Gerrans and Matthews to lead Australian Worlds team

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Maglia rosa Simon Gerrans with Michael Matthews in the best young riders jersey(Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)

Last year's silver medallist at the World Championships Simon Gerrans will lead the Australian team at the Richmond Worlds later this month alongside Michael Matthews. Tiffany Cromwell, Rachel Neylan and Loren Rowney will lead the women's team.

Gerrans' 2015 season has been interrupted by several severe injuries that has seen the Australian crash out of Strade Bianchi, Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the Tour de France. The first pink jersey of the Giro d'Italia has been a sole highlight for Gerrans so far this season after a highly successful 2014 season in which he finished the season as the second ranked UCI rider. Gerrans is currently racing the Vuelta a Espana in preparation for the Worlds in what has been his shortest season in terms of race days since turning pro.

Matthews makes his return to racing after a five week break at the Tour of Alberta this week having recovered from the broken ribs he sustained at the Tour de France. The 24-year-old made his elite Worlds debut last year and was Australia's second best finisher in 12th place. Having made the podium in all three one-day races he's finished in 2015, Matthews will look to continue that run on September 27.

Former Hour Record holder and stage 1 winner at the Tour de France Rohan Dennis (BMC) has been selected for the time trial as he looks to improve upon fifth place at last year's Worlds. After winning the Tour test against the clock, Dennis added a second time trial win to his palmares at the USA Pro Challenge last month on his way to winning the overall. Former Australian national time trial champion Michael Hepburn has also been selected while the third place is yet to be decided.

Trophée d'Or winner Neylan will be part of a triumvirate in the women's race alongside Velocio-SRAM teammates Loren Rowney and Tiffany Cromwell who was fifth at last year's Worlds. Neylan, a silver medallist at the 2012 Worlds, earned a contract with Orica-AIS after a successful start to the season and has enjoyed a steady run with the team racing in Europe. Neylan's Orica-AIS teammates Gracie Elvin and Amanda Spratt add further depth to the team having both won races in Europe this season.