David Millar (Garmin-Transitions) will step in to replace Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) in the Great Britain team for the World Championship road race in Melbourne, Australia next month. The British champion withdrew from the three-man team yesterday, citing fatigue after a long hard season, especially in July’s Tour de France.
“Following selection, Geraint was feeling tired in subsequent races and felt the Road Worlds were out of reach,” said Dave Brailsford, Great Britain’s Performance Director. “David Millar has now been selected to ride the Road Race as well as the Time Trial and based on his current form we believe he will work well with Jeremy [Hunt] to give Mark [Cavendish] the best chance at the Road Worlds.”
Millar had already been selected in the Great Britain squad for Melbourne, but was only originally going to ride the time trial; he is currently riding in the Vuelta a España, his third Grand Tour of the year. Earlier in the season Millar discovered a liking and aptitude for the cobbled races of Flanders, which saw him win the Driedaagse De Panne overall and launch a late attack in the Ronde van Vlaanderen a week later.
While the Scot is more noted for his time trialling, his powerful engine is well used to riding for Garmin-Transitions teammates, whether in support of an overall classification rider or setting up a sprinter.
Great Britain has just three riders in the road race largely due to the disappointing performances of British riders in top-level races. In last year’s race in Mendrisio, Switzerland, Great Britain was granted the full compliment of nine riders, thanks to the sprinting performance of Cavendish and the fourth place Tour de France finish of Bradley Wiggins.
This year, neither Cavendish nor Wiggins has performed to the same level and so Great Britain has slipped in the rankings.
Revised Great Britain team for World Championships in Melbourne, Australia:
Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia), Jeremy Hunt (Cervélo TestTeam), David Millar (Garmin-Transitions).