Turnham and pilot Corrine Hall began their new season with victory in the tandem B time trial at the Verola Para-cycling Cup in Italy last month and will be hoping for similar success when the World Cup gets underway. 

Paralympic silver medallist Karen Darke has also been selected in a squad which features a number of debutants, including Megan Giglia, Louis Rolfe and David Smith, who won a gold medal in rowing at London 2012 but has now made the switch to cycling.

The trio of first-time selectees will only compete in Maniago from June 5 to 7, along with Liz Saul, Hannah Dines and Josie Pearson.

David Stone, Simon Price, Brian Alldis, Jon Gildea, Jaco van Gass and Steve Bate, piloted by Adam Duggleby, join Turnham and Darke as representatives at both events, with the second round in Yverdon-les-Bains due to take place from June 13 to 16.

The start of the World Cup season should provide good preparation for the UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships, set to be held in Nottwil, Switzerland from July 28 to August 2.

Furthermore, it will give riders the opportunity to pick up qualifying points for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

“The first World Cups of the year are always a good benchmark of where we are as a team as we look to the build toward the Road World Championships at the end of July,” said Paul Dring, Great Britain’s Para-cycling road coach.

“The squad has a nice blend of youth and experience and with Paralympic qualification points up for grabs and selection for the World Championships at the forefront of everyone’s mind, it is the start of a crucial period for the team.

“We’ve worked hard and we’re confident of seeing some good results.”


Related stories
May 2014: Zanardi shines on home roads on Italian leg of Para-cycling World Cup
June 2013: British Paralympic champion Colbourne wins gold at Para-cycling World Cup in Italy