One of either Steve Cummings or Alex Dowsett must secure a top ten finish in the elite men’s time trial Wednesday if Great Britain is to secure two spots in the Rio Olympic time trial in 2016.
Cummings heads into the 53.5 km race on the back of Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana double having won a stage on the Tour and finished a highly credible 9th in the individual time trial at the Vuelta a Espana.
“We need someone to finish in the top ten in order for Britain to qualify for two places at the Olympics for next year,” Cummings told Cyclingnews, as he reiterated the importance of Wednesday’s race.
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“I’m not saying that that’s my expectation but that’s something that I want to try and do. I’ve just finished the Vuelta and I’m feeling pretty tired but we’ll have to just see how I come up on the day. Hopefully I’ll ride well.”
The selection for Worlds was made less than a fortnight ago and Great Britain have already lost Mark Cavendish, Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas to injury and fatigue. It has meant that the responsibility for Rio selection falls on Cummings and Dowsett. The Movistar rider set a then Hour Record earlier this year, while he picked up a bronze earlier this week in the team trial.
Neither riders are weak links against the clock, therefore, but Cummings admits that the Worlds time trial has not been a season-long objective for him. Yet, it is hard for a rider to resist the temptation of pulling on their national kit when the call comes through.
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