INJURED READE TO MISS ROTTERDAM
Great Britain's Shanaze Reade will not take part in next week's BMX World Championships in Rotterdam due to injury.
The three-time senior BMX world champion, who has stepped away from British Cycling's Olympic programme this year to compete in the professional ABA Series in the United States as she continues her preparations for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, is understood to have sustained the unspecified problem in training.
British Cycling BMX coach Grant White told Press Association Sport: "Her intention was to race the World Championships this year.
"But I know she has picked up an injury recently which has meant that will not be possible."
When Reade's decision to switch to racing in the US was announced in October, the 25-year-old spoke about it being only a temporary move, adding that, with her call having been given the full backing of British Cycling, it was "great to know I am able to return at any point in the future".
White has reiterated that the door is always open for Reade to come back if and when she wants to do so, and says it is something he will discuss with her at the end of the season.
White said: "I think the decision to go and race in America was good for Shanaze in BMX terms but then also in life terms.
"It was about exposure to regular competition in a different environment, which would help Shanaze grow as an athlete and a person, facing challenges outside of the system and structure we have here.
"She is leading the rankings at the moment, which is really good.
"Towards the end of the year, I know she's got the Chula Vista World Cup (in the US) as one of the events she would like to compete at, and that could be that stepping stone to get back on the Supercross scene and the World Cup stage.
"But I don't think that is decided at this moment in time.
"It fitted really well for Shanaze to go out to America and do this season. We had some good chats about it.
"But as with any athlete, you make decisions on bits and pieces and you then review it as you go along.
"I think the intention was to go and do this year and then get back on to the World Cup scene, but that will be reviewed when this season is over. We'll have a chat about it."
GB's squad consists of defending champion Liam Phillips, Kyle Evans and Charlotte Green for the Rotterdam event, which runs from July 23-27.
