Britain's first Tour de France winner (pictured top), who rounded off his summer by taking Olympic gold in the time trial at the London 2012 Games, is included in a long list of 14 riders for the road race at the UCI Road World Championships in Limburg, the Netherlands, from September 15 to 23.

Britain will be able to field a full team of nine riders in the race, for which the final selection will be announced on September 14 after the close of the Vuelta a España and the opening six days of the Tour of Britain has provided updated evidence of form.

"Once again we find ourselves in a very fortunate position of having a strong pool of riders across the board from which we can select the final team nearer the time," said GB performance director Dave Brailsford.

Mark Cavendish (foreground) will be bidding to retain his world road race crown in Limburg

"Brad [Wiggins] has opted out of riding the time trial at the Worlds; this year's focus for him has been fully on the Tour de France and the Olympics, so to expect him to hold form going into the Worlds is a big ask."

The difficult course in Holland may suit Britain's women better than the men, whose early selections also include the London 2012 time trial bronze medallist Chris Froome, Ian Stannard and Geraint Thomas.

Froome, who finished second to Wiggins in the Tour de France, and Thomas are named along with Alex Dowsett for the time trial in which two riders will start.

London 2012 silver medallist Lizzie Armitstead, Emma Pooley, Sharon Lawes and Beijing 2008 gold medallist Nicole Cooke are all named in the long list as are the gold medal-winning team pursuit trio of Laura Trott, Dani King and Joanna Rowsell.

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