Wiggins and Queally selected in England cycling team
24th October 2005Olympic gold medallists Bradley Wiggins and Jason Queally are selected as members of a powerful Team England cycling team to compete at the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games.
The Commonwealth Games Council for England today (Monday) announces a 25-strong cycling team for Melbourne which is packed with Olympic, World and Commonwealth medallists.
The team includes Bradley Wiggins, who struck gold in the men¹s individual pursuit at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games and also completed a full set of medals by winning a silver (men¹s team pursuit) and a bronze (madison) in Athens.
Jason Queally, gold medallist in the men¹s 1km time trial at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, is likely to renew his rivalry with Scot Chris Hoy in that event subject to Hoy's section for Scotland. Hoy won the 1km title in Athens and pipped Queally to gold at the Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games. But Queally took silver ahead of Hoy at the World Track Championships in Los Angeles in March.
Queally and Jamie Staff the former BMX World Champion who trains in the USA and is also selected for Melbourne - struck gold in the team sprint in Los Angeles along with Hoy.
England can also field the team pursuit quartet that won gold at the World Track Championships Steve Cummings, Rob Hayles, Paul Manning and Chris Newton all feature in the team for Melbourne.
Victoria Pendleton, winner of the women's sprint title at the 2005 World Track Championships in Los Angeles, returns to Commonwealth Games action in Melbourne, after just missing out on the medals in Manchester.
England also have strong medal hopes in the mountain biking event in Melbourne. Liam Killeen won bronze as a 20-year-old at Manchester 2002 his first senior international event. He finished fifth at last year¹s Olympics and was the highest placed Commonwealth rider in the mountain bike event at the 2005 World Cup Series, finishing ninth overall.
Killeen also finished 16th at the 2005 World Championships held in Livignio, Italy last month. England team-mate Oli Beckingsale was ninth in Livignio.
The England cycling team also features several promising young cyclists who medalled at last year's Commonwealth Youth Games in Bendigo. Ian Stannard won gold in the men's time trial, with Nikki Harris winning gold in the women's mountain bike event, while Matthew Crampton, Amy Hunt and Ben Swift were also in the medals in Bendigo.
Ann Hogbin, Chef de Mission of Team England at the Commonwealth Games, said: "I'd like to congratulate members of the cycling team on their selection for the Commonwealth Games and wish them the very best of luck in their preparation for Melbourne and at the Games themselves."
The England cycling team for Melbourne is:
Oli Beckingsale Bristol (07.06.76)
Ed Clancy Tetbury, Gloucestershire (12.03.85)
Matthew Crampton Manchester (23.05.86)
Steve Cummings Wirral (19.03.81)
Stuart Dangerfield Willenhall, West Midlands (17.09.71)
Emma Davies Jones - Alsager, Cheshire (04.10.78)
Russell Downing Rotherham, South Yorkshire (23.08.78)
Charlotte Goldsmith Northwich, Cheshire (18.03.79)
Nikki Harris Derby (30.12.86)
Rob Hayles High Peak, Derbyshire (21.01.73)
Rachel Heal Manchester (01.04.73)
Wendy Houvenaghel Bodmin, Cornwall (27.11.74)
Amy Hunt Bolton (04.05.86)
Liam Killeen Malvern, Worcestershire (12.04.82)
Paul Manning Stockport (06.11.74)
Chris Newton Oldham, Lancashire (29.09.73)
Victoria Pendleton Manchester (24.09.80)
Jason Queally Chorley, Lancashire (11.05.70)
Simon Richardson Sheffield (21.06.83)
Robin Sharman Manchester (08.12.79)
Jamie Staff Murrieta, California, USA (30.04.73)
Ian Stannard Milton Keynes (25.05.87)
Ben Swift Sheffield (05.11.87)
Andrew Tennant Wolverhampton (09.03.87)
Bradley Wiggins - Ormskirk, Lancashire (24.04.80)
England's cyclists won five silver medals and six bronzes at the Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games. The 2006 Commonwealth Games the XVIII Games run from 15th to 26th March.
Olympic medals won by Melbourne Team England cyclists:
Sydney 2000 Rob Hayles (bronze, team pursuit), Paul Manning (bronze, team pursuit) Chris Newton (bronze, team pursuit), Jason Queally (gold, 1km time trial; silver, sprint), Bradley Wiggins (bronze, team pursuit).
Athens 2004 Steve Cummings (silver, team pursuit), Rob Hayles (silver, team pursuit; bronze, madison), Paul Manning (silver, team pursuit), Chris Newton (silver, team pursuit), Bradley Wiggins (gold, individual pursuit; silver, team pursuit; bronze, madison).