Maniago 2018: Shawn Morelli leads US team

Reigning cycling world champion Shawn Morelli will lead the 18-strong US team heading to August’s Road World Championships in Maniago, Italy. The 42-year-old and two-time Rio 2016 gold medallist won the women’s time trial and road race C4 at last year’s Road Worlds in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.

The team includes a total of 12 Paralympians and seven reigning Road World Championships medallists.

Five 2017 Road Worlds silver medallists return, including two-time Paralympic champion Will Groulx (men’s H2), Rio 2016 bronze medallist Samantha Bosco (women’s C5), Paralympic silver medallists Ryan Boyle (men’s T2) and Jill Walsh (women’s T2), and Freddie de los Santos (men’s H5).

Billy Lister (men’s C1), who won bronze in Pietermaritzburg, comes back to look for another podium finish.

Six athletes who secured top-10 finishes at the 2017 edition will also make up the team: Tom Davis (men’s H4), Aaron Keith (men’s C2), Todd Key (men’s C1), Jennifer Schuble (women’s C5), Monica Sereda (women’s T2) and Jamie Whitmore (women’s C3).

Alicia Dana (women’s H3), David Randall (men’s H3) and Oz Sanchez (men’s H5) will also represent USA in Italy, while Travis Gaertner (men’s H4) and Cody Jung (men’s C4) will make their World Championships debuts.

At the most recent Road World Cup in Emmen, Netherlands, Team USA secured 21 medals, including 11 golds.

Dana, Davis, Groulx, Morelli, Walsh and Whitmore currently hold the top spot in the world rankings of their respective categories, while Team USA also leads the overall Road World Cup rankings in the hand-cycle relay.

The 2018 Road World Championships will take place from 2-5 August.