Five US athletes nominated for 'cross world's

USA Cycling announced today automatic nominations to the 2007 UCI Cyclo-cross world championship team. Following the completion of the 2006 USA Cycling Cyclo-cross National Championships this past weekend in Providence, Rhode Island, five athletes earned automatic nominations from the national governing body in the elite women's, U23 men's and junior men's categories.

Three-time national champion, Katie Compton (Colorado Springs, Colo./Spike) earned an automatic nomination by virtue of her win Sunday in the elite women's race in Providence. Runner-up Georgia Gould (Ketchum, Idaho/Luna) also earned a bid as the 2006 Crank Brothers U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclo-cross overall series champion.

In the Under-23 men's division, national champion Jesse Anthony (Beverly Mass./Clif Bar) secured an automatic nomination, as did USGP of Cyclo-cross overall champion Jamey Driscoll (Jericho, Vt./FiordiFrutta). Danny Summerhill (Centennial, Colo./TIAA CREF-Clif Bar) - both the national champion in the junior men's 17-18 division and the USGP overall winner - receives the only automatic nomination in the junior men's category.

Per USA Cycling's selection procedures, automatic nominees for the elite men's category will be announced on Jan. 9.

The 2007 UCI Cyclo-cross world championships are scheduled for Jan. 27-28 in Hooglede-Gits, Belgium.