USA Cycling Announces Team for World Championships

On March, 2006, USA Cycling announced the team that will represent America in the 2006 Union Cycliste Internationale Track Cycling World Championships. This event will be held from April 13 through April 16 and will be hosted in Bordeaux, France.

The team will be featured in 14 start positions for the 2006 World Championships, which was determined by performances from the 2005-2006 season World Cup events. This year's team members were selected, however, from the last USA Cycling track talent made up of cyclists who qualified at the 2005 Elite Track National Championships, reached a time standard at Los Angeles qualifying events and/or by a selection of the coaches.

The 2006 United States team features, among others, five members from the 2005 World Championship team, a UCI World Cup standings runner-up and the Pan American time trial champion.

Three time gold medal winner Sarah Hammer will be part of this year's team after taking a brief hiatus last season. Becky Quinn, who has won two silver medals in World Cup competition, will also be a member of the 2006 U.S. team and has shown strong performances throughout the year. Jennie Reed, who will be a part of the Women's Sprint division, has also been awarded two silver medals and will be an intricate part of the veteran competitors in this year's World Championships.

The men's division will feature nine cyclists that will be making their debut at the Track Cycling World Championships. These gentlemen, however, are no strangers to cycling with bronze medalist Michael Blatchford and Brad Huff, who was recently honored as the Tour de Normandie stage winner.

The 2006 United States Track Cycling World Championship team consists of a Men's Sprint division, which will feature Stephen Alfred, Ben Barczewski, Michael Blatchford, Giddeon Massie and Chrisitna Stahl. The Men's Endurance division will feature Michael Friedman, Bobby Lea, Brad Huff, Chad Hartley, Danny Page, Michael Creed and Taylor Tolleson. The women's division will feature the Women's Sprint, which will include Jennie Reed. The Women's Endurance team will be comprised of Sarah Hammer, Becky Quinn and Kristin Armstrong.

Information, upcoming events, competitor biographies and other information relating to USA Cycling can be found online at www.usacycling.org. In addition, photos, an e-mail newsletter and recent event coverage will be found here as released by the organization. Information will also be available for anyone wishing to compete in future USA cycling events and/or seasons.