US National Champion Mary McConneloug (Kenda/Seven) will represent the US at the worlds (Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
USA Cycling selected its full squad for the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Val di Sole, Italy, June 15-22 after previously announcing the junior and U23 cross country teams.
Six men and seven women have been nominated to the elite cross country squad. Adam Craig received the only automatic nomination to the men's team as a top-15 ranked American male in the UCI rankings. He is joined by Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski, Todd Wells, Jeremiah Bishop, Michael Broderick and Sam Schultz, who all received discretionary nominations.
On the women's side, Georgia Gould and Mary McConneloug were automatically nominated – Gould by virtue of her podium performances at UCI World Cup events this year in Houffalize and Madrid and McConneloug due to her eighth-place UCI ranking. Heather Irmiger, Willow Koerber, Sue Haywood, Lea Davison and Kelli Emmett all received discretionary nominations based upon international results.
In the gravity events, Kyle Strait, J.D. Swanguen, Duncan Riffle, Cole Bangert, Cody Warren, Kain Leonard and Lars Steinberg received discretionary nominations to the elite men's downhill team. As the winner of the downhill contest at the Chile Challenge in Angel Fire New Mexico, Melissa Buhl received the only automatic nomination to the elite women's downhill squad. Kathy Pruitt will join her as a discretionary selection.
Due to their medal performances at the 2007 world championships, Brian Lopes and Buhl both received automatic nominations to the elite 4X teams. Ross Milan, Mike Haderer, Erik Nelson, Blake Carney, Neven Steinmetz, and Jessica Vogt received a discretionary selections although Vogt declined her nomination.
Kevin Aiello, Naish Ulmer, Joseph Schusler, Taylor Borucki, Dustin Belcher, Graeme Pitts and Geoffrey Ulmer were also named as additions to the previously announced junior and U23 cross country teams.
US National Team for the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships
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Cross country Elite men: Adam Craig, Todd Wells, Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski, Jeremiah Bishop, Michael Broderick, Sam Schultz Elite women: Mary McConneloug, Georgia Gould, Willow Koerber, Heather Irmiger, Sue Haywood, Lea Davison, Kelli Emmett
Downhill Elite men: Kyle Strait, J.D. Swanguen, Duncan Riffle, Cole Bangert, Cody Warren, Kain Leonard, Lars Steinberg Elite women: Melissa Buhl, Kathy Pruitt Junior men: Kevin Aiello, Naish Ulmer, Joseph Schusler, Taylor Borucki, Dustin Belcher, Graeme Pitts, Geoffrey Ulmer
4X Elite men: Brian Lopes, Ross Milan, Mike Haderer, Erik Nelson, Blake Carney Elite women: Melissa Buhl, Neven Steinmetz, Jessica Vogt
