Cycling Teams2005 Madrid

USA Cycling has announced the 21 riders that will represent the United States at the 2005 UCI Road World Championships in Madrid, Spain September 21-25.

Headlining the list of elite men is 2004 Olympic time trial bronze medalist Bobby Julich (Glenwood Springs, Colo.) who will be gunning for a rainbow jersey in the elite men’s time trial on September 22. One of the top time trial riders in the world, Julich captured major time trial wins this season at the Tour of Benelux and Criterium International and placed fourth in the 55 kilometer time trial at the Tour de France.

Others in the nine strong elite mens squad are UCI ProTour riders Christian VandeVelde (Boulder, Colo.), Fred Rodriguez (Emeryville, Calif.), Jason McCartney (Coralville, Iowa), Patrick McCarty (Allen, Texas), Saul Raisin (Dalton, Ga.), Guido Trenti (Natick, Mass.), domestic-based pros Phil Zajicek (Tucson, Ariz.) and John Lieswyn (Ames, Iowa)

Tyler Farrar (Wenatchee, Wash.) leads the five-man U23 team. The recent winner of the USPRO Criterium Championships and a stage of the Tour de l’Avenir, Farrar will look to excel on a relatively flat course tailor made for a sprint specialist. Joining Farrar on the U23 list is national time trial champion Steven Cozza (Petaluma, Calif.), John Devine (Colorado Springs, Colo.), John Murphy (Marietta, Ga.) and Michael Wolf (Decatur, Ga.).

The seven members of the women’s team are current U.S. and Pan American time trial champion Kristin Armstrong (Boise, Idaho) and national road race champion Kathryn Curi (Danville, Calif.). European-based proAmber Neben (Irvine, Calif.), Kori Seehafer (Louisville, Colo.) and Christine Thorburn (Menlo Park, Calif.) are also on the squad as are sprinters Laura Van Gilder (Pocono Pines, Pa.) and four-time elite national criterium champion Tina Pic (Dahlonega, Ga.).

The Canadian Cycling Association has also announced the final composition of its elite mens team for the championships. Ryder Hesjedal is the third rider selected to the team for the elite men's road race on September 25. Joining Michael Barry and François Parisien, whose nominations had already been announced.
Ryder Hesjedal will also compete alongside Eric Wohlberg in the elite men’s time trial on September 21. Svein Tuft has withdrawn from the team due to illness.