Cycling: Mansell out of Jersey 2015 – reaction

  • Double town criterium medallist pulls out of Games to focus on work commitments.
  • Reserve rider Greenside moves in at late notice.

FORMER professional cyclist Greg Mansell has withdrawn from the NatWest Island Games.

After being named in Team Jersey’s 16-strong cycling squad just last month, the 27-year-old – who won town criterium and road race bronze in Bermuda two years ago – has confirmed that he will play no part in next month’s showpiece event having dropped out to focus on work commitments.

Isle of Wight 2011

Men’s town criterium – silver

Bermuda 2013

Men’s town criterium – bronze

Men’s road race – bronze

Men’s team time trial – bronze

With just 30 days remaining until the first home Games in 18 years Mansell has passed up what may well be a once in a lifetime opportunity to excel in front of a home crowd, but the former Team UK Youth rider says he was not prepared to compete unless he was at his absolute best.

‘It’s not about the event; it’s more about the time needed to get the fitness I’d like,’ said Mansell. ‘I’ve been monitoring it over the last month or so and with the hours I can put into it I wasn’t able to keep the fitness up. I don’t want to do the Games when I’m not 100 per cent, so I thought it would be best to give someone else the opportunity to perform.’

Reserve rider Howard Greenside will now compete in the mountain bike events, with Richard Tanguy moving across to the road team

Despite Halksworth’s improvement in form, which guided him to a JCA time-trial victory on Sunday, the two-time UK Ironman champion will not benefit from Mansell’s decision. It will instead be Howard Greenside who fills the void ( having originally been named as Team Jersey’s reserve rider), with the 36-year-old set to make his first Games appearance as part of the mountain bike team, which is now without Richard Tanguy who has moved across to the five-man road team.

‘I’m still happy that we’ve got strength in depth and we’ve still got experience there, I don’t feel that it will affect the team’s performance.’

Road

Men: Chris Spence, Sam Firby, Jack Rebours, Stephen Haley, Richard Tanguy.

Women: Kim Ashton, Laura Chellingworth, Clare Treharne.

Mountain bike

Men: Rhys Hidrio, James Patterson, Ollie Lowthorpe, Richard Payne, Howard Greenside.

Women: Helene Monpetit, Jemima Leach, Catherine Liron.

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