Rebecca Romero has not been selected for Great Britain’s 17-strong squad for the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Apeldoorn, Netherlands on March 23-27.
Romero, who won individual pursuit gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, missed February’s Track World Cup in Manchester through injury.
With the indivudual pursuit scrapped from the Olympic schedule, Romero was targetting a team pursuit place at the London Games – but her future on the track has now been thrown into doubt.
Romero was replaced by Paralympic champion Sarah Storey in Manchester – aiming to become the first Briton to compete in both Olympic and Paralympic Games – but the 33-year-old also misses out on worlds selection.
Four-time Olympic gold medallist Sir Chris Hoy spearheads the men’s sprint squad and is joined by Matt Crampton, Ross Edgar and Jason Kenny.
Just five riders – Steven Burke, Ed Clancy, Sam Harrison, Pete Kennaugh and Andy Tennant – have been selected for the men’s endurance team.
Great Britain’s Team Sky riders, including Bradley Wiggins and Geraint Thomas, continue to focus their attention on their road careers
Becky James and Jess Varnish join Olympic champion Victoria Pendleton in the women’s sprint squad, while Lizzie Armitstead, Wendy Houvenaghel, Dani King, Joanna Rowsell and Laura Trott form the women’s endurance line-up.
Shanaze Reade, returning from a wrist injury, paired up with Pendleton for the team sprint in Manchester but the duo, twice world champions, failed to qualify for the medal races and Reade decided not to put herself up for selection.
British Cycling’s performance director Dave Brailsford said: “These World Championships are a further stepping stone towards the Olympic Games in London, and while the team is building momentum there’s still plenty left in the tank.
“There’s a great mood in the camp and the riders are very much enjoying the process of competing. For us it’s a real positive to be going into the World Championships as the hunters rather than the hunted – the pressure is really on the Australians and the French to deliver, and it’s a nice feeling for us to be going out there as the challengers.”
