Great Britain have been rewarded with the maximum nine places at the UCI Road World Championships in Mendrisio.

Bradley Wiggins' fourth-place finish in last month's Tour de France, coupled with nine Grand Tour stage victories for Mark Cavendish - three in the Giro d'Italia and six in Le Tour - and the Manxman's victory in the Milan-San Remo Classic left Britain among the top nations in the international cycling union's rankings.

As a result, Britain will be able to enter 14 riders and choose nine to participate in the World Championships road race, which takes place on September 27.

This places Britain alongside established leading nations Spain, who top the rankings after Alberto Contador's Tour de France win, and Italy at the top echelons of the sport.

The World Championships road race takes place over a hilly 262.2-kilometre route, which is likely to hamper Cavendish's hopes of victory.