Mark Cavendish heads GB team but Chris Froome is missing

Mark Cavendish has been selected for Great Britain at the UCI Road World Championships

Mark Cavendish, Geraint Thomas and Lizzie Armitstead lead the British team for the UCI Road World Championships in Virginia from September 19-27.

Cavendish's selection was announced before the 2011 world champion pulled out of the Tour of Britain on Friday.

But Chris Froome is not named after breaking a foot in the Vuelta a Espana.

"We've selected a really exciting team of riders to contest this year's road world championships," said coach co-ordinator Iain Dyer.

"We have high hopes for a number of riders in terms of medal prospects but it will also be a fantastic opportunity for some of the younger and less experienced members of the team to compete at an international event for the first time."

Others selected in the 15-strong elite squad include four-time national time-trial champion Alex Dowsett and Hayley Simmonds, who makes her Great Britain debut after winning the women's time-trial title in June.

News of Cavendish's withdrawal from the Tour of Britain was announced by his team Etixx-Quick-Step, who believe he injured the same shoulder he dislocated during the 2014 Tour de France when he hit a parked car.

GB team for UCI World Championships:

MEN:

Ian Stannard, Mark Cavendish, Ben Swift, Stephen Cummings, Geraint Thomas, Andy Fenn, Luke Rowe, Scott Thwaites, Alex Dowsett.

WOMEN:

Lizzie Armitstead, Lucy Garner, Alice Barnes, Molly Weaver, Jessie Walker, Hayley Simmonds.