World champion Alessandro Ballan (Lampre-NGC) (Image credit: Sirotti)
France and the Netherlands will field reduced squads at this year’s UCI World Road Championships, with the countries failing to secure the results necessary to earn a nine-man team for next month’s race. The two countries will be forced to field only six riders after the final elite men allocations for this year’s race were released by the International Cycling Union on Monday.
Strong results by Mark Cavendish and Thor Hushovd this season has seen Britain and Norway move in to the top 10, while the United States of America has benefited from Lance Armstrong’s Grand Tour outings to also secure a top 10 place.
Despite only qualifying for three positions via the UCI Europe Tour, host nation Switzerland will field six riders thanks to article 9.2.010, which allows the host to enter six riders. The Mendrisio, Switzerland race will be staged on September 27 with nations required to submit their rider selections by September 16.
Qualified nations by the World Classification
1 Spain (9) 2 Italy (9) 3 Australia (9) 4 Germany (9) 5 Russia (9) 6 Luxembourg (9) 7 Belgium (9) 8 Great Britain (9) 9 Norway (9) 10 United States of America (9)
Qualified nations by the UCI Africa Tour
1 South Africa (6) 2 Tunisia (3)
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Qualified nations by the UCI America Tour
1 Colombia (6) 2 Venezuela (6) 3 Argentina (3) 4 Brasil (3) 5 Canada (3)
Qualified nations by the UCI Asia Tour
1 Kazakhstan (6) 2 Iran (3) 3 Japan (3)
Qualified nations by the UCI Europe Tour
1 France (6) 2 The Netherlands (6) 3 Slovenia (6) 4 Poland (6) 5 Ukraina (6) 6 Denmark (6) 7 Portugal (3) 8 Estonia (3) 9 Austria (3) 10 Switzerland (6) 11 Slovakia (3) 12 Croatia (3) 13 Hungria (3) 14 Sweden (3) 15 Serbia (3) 16 Latvia (3)
Qualified nation by the UCI Oceania Tour
1 New Zealand (3)
Qualified Countries by the UCI World individual Ranking
Nations which have one rider in the first 100 at World Individual Ranking
Czech Republic (3) Ireland (3) Belorussia (3)
Nations which have one rider classified in the World Individual Ranking
Lituania (1) Finland (1)
Nations qualified by the individual ranking of the UCI Continental Circuits
Namibia (1) Cuba (1) Chili (1) Costa Rica (1) Ecuador (1) Uruguay (1) Bulgaria (1)
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