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Roger Hammond is to replace Tom White (who has been injured in a crash) in the GB Team for the Tour of Britain. The Discovery Channel pro has welcomed the opportunity to ride with GB’s talented group of Under-23 riders.
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Roger Hammond at last year’s ToB © Gerard Brown |
Currently riding the Tour of Germany, Hammond is to join the GB team not as team leader. Instead he will use the race as part of his preparation for the World Road Championships and as an opportunity to work with the other riders on the team. However with good form and some good riders around him he could challenge for the overall honours.
Team mate of Lance Armstrong, Roger Hammond who rides for the Discovery Team, will bolster the Great Britain Team with his strength and experience. Rob Ellingworth the GB Under-23 National Endurance Coach commented on the arrival of Hammond with great excitement; “This is a great opportunity for the other riders to have the experience and the professionalism of Roger riding with them. Roger is great to have around and he is very excited about joining the team and pushing for a top place in the race.”
Roger said “I’m delighted to have this chance to ride with this group of riders. I have been following closely the incredible success of the Under-23 Academy riders and I will join them with the aim of passing on some of my experience, which will perhaps in turn help them to gain places on pro Road teams in the near future. It’s also great to have an opportunity to compete in the Tour of Britain again.”
Team Manager John Herety said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to place a seasoned Road pro in the team with our brightest young talents. Roger is one of the most respected riders in the pro peloton and in the company of young sprinter Mark Cavendish, he will make the team a force to be reckoned with in any bunch finishes.”
