Having brought you news of the women’s team selection for the increasingly-imminent UCI World Championships at Fort William (3-9 September 2007), we thought we’d best mention the unfairer sex too.

The official statement says that “Selection for all
disciplines was performance based and selections have been made in
line with the criteria published by British Cycling earlier this
year” – in a nutshell, you have to be in with a real chance of a podium or at least a top ten placing in your discipline to get on the team.

That would explain the absence of Liam Killeen from the XC Elite Men line-up – he’s been floored by a viral infection and is sensibly sitting out the season in the interests of the rest of his career. Still, not racing at the Worlds on home soil will just be whatever the opposite of icing on the converse of a cake is for his 2007. Great Britain will be ably represented by Oli Beckingsale and Ian Wilkinson, with Ian Bibby and Ross Creber in the Under-23 Men. The Junior Men line-up includes Hamish Creber, David Fletcher and Alex Paton.

Britain’s current strength in DH competition is reflected by the full complement of seven riders in the Elite Men category – Dan Atherton, Gee Atherton, Marc Beaumont, Neil Donoghue, Brendan Fairclough, Steve Peat (injured ankle notwithstanding) and Dan Stanbridge. Josh Bryceland, Ruaridh Cunningham, Sam Dale, Chris Hutchens, Scott Mears and Joe Smith form the Junior line-up. There’ll also be a strong showing in 4X, with Dan Atherton, Gee Atherton, Scott Beaumont, Dale Holmes and Will Longden.

It’s also the UCI Trials World Championships, with Britain’s top hoppers for the event being Chris Boyes, Andrei Burton, Daniel Butler, Alastair Clarkson, Chris
Doney, James Hyland, Wayne Mahomet, Lois Morgan, Joe Oakley, Robert Poyser, Ben Savage, Duncan Shaw, Ben Slinger and Scott Wilson.

Everything you need to know about the 2007 UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships is probably at www.fortwilliamworldchamps.co.uk – turn your speakers down if you’re in the office…