USA Cycling has announced the teams that will represent the United States at the upcoming World Championships in Melbourne, Australia. As one of the top-ranked nations in the World the USA has been given the maximum allocation for all categories: nine for elite men, six for elite women and five for under-23 men.
In addition, newly-crowned US champion Ben King, and Shelley Evans qualify automatically for the under-23 and women’s races respectively, as they are both American Continental champion.
“We are sending three talented teams to Melbourne,” said Jim Miller, USA Cycling V.P. of Athletics. “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.”
USA Cycling believes that the three squad roster, totalling 22 riders, “largely showcases the next generation of American cycling stars”.
The elite men’s team in dominated by ProTour riders, with many of the top riders electing to ride. Five of the nine are from Garmin-Transitions and, with the team pitting Tyler Farrar against Great Britain’s Mark Cavendish, the team continuity could be useful. Five of the nine riders are in their mid-twenties.
Former national champion David Zabriskie and Tejay Van Garderen will ride both the time trial and road race.
The elite women’s team is made up mostly of domestic-based riders, all of whom have experience of riding at the highest level in Europe. The team will likely ride for Evelyn Stevens, who has had a strong season riding for HTC-Columbia, including a stage win in the women’s Giro d’Italia. Amber Neben has often been competitive at the World Championships, although she has had a relatively quiet season by her own standards.
US champion Stevens and 2008 World champion Neben will ride the time trial as well as the road race.
In what must be an unprecedented situation, both USPRO champions, in Day and Taylor Phinney, are riding in the under-23 race. Both of the Trek-Livestrong riders will ride road and time trial, as will Andrew Talinsky.
US Teams for World Championships in Melbourne, Australia:
Elite men:
Tyler Farrar, Danny Pate, Tom Peterson, Christian Vande Velde and David Zabriskie (all Garmin-Transitions), Craig Lewis and Tejay Van Garderen (both HTC-Columbia), Ted King (Cervélo TestTeam) and Jason McCartney (RadioShack).
Zabriskie and Van Garderen will both also ride the time trial
Elite women:
Theresa Cliff-Ryan and Carmen Small (both Colavita-Baci p/b Cooking Light), Evelyn Stevens (HTC-Columbia), Amanda Miller (Team Tibco), Katheryn Mattis (Webcor Builders), Shelley Olds (Peanut Butter & Co-TWENTY12) and Amber Neben.
Stevens and Neben will also ride the time trial
Under-23 men:
Ben King and Taylor Phinney (both Trek-Livestrong), Andrew Talinsky (California Giant Berry Farms), Alex Howes (Felt-Holowesco), Carter Jones (Jelly Belly) and Chris Butler (BMC Racing).
King, Phinney and Talinsky will also ride the time trial