Team GB announces initial cycling squad for Paris 2024

Tom-Pidcock-to-race-mountain-bike-World-Cup-in-week-before-Tour-de-France

The British Olympic Association (BOA) has unveiled the first 20 cyclists who will represent Team GB at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. This announcement includes a mix of seasoned Olympians and fresh talent across track, road, and mountain bike disciplines. There are still some teams to be sorted, largely in part to the late injury suffered by Katie Archibald when some of the women’s endurance track teams were due to be announced here too.

Mountain Bike Contenders

Team GB has achieved a milestone by qualifying two womenโ€™s and two menโ€™s spots in the mountain bike events for the first time. Commonwealth Champion Evie Richards, who has recently recovered from an injury, will vie for the womenโ€™s title alongside newcomer Ella Maclean-Howell.

In the menโ€™s mountain bike category, under-23 World Champion Charlie Aldridge will make his Olympic debut. He will be joined by Olympic and World Champion Tom Pidcock, who is aiming for medals in both the mountain bike and road events.

Ethan Hayter
(Photo Credit: SWPix.com)

Road Race Line-up

Joining Pidcock in the road race are 2023 national road champion Fred Wright, Stevie Williams, and Josh Tarling. Tarling, who has recently impressed with his time-trial performances, will also compete in the time-trial event alongside Ethan Hayter.

Track Events

Ethan Hayter will later transition to the menโ€™s track endurance squad, forming part of a strong team with Ollie Wood, Charlie Tanfield, Ethan Vernon, and debutant Dan Bigham. The menโ€™s endurance team is expected to deliver thrilling performances at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Velodrome.

For the womenโ€™s sprint events, Katy Marchant leads the squad into her third Olympic Games. She is joined by World and European individual sprint Champion Emma Finucane and Sophie Capewell, both making their Olympic debuts. Marchant commented, โ€œItโ€™s an honour to lead such a talented squad and Iโ€™m looking forward to what we can achieve together in Paris.โ€

Menโ€™s Sprint Team

Jack Carlin, who won silver and bronze in Tokyo, heads up the menโ€™s sprint team. He is joined by newcomers Hamish Turnbull and 20-year-old Ed Lowe. Carlin expressed his enthusiasm, saying, โ€œIโ€™m excited to compete again and thrilled to be part of such a promising team.โ€

British Cycling Leadership Thoughts

Team GB Chef de Mission, Mark England MBE, highlighted the significance of this squad: โ€œTeam GB has a rich tradition with Olympic cycling, and I am thrilled that we will be taking our largest ever cycling team to Paris. It is very exciting to see the next generation of cyclists selected to compete for Team GB in Paris, alongside some of our seasoned Olympians and Olympic medallists.โ€

Performance Director for the Great Britain Cycling Team, Stephen Park CBE, praised the selection: โ€œI am delighted for each and every one of the riders we have announced today to represent Team GB in Paris and have no doubt that they will make the nation proud over the 18 days of cycling competition in Paris. This group includes four previous Olympic medallists, with Tom Pidcock, Ethan Hayter, Katy Marchant, and Jack Carlin all looking to get themselves on the podium once again.โ€

Evie Richards

British 2024 Olympics Teams Announced

Menโ€™s Mountain Bike

  • Charlie Aldridge
  • Tom Pidcock

Womenโ€™s Mountain Bike

  • Ella Maclean-Howell
  • Evie Richards

Menโ€™s Road

  • Ethan Hayter (TT)
  • Tom Pidcock
  • Josh Tarling (TT/RR)
  • Stevie Williams
  • Fred Wright

Menโ€™s Track Endurance

  • Dan Bigham
  • Ethan Hayter
  • Charlie Tanfield
  • Ethan Vernon
  • Ollie Wood
  • Mark Stewart (travelling reserve)

Menโ€™s Track Sprint

  • Jack Carlin
  • Ed Lowe
  • Hamish Turnbull
  • Joe Truman (travelling reserve)

Womenโ€™s Track Sprint

  • Sophie Capewell
  • Emma Finucane
  • Katy Marchant
  • Lowri Thomas (travelling reserve)