Pidcock, Onley and Ferguson front British road race hopes at Rwanda Worlds

Pidcock (Q36.5) will arrive in Rwanda off the back of a maiden Grand Tour podium, after an excellent three weeks at the Vuelta a España. Based on his current shape, a podium finish is a realistic ambition for the 26-year-old, whose previous best result in the elite men’s race is 6th in 2021 in Leuven, Belgium.

The same ambitions can be said for Onley, one of the stars of the Tour de France, where the 22-year-old finished 4th overall. Like Pidcock, Onley will be well suited to the demanding terrain that the Kigali course has to offer, and has a great opportunity to improve on a 16th-place finish from twelve months ago.

Fred Wright (Bahrain-Victorious), who will join forces with Pidcock at Q36.5 in 2026, lines up for his fourth elite road race at the Worlds, whilst Joe Blackmore (Israel-Premier Tech) presents a wildcard option for the team, and the former Tour de l’Avenir winner will have happy memories having won the GC at the Tour du Rwanda and two stages in 2024.

Bjorn Koerdt (Picnic PostNL), who recently made his Grand Tour debut at the Vuelta and Oliver Knight (Cofidis) who took his maiden professional victory in July with a stage win at the Ethias Tour de Wallonie round out a competitive British team for the elite men’s road race on Sunday 28th September alongside strong, reliable climbers in Mark Donovan (Q36.5) and James Knox (Soudal-QuickStep).

In the elite women’s category, Great Britain will not feature in the road race, with Anna Henderson the sole representative in the individual time trial event. Henderson is a two-time national champion in the discipline and will have high hopes for a medal, as illustrated by a silver in the Olympic Games in 2024 and 4th place in 2023 at the Worlds. 

One race where Great Britain will be strong contenders for the rainbow jersey is in the inaugural under-23 women’s race. In recent editions, there has been a rainbow jersey awarded in this category, but via the best-placed eligible rider in the elite race. 

This year, the under-23 peloton will have their own race to fight it out for the rainbows and the British team is stacked in this department with riders who know what it is like to be world champion.

Cat Ferguson (Movistar) is the current junior road race world champion, having won from a sprint of three in rain-soaked conditions in Zürich, Switzerland. The Movistar rider has already proven to be one of the top riders in the WorldTour in 2025, and naturally could become the first rider to win the junior and under-23 women’s road race world titles.

Elite national champion Mille Couzens also lines up for the under-23 road race, alongside Imogen Wolff (Visma | Lease a Bike), Flora Perkins (Fenix-Deceuninck), and Eilidh Shaw (UAE Development Team).

Zoe Bäckstedt (Canyon//sram zondacrypto) has more rainbow jerseys than most in the sport, and has enjoyed a fine summer with becoming national time trial champion, winner of three stages and the GC at the Baloise Ladies Tour, and a time trial success at the Simac Ladies Tour, and will contest the individual time trial in the under-23 category alongside Couzens. 

Meanwhile, Callum Thornley (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe Rookies) represents British hopes in the men's under-23 category. 

"The road world championships are always a prestigious event in the cycling calendar, and it's fantastic to be part of this historic event, the first road world championships in Africa," said Stephen Park CBE, Performance Director for the Great Britain Cycling Team. "The event provides a tough course that will ask a lot from our riders, but I am confident that, as ever, they are up to the task and will bring home some fantastic results."

Complete British team for UCI Road World Championships

Elite Men's Road Race (September 28): Joe Blackmore, Mark Donovan, Oliver Knight, James Knox, Bjorn Koerdt, Oscar Onley, Tom Pidcock, Fred Wright

Elite Women's Road Race (September 27): N/A

Elite Men's Time Trial (September 21): N/A

Women's Time Trial (September 21): Anna Henderson

Under-23 Men's Road Race (September 26): N/A

Under-23 Women's Road Race (September 25): Zoe Bäckstedt, Millie Couzens, Flora Perkins, Eilidh Shaw, Imogen Wolff

Under-23 Men's Time Trial (September 22): Callum Thornley

Under-23 Women's Time Trial (September 22): Zoe Bäckstedt, Millie Couzens

Junior Men's Road Race (September 26): Max Hinds, Harry Hudson, Matthew Peace, Dylan Sage

Junior Women's Road Race (September 27): Arabella Blackburn, Erin Boothman, Gabriella McHugh, Abi Miller, Mabli Phillips

Junior Men's Time Trial (September 23): Max Hinds, Dylan Sage

Junior Women's Time trial (September 23): Erin Boothman, Abi Miller