 National Championships Result (Subject to this event going ahead)
7.3.7. Riders compliance with the British Cycling Regulations any applicable Code of
Conduct and any British Cycling Athlete Agreement or Guest Rider Agreement a
Rider has entered into with British Cycling;
7.3.8. Any other reasonable points the Selection Panel deems necessary.
7.4. Junior Men and Women
7.4.1. British Cycling Coordinator recommendation;
7.4.2. Race Performances in 2019 UCI MTB DHI World Cup events (Round 1 -8)
7.4.3. Race Performances at the 2019 and 2018 Leogang DHI World Cups;
7.4.4. 2020 National Championships Result (Subject to this event going ahead)
7.4.5. Race Performances in all 2019 UK DHI National Series and National
Championship events
7.4.6. Previous European or International UCI Classified Competition in 2019
7.4.7. Riders compliance with the British Cycling Regulations any applicable Code of
Conduct and any British Cycling Athlete Agreement or Guest Rider Agreement a
Rider has entered into with British Cycling;
7.4.8. Any other reasonable points the Selection Panel deems necessary.
2019 British World Champs Downhill Squad
With COVID throwing a giant spanner in the usual selection process, British Cycling have added the criteria for 2019 overall World Cup position.
Seven Elite men made the trip to Mont Saint Anne in 2019, and with the medal haul always being high, we’d expect British Cycling to do the same in 2020.
Based on top 20s and overall positions in the 2019 World Cup, we’d expect the Elite Men’s team to consist of Danny Hart (4th overall, World Cup win, six podiums), Laurie Greenland (7th overall, World Cup win, World Cup podium, multiple top 10s), Matt Walker (16th overall, World Cup podium, two top 10s and a top 20), Reece Wilson (18th overall, one top 10 and three top 20s), Greg Williamson (22nd overall, one top 10 and three top 20s), Charlie Hatton (25th overall, 11th in Val di Sole) and Bernard Kerr (26th overall, four top 20s).
Gee Atherton and Joe Breeden both make the criteria but get edged out on overall position, but will likely be waiting in the wings should anyone in the above list have an issue. Bernard edges Gee out on more top 20 finishes and the fact that he made the cut for last year’s team.
There’s a strong argument to add Rachel Atherton to the team too, joining Tahnee Seagrave. All those Dyfi laps will surely have got her up to speed. We reckon 2019 British National Downhill Series winner Becci Skelton should get the call up too.
In the Junior men’s squad, Jamie Edmondson and Jake Ebdon are now Elites, but Lukes Mumford and Williamson will likely head to Austria alongside Wideopenmag alumni Connor Smith and FMD’s Dennis Luffman.
No Junior women made the cut in 2019, and it’s highly likely that we won’t see any heading to Austria.
