USA CYCLING ANNOUNCES NOMINEES TO THE 2008 UCI MOUNTAIN BIKE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SQUAD


Contact: Andrea Smith (Tel.) 719-866-4666 (Mobile) 719-209-8210 (E-mail) asmith@usacycling.org (Web) www.usacycling.org



Colorado Springs, Colo. (June 6, 2008)-USA Cycling announced today the athletes that have been nominated to represent the United States at the upcoming 2008 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Val di Sole, Italy, July 15-22.

In the gravity events, Kyle Strait (Riverside, Calif.), J.D. Swanguen (San Diego, Calif.), Duncan Riffle (Santa Barbara, Calif.), Cole Bangert (Twin Lakes, Colo.), Cody Warren (El Cajon, Calif.), Kain Leonard (Gunnison, Colo.) and Lars Steinberg (Gunnison, Colo.) received discretionary nominations to the elite men's downhill team. As the winner of the UCI downhill contest at the Chile Challenge in Angel Fire, N.M., Melissa Buhl (Chandler, Ariz.) received the only automatic nomination to the elite women's downhill squad. Kathy Pruitt (Lake Almanor, Calif.) will join her as a discretionary selection.

Due to their medal performances at the 2007 world championships, Brian Lopes (San Clemente, Calif.) and Buhl both received automatic nominations to the elite men's and women's 4-cross teams. Ross Milan (Golden, Colo.), Mike Haderer (Concord, Calif.), Erik Nelson (Gilbert, Ariz.) and Blake Carney (Camarillo, Calif.) will join Lopes on the men's 4-cross squad as discretionary selections. Neven Steinmetz (Boulder. Colo.) will join Buhl on the women's team as a discretionary pick. Jessica Vogt (Boulder, Colo.) received a discretionary selection, but declined her nomination.

Kevin Aiello (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.), Naish Ulmer (Park City, Utah), Joseph Schusler (Boulder, Colo.), Taylor Borucki (Durango, Colo.), Dustin Belcher (Carbondale, Colo.), Graeme Pitts (Nevada City, Calif.) and

Geoffrey Ulmer (Troy, N.Y.) were also named to the junior men's downhill squad.

Click here <https://www.usacycling.org/news/user/story.php?id=3636> for more information on those athletes.

2008 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships

Val di Sole, Italy

July 15-22, 2008



U.S. Team Nominations:

Elite Men's Downhill

Kyle Strait (Riverside, Calif.)

J.D. Swanguen (San Diego, Calif.)

Duncan Riffle (Santa Barbara, Calif.)

Cole Bangert (Twin Lakes, Colo.)

Cody Warren (El Cajon, Calif.)

Kain Leonard (Gunnison, Colo.)

Lars Steinberg (Gunnison, Colo.)



Elite Women's Downhill

Melissa Buhl (Chandler, Ariz.)

Kathy Pruitt (Lake Almanor, Calif.)



Elite Men's 4-Cross

Brian Lopes (San Clemente, Calif.)

Ross Milan (Golden, Colo.)

Mike Haderer (Concord, Calif.)

Erik Nelson (Gilbert, Ariz.)

Blake Carney (Camarillo, Calif.)



Elite Women's 4-Cross

Melissa Buhl (Chandler, Ariz.)

Neven Steinmetz (Boulder. Colo.)

Jessica Vogt (Boulder, Colo.)*



Junior Men's Downhill

Kevin Aiello (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.)

Naish Ulmer (Park City, Utah)

Joseph Schusler (Boulder, Colo.)

Taylor Borucki (Durango, Colo.)

Dustin Belcher (Carbondale, Colo.)

Graeme Pitts (Nevada City, Calif.)

Geoffrey Ulmer (Troy, N.Y.)



*declined nomination





About USA Cycling

Recognized by the United States Olympic Committee and the Union Cycliste Internationale, USA Cycling is the official governing body for all disciplines of competitive cycling in the United States, including road, track, mountain bike, BMX and cyclo-cross. As a membership-based organization and sanctioning body, USA Cycling consists of 64,000+ members, including 57,000 competitive cyclists, 1,500 coaches, 4,000 student-athletes, 2,200 officials, 350 professional cyclists, and 200 certified mechanics. USA Cycling also sanctions 2,500 competitive and non-competitive organized cycling events throughout the United States annually, as well as 1,800 clubs and teams. Associations of USA Cycling include the United States Cycling Federation (road, track & cyclo-cross), the National Off-Road Bicycle Association (mountain bike), the BMX Association, the National Collegiate Cycling Association and the United States Professional Racing Organization. USA Cycling is also responsible for the identification, development, support and promotion of American cyclists through various athletic initiatives and programs including the USA Cycling National Development Team, the USA Cycling Women's National Team, the USA Cycling Junior Development Team, Talent Identification and Regional Development Camps, domestic and international race calendars, direct athlete funding and support programs, and educational camps and seminars. USA Cycling also fields and supports U.S. National Teams for various international events, including the Olympic Games, World Championships, Pan American Games, Continental Championship and World Cups across all levels and disciplines of competitive cycling. USA cycling further supports grass roots and locally-based initiatives through its 32 Local Associations and comprehensive network of licensed and certified coaches and officials. Additionally, USA Cycling conducts National Championship events for amateur and professional cyclists, awarding more than 600 national titles annually to men and women in junior, U23, masters, elite, professional and paralympic categories throughout the various disciplines of competitive cycling. To learn more about USA Cycling, visit www.usacycling.org <http://www.usacycling.org/> . For media-related or general inquiries, please contact USA Cycling Director of Communications, Andy Lee at 719-866-4867 or alee@usacycling.org <mailto:alee@usacycling.org> .