British Cycling have released their full squad to head to Val di Sole for the 2021 UCI World Championships across four disciplines.
The 2021 UCI Downhill World Champs heads to Val di Sole, a venue that has a knack of putting on memorable events. The Italian Alpine venue has hosted the World Championships five times for Four Cross, twice for Downhill but will have it first stab at XCO Worlds this year, despite hosting multiple World Cups in the past.
British Cycling has a 45 rider squad heading to Italy, spread across XCO, Four Cross, Downhill and XC eMTB.
We’re stoked to see three Wideopenmag alumni representing this year.
XCO
The GB XCO squad includes Olympians Annie Last and Evie Richards, as well as British National Champion Isla Short. The list of flat out U23 and Junior riders is strong too, including EWS winner Harriet Harnden.
Probably for the first time in a long time though, there will be no Elite Men rocking the GB jersey in Italy…
Elite Women: Annie Last, Evie Richards, Isla Short
Under-23 Men: Charlie Aldridge, Harry Birchill, Cam Orr
Under-23 Women: Harriet Harnden, Anna Kay
Junior Men: Joe Blackmore, Corran Carrick-Anderson, Nathan Smith
Junior Women: Ella Maclean-Howell, Elena McGorum
Four Cross
Val di Sole has hosted numerous Four Cross World Championships and Pro Tour races over the years, so it’s no surprise to see the knock-out event added to the line-up this year.
CRC Nukeproof’s pie purveyor Elliott Heap bagged a silver in the Worlds here in 2019, so expect him to be going strong this year.
Scott Beaumont can count on a mountain of experience having first flown the flag for Britain at the Four Cross at the inaugural event way bag in Lugano in 2003. He’s missed one or two Four Cross World Championships since then.
Elite Women: Josie McFall
Elite Men: Scott Beaumont, Charlie Currie, Will Evans, Elliott Heap, Connor Hudson, Zac Hudson,
Daniel Wagstaff
Downhill
We’d be lying if we weren’t pretty excited about the downhill. Val di Sole’s downhill track is legendary, having given us some of the greatest moments in the sport. Gwin’s utter domination, Sam Hill’s Worlds run, Danny and Laurie trying to out-loose each other, the list goes on…
There’s a real chance of coming away with four Rainbow Jerseys from Val di Sole. Phoebe Gale is the woman to beat in Junior Women, Jordan Williams is having a solid battle with Jackson Goldstone in the Junior Men, Tahnee has won a World Cup this year, and just look at the Elite Men’s list…
Reece Wilson will be out defending his title.
We’re hoping Joe Breeden, Bernard Kerr and Greg Williamson recover from their respective injuries
Junior Women: Phoebe Gale
Junior Men: Ryan Brannen, William Brodie, Ethan Craik, Dennis Luffman, Jack Piercy, Connor Smith,
Jordan Williams, Preston Williams
Elite Women: Stacey Fisher, Mikayla Parton, Tahnée Seagrave, Katherine Sharp
Elite Men: Joe Breeden, Laurie Greenland, Danny Hart, Charlie Hatton, Bernard Kerr, Matt Walker,
Greg Williamson, Reece Wilson
eMTB
No Olympic Champion Tom Pidcock for the XC eMTB World Championships this year, or that many riders full stop. Harriet Harnden and Tracy Moseley could well be battling for the win. Will the Sorcerer or the Apprentice come out on top?
Women: Harriet Harnden, Tracy Moseley and Karen Pepper
