Young Yorkshiremen Tom Pidcock and Gabz Cullaigh earn GB call and Sir Bradley Wiggins’ praise

Gabriel Cullaigh and Tom Pidcock join the great and good of British cycling after stellar campaigns for development squad, Wiggins Le Col, the team that the former Tour de France winner put his name to.

Holmfirth’s Cullaigh, 23, joins the likes of 2018 Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas, former Vuelta Espana champion Simon Yates and his fellow Yorkshiremen and the last three men to win the national road race title – Ben Swift, Connor Swift and Adam Blythe – on the long list for the men’s road race. His inclusion is just reward for Cullaigh, who a year ago was contemplating his future in the sport.

“Gabz was out of contract at the end of last season and was too old for our team but we took him back on,” Wiggins told The Yorkshire Post.

“He was ready to retire at the end of last season, but he rode the races he could for us and he’s now managed to get himself a multi-year contract with Spanish pro team Movistar.

“He’s such a lovely lad and it’s given me such a source of pride.And we’ve also got cycling’s next big future in Tom Pidcock, whose going from strength to strength.”

Pidcock was the next big thing in cycling two years ago when winning junior races at both the road and cyclo-cross world championships.

But after seeing his momentum checked, he is earning positive results again under Wiggins.

“Tom Pidcock set a precendent when he was very young, everything he touched turned to gold,” said Wiggins.

“When you set that precedent, suddenly when you’re getting seconds and thirds, people deem it as a failure. But he’s come through that off his own back.

“If he’s touted as the next Tour de France winner from this country then I think Tom’s the type of personality, a proper down-to-earth Yorkshire lad who will thrive off that and use it to his advantage.”

Lizzie Deignan leads the home challenge in the women’s road race from Bradford to Harrogate on Saturday, September 28, but there is no place for 2011 champion Mark Cavendish in the men’s squad for the following day’s race from Leeds.

The Great Britain Cycling Team for UCI Road World Championships 2019:

Elite Men’s Road Race (six to ride):

Adam Blythe

Hugh Carthy

Gabz Cullaigh

Owain Doull

Alex Dowsett

Tao Geoghegan Hart

Matthew Holmes

Chris Lawless

Luke Rowe

Ian Stannard

Ben Swift

Connor Swift

Geraint Thomas

Adam Yates

Simon Yates

Elite Men’s Time Trial (two to ride):

Alex Dowsett

Tao Geoghegan Hart

Geraint Thomas

Elite Women’s Road Race (six to ride):

Lizzy Banks

Alice Barnes

Hannah Barnes

Dani Christmas

Lizzie Deignan

Rebecca Durrell

Pfeiffer Georgi

Natalie Grinczer

Anna Henderson

Elizabeth Holden

Nikki Juniper

Hayley Simmonds

Sophie Wright

Elite Women’s Time Trial (two to ride):

Alice Barnes

Hannah Barnes

Pfeiffer Georgi

Elizabeth Holden

Hayley Simmonds

U23 Men’s Road Race (five to ride):

Stuart Balfour

Matt Bostock

Ethan Hayter

Tom Pidcock

Rob Scott

Jake Stewart

Ethan Vernon

Joey Walker

Matthew Walls

Fred Wright

U23 Men’s Time Trial (two to ride):

Ethan Hayter

Tom Pidcock

Charlie Quarterman

Ethan Vernon

Junior Men’s Road Race (five to ride):

Lewis Askey

Tom Couzens

Alfie George

Leo Hayter

Oliver Rees

Oli Stockwell

Tosh Teare

Ben Tulett

Max Walker

Sam Watson

Junior Men’s Time Trial (two to ride):

Leo Hayter

Oliver Knight

Oscar Nilsen Julien

Tom Portsmouth

Oliver Rees

Max Walker

Sam Watson

Junior Women’s Road Race (five to ride):

Elynor Backstedt

Ella Barnwell

Eluned King

Sophie Lewis

Amy Monkhouse

Anna Shackley

Amelia Sharpe

Abi Smith

Maddie Wadsworth

Junior Women’s Time Trial (two to ride):

Elynor Backstedt

Ella Barnwell

Sophie Lewis

Amy Monkhouse

Caitlin Peters

Amelia Sharpe

Abi Smith

Team Time Trial Mixed Relay (three male riders, three female riders to ride):

Alice Barnes

Hannah Barnes

Lauren Dolan

Pfeiffer Georgi

Anna Henderson

Elizabeth Holden

Joss Lowden

John Archibald

Dan Bigham

Scott Davies

Charlie Quarterman

Harry Tanfield

Ethan Vernon