Olympic Games 2008 - Team GB

Twenty five riders will contest fifteen events in Beijing.

Team GB line up as the favourites in the Velodrome and with a bevy of World Champions and top performers who could doubt them at all the cycling events.

The stakes are high
Speaking to the BBC, Sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe says "it is vital" that Team GB (Referring to the whole Olympic team across all disciplines) reaches the target of 41 medals. "That is a serious target," said Sutcliffe. "We want it to be achieved." - full report

Many of those medals will come from the Velodrome and after an amazing lead up to the games at the World Track Championships, much is expected of the team. (See below)

Dave Brailsford, Performance Director, British Cycling said of the selection - “The Great Britain Cycling team has continued to develop to such a point where it is clearly both the strongest and most professional Cycling team from Great Britain in living memory. 

The very tough selection decisions which had to be made are a testament to the strength and depth of talent within our programme.  In keeping with the overall philosophy of the Great Britain Cycling team this squad will leave no stone unturned in its quest for success.”

All pictures British Cycling

Men’s road race
Jonny Bellis, Steve Cummings, Roger Hammond, Ben Swift

Men’s road time trial
Steve Cummings

Women’s road race
Nicole Cooke, Sharon Laws, Emma Pooley

Men’s team sprint
Ross Edgar, Chris Hoy, Jason Kenny, Jamie Staff

Men’s team pursuit
Steven Burke, Ed Clancy, Paul Manning, Geraint Thomas, Bradley Wiggins

Men’s Madison
Mark Cavendish, Bradley Wiggins

Men’s individual sprint
Chris Hoy, Jason Kenny

Chris Hoy, current double World Track Champion said - “I’m delighted to be named in the squad for the Beijing Olympics, particularly given the very high standard of competition for places. I’m looking forward to getting out there and showing how good British cycling is and to having a successful Games.”

Men’s individual pursuit
Bradley Wiggins (defending Olympic Champion)

Men’s points race
Chris Newton

Men’s keirin
Ross Edgar, Chris Hoy, Bradley Wiggins

Men’s mountain bike
Ollie Beckingsale, Liam Killeen

Ollie Beckingsale said - “It’s great to be selected, and a relief! This will be my third Olympic Games and I believe it will be my best by a long way. In the last few years I’ve been riding better than ever and I believe I will produce a personal best performance at these Games.”

Men’s BMX
Liam Phillips

Liam Phillips said - “It's a great honour to represent my Country and to be doing so as part of such a successful team as GB Cycling. It's also fantastic to be part of BMX's Olympic debut and I hope my taking part will help make the sport more popular.”

Dave Brailsford said - “The inclusion of BMX into the Olympic programme for the first time is very exciting. We believe it will bring many more young people into the sport and we look forward to it being part of the London 2012 Games.”

Women’s individual sprint
Victoria Pendleton

Victoria Pendleton, current double World Track Champion said - “I’m really pleased to be selected. It’s an honour to be selected especially in such a strong squad. I’m looking forward to going to Beijing and building on my form from the Worlds in Manchester earlier this year.”

Women’s individual pursuit
Wendy Houvenaghel, Rebecca Romero

Rebecca Romero, Current Individual Pursuit Track World Champion - “Having already been to the Olympics as a rower and then retired I never thought I’d return to the Games. Having taken up cycling my aim was to qualify and getting the selection letter made it real that I was going; and not only am I going but I’m going as the World’s number one!”

Women’s BMX
Shanaze Reade

Team GB recent Olympic performances
2004 Athens Olympic Games
- Men’s kilo, Gold: Chris Hoy
- Men’s individual pursuit, Gold: Bradley Wiggins
- Men’s team pursuit, Silver: Bradley Wiggins, Steve Cummings, Bryan Steel, Chris Newton, Rob Hayles, Paul Manning
- Men’s Madison, Bronze: Bradley Wiggins, Rob Hayles

2000 Sydney Olympic Games
- Men’s kilo, Gold: Jason Queally
- Men’s team sprint, Silver: Jason Queally, Chris Hoy, Craig Maclean
- Men’s team pursuit, Bronze: Bryan Steel, Jonny Clay, Rob Hayles, Bradley Wiggins, Chris Newton, Paul Manning
- Women’s individual pursuit, Bronze: Yvonne Macgregor

1996 Atlanta Olympic Games
- Men’s road race, Bronze: Max Sciandri
- Men’s road time trial, Bronze: Chris Boardman

1992 Barcelona Olympic Games
- Men’s individual pursuit, Gold: Chris Boardman

Recent World Championship performances
2008 World Track Championships, Manchester
- Men’s Keirin, Gold: Chris Hoy
- Madison, Gold: Bradley Wiggins, Mark Cavendish
- Individual Pursuit, Gold: Bradley Wiggins
- Team Pursuit, Gold: Bradley Wiggins, Paul Manning, Steve Cummings, Ed Clancy, Geraint Thomas
- Men’s Sprint, Gold: Chris Hoy
- Team Sprint, gold: Vicky Pendleton, Shanaze Reade
- Individual Pursuit, Gold: Rebecca Romero
- Team Pursuit, Gold: Rebecca Romero, Wendy Houvenaghel, Jo Rowsell
- Women’s Sprint, Gold: Vicky Pendleton
- Women’s Keirin, Silver: Vicky Pendleton
- Team Sprint, Silver: Ross Edgar, Jamie Staff, Chris Hoy

2008 World BMX Championships, Taiyuan
- Elite women, Gold: Shanaze Reade

2007 World track Championships, Palma
- Men’s Keirin, Gold: Chris Hoy
- Men’s Kilo, Gold: Chris Hoy
- Individual Pursuit, Gold: Bradley Wiggins
- Team Pursuit, Gold: Bradley Wiggins, Ed Clancy, Geraint Thomas, Paul Manning
- Women’s Keirin, Gold: Vicky Pendleton
- Women’s Sprint, Gold: Vicky Pendleton
- Team Sprint, Gold: Vicky Pendleton, Shanaze Reade
- Individual Pursuit, Silver: Rebecca Romero
- Team Sprint, Silver: Craig Maclean, Ross Edgar, Chris Hoy
- Keirin, Bronze: Ross Edgar
- Men’s Kilometre, Bronze: Jamie Staff

2007 World BMX Championships, Victoria
- Elite women, Gold: Shanaze Reade

2006 World Track Championships, Bordeaux
- Men’s Kilo, Gold: Chris Hoy
- Team Sprint, Silver: Chris Hoy, Craig Maclean, Jamie Staff
- Team Pursuit, Silver: Steve Cummings, Rob hayles, Paul Manning, Geraint Thomas
- Women’s Sprint, Silver: Vicky Pendleton
- Men’s Sprint, Silver: Craig Maclean
- Individual Pursuit, Bronze: Paul Manning

2005 World Track Championships, Los Angeles
- Madison, Gold: Rob Hayles, Mark Cavendish
- Team Pursuit, Gold
- Team Sprint, Gold
- Women’s Sprint, Gold: Vicky Pendleton
- Men’s Kilo, Silver: Jason Queally
- Men’s Kilo, Bronze: Chris Hoy

2005 World Road Championships, Madrid
- Women’s Road Race, Silver: Nicole Cooke

2004 World Track Championships, Melbourne
- Keirin, Gold: Jamie Staff
- Men’s Kilo, Gold: Chris Hoy
- Team Pursuit, Silver
- Team Sprint, Bronze: Craig Maclean, Chris Hoy, Jamie Staff