Eight Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling athletes have been selected to represent their respective countries at this year’s Commonwealth Games, which take place in Glasgow, Scotland, in July. Olympic champions Dani King, Joanna Rowsell and Laura Trott will ride both Track and Road events for England, while their fellow Team Pursuit World champion will ride both disciplines for Wales, alongside former European champion Amy Roberts.
“I am really looking forward to the Commonwealth Games,” said Rowsell. “It will be my first one as I didn’t compete in Delhi in 2010 due to glandular fever. I will be competing on the track and also the road time trial.
“My focus is the Individual Pursuit on the track and I’m excited to compete in this event as I am World Champion but I know the competition will be very tough,” she added. “Australia, Canada and New Zealand are three of the strongest nations in women’s endurance track cycling but I believe the biggest challenge will come from my Great Britain teammates competing across England, Scotland and Wales.”
“Overall I think it will be a very close competition but I can’t wait to represent England and compete in front of the crowd,” Rowsell concluded. “The road events will also be an incredible experience if last year’s Nationals are anything to go by.”
New Zealanders Emily Collins and Linda Villumsen will ride the road events, where Villumsen will surely be among the favourites after her Time Trial silver medal in Delhi, India, four years ago.
“The Commonwealth Games has always been a big goal of mine,” said Collins. “Coming from New Zealand it’s considered a very important event and so since a wee dot it’s been my mission to represent NZ there one day. In saying that, I am thrilled to be selected to race for NZ there. ‘Repping the fern’ is always an honour but I think this time will be pretty special.”
“It’s very cool to have eight other team mates racing but funny all the same that we’ll be battling against each other as opposed to alongside for this one!” Collins laughed. “Of course it would be neat to keep the title within the team following Rochelle’s Gold in 2010… I’m sure we will all do our best!”
In addition to the road and track riders, Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling’s “Dirt Wiggler” Peta Mullens has also been selected for the Games, and will represent Australia in the Mountainbike Cross Country event.
“It was a hard road for qualification but really being selected is the bumpy road before the climb,” Mullens said. “From the day I got the phone call I’ve trained harder and have been more focussed than ever before. Once it’s a reality you really want to make the most of it. Commonwealth Games is second only to the Olympics to the friends and family back home so it’s the perfect stepping stone to Rio.
“It’s a true testament to Wiggle Honda that of the eight eligible athletes hand picked by Rochelle, all of them have qualified for the Games with athletes spread across Road, Track and MTB. It’s ironic that as defending Champion she will have to commentate our races- I hope she isn’t speechless if we run away with gold!”
Team owner/manager Rochelle Gilmore will not be defending the title she took in Delhi four years ago, but will be present at Glasgow 2014 in another capacity; working with host broadcaster Sunset+Vine & Global Television in its Games coverage.
“I’m extremely proud of Wiggle Honda being represented by eight athletes across three disciplines at this year’s Commonwealth Games,” she said. “I will experience this year’s Commonwealth Games from a different perspective as a Cycling Expert Commentator alongside Hugh Porter.
“Whilst I was personally focused on beating Nicole Cooke and Lizzie Armitstead in Delhi four years ago, I’d be happy to see a British athlete win in Glasgow,” Gilmore added. “I will be sitting on the edge of my seat hoping that one of our Wiggle Honda athlete’s take the prestigious road title.”
“In addition to hearing the selections of Trott, King, Rowsell, Barker, Roberts, Villumsen and Collins, it was a very proud and satisfying moment to learn of the Australian MTB team selection which included Wiggle Honda’s Peta Mullens,” Gilmore continued. “Peta has worked extremely hard to reach her current level: a medal contender in Glasgow.
“Our expectations are always very high regarding our 5 successful British track specialist athletes however we also quietly consider our two Kiwi athletes medal chances too, so, It’s a very exciting time for Wiggle Honda, our staff and athletes,” Gilmore concluded.
Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling athletes selected for Glasgow 2014:
Dani King (England, Road & Track)
Joanna Rowsell (England, Road & Track)
Laura Trott (England, Road & Track)
Elinor Barker (Wales, Road & Track)
Amy Roberts (Wales, Road & Track)
Peta Mullens (Australia, MTB)
Emily Collins (New Zealand, Road)
Linda Villumsen (New Zealand, Road)
