The Brits’ rise to cycling prominence has become mired in controversy over the past year since axed rider Jess Varnish lashed out at the team’s internal culture. The fall-out led to the departure of technical director Shane Sutton and prompted an independent review, a leaked draft of which slammed a “culture of fear and bullying” within British Cycling.
However, some leading figures have began to push back, with record-breaking Olympian Chris Hoy saying he felt the row had been ‘sensationalised’ by media.
Even Katy Marchant, who like Varnish was highly critical of British Cycling when they failed to qualify for the Olympic team sprint at last year’s world championships, told the Daily Telegraph: “I had never had a problem with the culture.
“Obviously at the world champs last year there was a lot of disappointment, and there were some heated moments. Things got expressed maybe not the way that they should,” she said.
Olympic gold and silver medallist Callum Skinner said the British team now hoped to “draw a line” under the controversy.
“I think the important thing is that going forward... it feels now like we’re in a happy place and the sport is moving forward for the better,” he said, according to the Telegraph.
“I don’t think there’s a need for a continual cycle of the view after the view after the view. I think it’s just good to draw a line under it, make the changes that are necessary and move forward,” added Skinner.
New faces
Despite the absence of power couple Jason and Laura Kenny, who are awaiting their first child, and the retirements of Bradley Wiggins and Joanna Rowsell Shand post-Olympics, Britain have still brought four Rio champions to Hong Kong.
Katie Archibald, Elinor Barker, Steven Burke and Callum Skinner all summited the podium in team events last year in Brazil, while Marchant won bronze in the individual sprint.
Australia, now without retired great Anna Meares and hoping to make amends for a disappointing Olympics, have brought eight debutants alongside a clutch of world title-winners.
Six-time world champion Cameron Meyer headlines the team, which is now under new performance director Simon Jones, while Rebecca Wiasak is aiming for her third straight individual pursuit title.
“We’re not here to be the second best. We’re starting to get the right people around us and no doubt (Jones) will make a number of changes within our squad in the high-performance programme and that will be for the better,” Wiasak told AFP.
She added: “A number of our riders are in incredible form, so we’d hope to come away at least with a couple of gold medals.” In what is only the second track world championships held in Asia, the women’s madison will be contested for the first time and the omnium has been slashed from six events to four. With teams now preparing for Tokyo 2020, Germany’s Kristina Vogel is the sole individual sprint Olympic champion at the event, which runs from Wednesday to Sunday.
Home hopes are carried by Hong Kong’s Sarah Lee, the 2012 Olympics keirin bronze medallist and the time trial runner-up at last year’s world championships.
Aru out of Giro d’Italia with knee injury
Italian Fabio Aru has been forced out of next month’s Giro d’Italia, which starts on his native island of Sardinia as part of celebrations for the 100th edition, his Astana team said on Monday. Aru, who was set to challenge defending champion Vincenzo Nibali for the pink jersey, crashed and hurt his knee while training in Spain last week.
He was diagnosed with an injury which “causes pain when he pedals”, according to a statement by Astana and had left him with little chance of fully recovering in time for the May 5 start.
“As a consequence of his fall happened 8 days ago while training in Spain... Fabio Aru was examined this afternoon in Milan by Professor Franco Combi,” said the statement.
“Aru will have to respect 10 days of total rest and therapy. On April 20 he will undergo further examination to assess the evolution of the situation.
“Given the circumstances, Astana Pro Team has decided to announce that, unfortunately, Fabio Aru will not participate to the Giro d’Italia 2017.”
The loss of Aru is a major blow to race organisers RCS, who were hedging on an Italian dual between him and fellow islander Nibali, who hails from Sicily, over an epic three weeks. Aru, the 2015 Tour of Spain champion who finished third in the 2014 edition of the Giro and second in 2015, said: “I’m so sorry and disappointed for what’s happened: I was dreaming of starting the Giro in Sardinia, we’ve been preparing the race for months.
“Unfortunately, the accident happened and it means I can’t be at the start in sufficient condition. Albeit with great regret, we are forced to give up.”
Two-time winner Nibali, who won the Tour de France in 2014, is not short of opponents, however, with Colombian climbing specialist Nairo Quintana and several other podium hopefuls set to test his credentials in the May 5-28 race.