GB in Belgium for European Road Championships

June 29, 2009; By Larry Hickmott

Hot on the heels of the British road race championships come the 2009 European road championships in Belgium where a large team of young British riders will take part in all the events, Junior Road Race and Time Trial (men and women) and Under 23 Road Race and Time Trial (men and women).

Last year, the team had a successful event with a Silver medal for Luke Rowe in the Junior Men’s road race, Ben Swift was 4th in the Under 23 men’s road race while the British girls also had two top 10’s giving the team a good base to work onwards and upwards with. This year, Great Britain has selected 24 of the best young British riders and have high hopes of surpassing the results from previous years.

Under 23

Peter Kennaugh and Adam Blythe catch up on arrival in Belgium, Monday, June 29.

In this category, newly crowned Under 23 British road race champion Peter Kennaugh from the Isle of Man will take to the start of the road race with a strong team of five other Under 23 riders to help the team achieve a result in this very competitive category. In the Women’s road race, the rider who was second in the Women’s Under 23 category at the British Championships, Katie Colclough (East Midlands), heads up a team of six riders for her race.

Both teams of riders have extensive experience of racing in Europe this year and the women especially in Belgium where they have been based and Holland which will be invaluable for their races.

In the Time Trial, GB has three riders in each of the events. In the Men’s Under 23 Time Trial, Peter Kennaugh rides again as does Alex Dowsett and Andy Tennant, both very experienced in the Time Trial. For the Under 23 Women, Katie Colclough, Lucy Martin and Hannah Mayho will carry the British hopes.

Juniors
Great Britain also has a very strong team for both these races as well and a few riders representing GB at a major road championship for the first time.  These include riders Sam Harrison, Joe Perrett (bronze in the British RR championship), Peter Dibben and Laura Trott.

In the Women’s Time Trial, Corrine Hall, Jess Booth and Ella Sadler Andrews  will race for GB whilst in the Junior Men’s race,  Sam Harrison, George Atkins and Joe Perrett ride in GB colours. All of the above juniors ride the road race as well.

The programme of events is:

Wednesday July 1
Junior Men’s TT, 28 km
Under 23 Women’s TT, 28km

Thursday, July 2
Junior Women TT, 12km
Under 23 Men's TT, 37 km

Saturday, July 4
Men's Junior Road Race, 135km
Women's Under 23 Road Race, 135km

Sunday, July 5
Junior Women Road Race, 63km
Men's Under 23 Road Race, 175km

Event Website

Riders

Junior Women
Corrine Hall - + TT
Jess Booth - + TT
Laura Trott
Sarah Reynolds
Ella Sadler Andrews - + TT

Junior Men
Sam Harrison - + TT
George Atkins - + TT
Sandy King
Tim Kennaugh
Peter Dibben
Jon Mould
Joe Perrett - + TT

Under 23 Women
Annie Last
Katie Colclough - + TT
Alex Greenfield
Lucy Martin - + TT
Anna Blyth
Hannah Mayho - + TT

Under 23 Men
Andy Tennant - + TT
Alex Dowsett - + TT
Jonny McEvoy
Peter Kennaugh + TT
Adam Blythe
Mark McNally

British Cycling website will have reports and features on the riders through out the week