US names team for Worlds
Today, the US announced their line-up for the UCI Road World Championships in Geelong and Melbourne, Australia. USA Cycling coach Jim Miller finalized the team after the national championships held last weekend in Greenville, South
Carolina.
“We are sending three talented teams to Melbourne,” said Miller. “We are confident in each and every one of these athletes and believe each of the teams will be a factor in the outcome at these World Championships.”
A total of 22 American cyclists will be travelling to Australia for the competition, from September 29 to October 3, representing Elite Men, Elite Women and Under-23 Men.
Both newly-crowned national champions, Ben King and Taylor Phinney in the road race and time-trial competitions respectively, will be competing in the Under-23 category, an unprecedented situation. The two young Trek-Livestrong riders beat out the Pros from
their parent team, RadioShack, and the experienced defending champions in each category.
"This is probably one of the biggest wins in my career because it is an Elite national championship," said Phinney. "Any time you win as an Under-23 it is great, but it’s not the real deal. This is a jersey that I get to wear for the next year and in my
first year as a pro and I am very excited about that. It is up there with my world championship wins on the track for sure."
King and two-time elite world pursuit champion Phinney will be competing in both the time-trial and the road race. Andrew Talinsky will also compete in both competitions, while the three riders will be joined in the road race by Alex Howes, Chris Butler
and Carter Jones.
The Elite Men’s team will be led by Team Garmin riders David Zabriskie and Grand Tour sprinter Tyler Farrar. Zabriskie, a former national champion, will also be riding both the road race and the time-trial, as will Tejay Van Garderen.
With most of the riders in their 20’s, the team “largely showcases the next generation of American cycling stars,” as Miller puts it. Three more of Farrar’s Garmin-Transitions teammates, Danny Pate, Christian Vande Velde and Tom Peterson
will be supporting him in the road race. The powerful nine-man team is completed by Jason McCartney, Craig Lewis and Ted King.
The Elite Women’s team is led by national champion Evelyn Stevens and former time-trial World Champion Amber Neben, who will both also compete in the time-trial competition. The road team is made up of experienced ProTour riders including
Shelley Olds, Amanda Miller, Theresa Cliff-Ryan, Carmen Small and Katheryn Mattis.
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