Five NSWIS riders seeking glory at 2016 cycling world championships

Five NSWIS cyclists have been selected among Australia’s 31-strong team looking for victory at the 2016 UCI Road World Cycling Championships from October 9-16 in Doha, Qatar.

Among the 10-rider men’s team are Caleb Ewan (pictured), who is seen as one of the emerging sprint stars on the world stage, while revered lead out man and sprinter in his own right Mark Renshaw has also been selected. Fellow NSWIS rider Heinrich Haussler has also been selected, adding significant experience to the team.

At just 22-years-old, Ewan will be among the younger riders on the Aussie team, but brings to the table five pro wins from 2016, including the final stage of the Tour of Britain, which he won on the streets of London last week. Overall Ewan has 16 UCI World Tour wins, including a stage of the Vuelta a Espana grand tour in 2015.

Renshaw also brings winning experience to the Aussie side, his last victory coming at the 2014 edition of the Tour of Britain. It may have been two-years since his last win, but his strength is in his unrivalled bunch sprinting tactical nous. Hailing from Bathurst, Renshaw is regarded as the worlds best lead out rider and over the years has created a formidable partnership with Great Britain sprinting sensation Mark Cavendish.

In the women’s team NSWIS riders Lauren Kitchen and Sarah Roy have been selected to ride for Australia. Kitchen brings significant experience to the team after spending the better part of the past eight years racing in Europe.

Last year she was the fourth Aussie across the line at world championships, won by Great Britain’s Lizzie Armitstead.

While Kitchen brings experience, Roy will be making her world championship debut. The 30-year-old will arrive in Qatar buoyed by her first pro win, which came on stage four of the Boels Rental Ladies Tour in the Netherlands at the beginning of this month.

The women’s road race will be held on Saturday October 15, while the men will follow on Sunday October 16 in Doha, Qatar.