US Olympic teams announced

[The_Z_man]

Phinney beat out DZ for the time trial spot.

Tyler Farrar could be in it at the end.

 

[patrick767]

Phinney is a mistake as Zabriskie is far more proven in time trials of any significant length.

Cheers for Horner finally being selected.

 

[WinterRider]

Why Horner?

Isn't the road race a sprinters course? What use will Horner be at the Olympics? I would have thought that they would want a lead out train for Farrar.

 

[SewingCircle]

Do we ever plan to send a team to win?

1st - Of course Taylor got picked instead of Z. Given parents and media attention, the politics went against Dave Z. I think Taylor is the new Danielson when it comes to media articles ahead of actual results.

2 - will we ever send a team to actually compete and not a bunch of stage racers. Have any of the above riders ever had the responsibility to put s sprinter in position within the final k? No. The only person, in form, the US has is Freddy. IMO, Freddy should repace Tejay. No offence to Tejay, but we need a leadout guy for Farrar. But, as with Taylor, politics as usual for the US team.

 

[The_Z_man]

Phinney is a mistake as Zabriskie is far more proven in time trials of any significant length.

Cheers for Horner finally being selected.

I would have given Dave Z one last shot, but I don't think you can go wrong with either as the selection.

 

[offbyone]

I don't like the selection of Phinney. Other than a prologue win he has struggled. Most races he can't even finish, much less help his team. I believe he is only getting the hype he has received and this selection because of who his daddy is.
Real shame considering some of our options like david z, vande velde, leipheimer, danielson, etc who are all much more accomplished cyclists and time trialists. If phinney turns into a great rider then he will have many other olympics to participate in, until then the US guys who have been helping their teams and earning results for years deserve the selection.

 

[TourOfTexas]

I would have gone with Talansky over Phinney.

 

[greenedge]

I think Zabriskie should have been chosen, he has gone well this year and the route would suit him. It would have also been his last chance to compete.

 

[orangerider]

Dave Z is definitely the better choice but as mentioned, politics worked against him. They don't want an anarchist-type behavior tree hugger giving interviews out, especially if he podiums, which would've been a real shot at hand (bronze at least). They'd rather have someone like Phinney who is quiet and benign who will place out of contention and fade away.

 

[DirtyWorks]

1st - Of course Taylor got picked instead of Z. Given parents and media attention, the politics went against Dave Z. I think Taylor is the new Danielson when it comes to media articles ahead of actual results.

2 - will we ever send a team to actually compete and not a bunch of stage racers. Have any of the above riders ever had the responsibility to put s sprinter in position within the final k? No. The only person, in form, the US has is Freddy. IMO, Freddy should repace Tejay. No offence to Tejay, but we need a leadout guy for Farrar. But, as with Taylor, politics as usual for the US team.

I agree. All in all, pretty traditional criticisms for USAC. They like who they like and results are kind of secondary. The mad crush for Kristin Armstrong is still going strong. They ignored Megan Guarnier. They think Armstrong will do some magic for the TT? I think that's pretty clouded thinking.

Don't forget Mini Phinney's Mom was an awesome talent too. I think the media attention is way too far ahead of his actual results. 4 years from now he should be a real contender though.

Stybar's reported that the hill on the Olympic course is harder than common wisdom. I hope so.

 

[ElChingon]

Would be nice to have them listed

Here they are:

Were/When
2012 Olympic Games
London, UK
July 28 – Aug. 12

USA Cycling Nominees:

MEN’S ROAD CYCLING
Timmy Duggan (Boulder, Colo./Liquigas-Cannondale)
Tyler Farrar (Wentachee, Wash./Garmin-Barracuda)
Chris Horner (Bend, Ore./RadioShack-Nissan-Trek)
Taylor Phinney (Boulder, Colo./BMC Racing) – road race & time trial
Tejay van Garderen (Tacoma, Wash./BMC Racing)

WOMEN’S ROAD CYCLING
Kristin Armstrong (Boise, Idaho/Exergy TWENTY12) – road race & time trial
Amber Neben (Irvine, Calif./Specialized-lululemon) – road race & time trial
Shelley Olds (Gilroy, Calif./AA Drink-Leontien.nl)
*Evelyn Stevens (Acton, Mass./Specialized-lululemon)

TRACK CYCLING
Dotsie Bausch (Irvine, Calif./OUCH Pro Cycling) - women’s team pursuit
*Sarah Hammer (Temecula, Calif./OUCH Pro Cycling) - women’s omnium & team pursuit
Bobby Lea (Topton, Pa./Pure Energy Cycling-ProAirHFA) – men’s omnium
Jennie Reed (Seattle, Wash./OUCH Pro Cycling) – women’s team pursuit
Lauren Tamayo (Asheville, N.C./Exergy Twenty12) – women’s team pursuit
Jimmy Watkins (Bakersfield, Calif./Project London 2012) – men’s sprint

MEN’S BMX
* David Herman (Wheat Ridge, Colo./Free Agent-Rockstar)
Spot #2 Olympic Trials winner
Spot #3 discretionary nomination following Olympic Trials

WOMEN’S BMX
* Arielle Martin (Spanaway Wash./Intense BMX)
Spot #2 discretionary nomination following Olympic Trials

MEN’S MOUNTAIN BIKE
Samuel Schultz (Missoula, Mont./Subaru-Trek)
Todd Wells (Durango, Colo./Specialized Racing)

WOMEN’S MOUNTAIN BIKE
Lea Davison (Jericho, Vt./Specialized Racing)
*Georgia Gould (Fort Collins, Colo./Luna Pro Team)


*denotes automatic nominees

 

[ElChingon]

1st - Of course Taylor got picked instead of Z. Given parents and media attention, the politics went against Dave Z. I think Taylor is the new Danielson when it comes to media articles ahead of actual results.

2 - will we ever send a team to actually compete and not a bunch of stage racers. Have any of the above riders ever had the responsibility to put s sprinter in position within the final k? No. The only person, in form, the US has is Freddy. IMO, Freddy should repace Tejay. No offence to Tejay, but we need a leadout guy for Farrar. But, as with Taylor, politics as usual for the US team.

1. Can only think the USA Cycling is so cheap they didn't want to buy a sixth plane ticket, because the Z Man deserved that spot hand down, a freaking Prologue does not equate to a full TT!

2. The answer is always No. They would rather pick fan favorites or actually their pet riders than a winning team. The number of times quality riders have been left out of Worlds and Olympics is never ending, they are keeping this consistency up.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Phinney in the ITT... LOL

1 top 10 result in a longer ITT in vuelta last year.
Zabriskie, multiple wins in ITT's over 20km + top placings.

Disgraceful

 

[jens_attacks]

yep this is one helluva joke..i think those selectors listened too much alessandra de stefano from RAI

 

[User Guide]

Phinney in the ITT... LOL

1 top 10 result in a longer ITT in vuelta last year.
Zabriskie, multiple wins in ITT's over 20km + top placings.

Disgraceful

Maybe they didnt have much choice, Dave Z and bottle are probably in the "10" (see clinic)

 

[Gloin22]

Isn't the road race a sprinters course? What use will Horner be at the Olympics? I would have thought that they would want a lead out train for Farrar.

It's contains 10 laps of quite tough Box Hill. Many riders can be dropped there with high space which Spain could provide. Horner might latch on any groups and reduce USA's strain on catching the break and leaving it to UK, Belgium, Germany etc.

 

[LaFlorecita]

No Z ...

 

[Hammerhed]

The folks who select the USA national teams rarely chooses a team to my liking, but this team seems spot on to me. A problem they had to solve is that noone can decide yet if the Olympic course and race distance make the race itself suitable for sprinters or a more all-round rider. The riders themselves don't know either: Mark Cavendish's preparation has involved losing many kilos, indicating that strength is of secondary importance to endurance/climbing. The team therefore is not just a lead-out train, but more of a classics squad needed to pace the "protected" rider. In my mind, what better Americans to do those chores than Duggan, Phinney, and Horner? And who else but Tyler for the role of classics/sprinter? However, what is TeeJay's role, other than worker bee? Is he there just in case Tyler falters? Is TJ gonna be the rabbit? That would be good.

As for the ITT rider, I think Phinney was the correct choice. The kid has won many, many big races. He has been world champion. Though I'm not really crazy about his super self-confidence, I think he has had enough reality checks to temper his blade a bit, ya know? Though I "love" DZ (but not his nutz), he just doesn't want it bad enough and is too kicked back: Dave needs a dose of "KickAzz" in him! DZ may be a better TTer than DP, but I'd rather take my chances with Phinney.

 

[nightfend]

Isn't Zabriskie racing the TdF this year? If so, that is not exactly the best training for the Olympics.

 

[Gloin22]

Isn't Zabriskie racing the TdF this year? If so, that is not exactly the best training for the Olympics.

First, Zabriskie Is NOT going for Olympics as he wasn't selected.

 

[Oldman]

I would have given Dave Z one last shot, but I don't think you can go wrong with either as the selection.

Agreed. We've likely seen the best of Dave Z and Phinney could pull off something extraordinary. That's the US team's best shot.

 

[BillytheKid]

Agreed. We've likely seen the best of Dave Z and Phinney could pull off something extraordinary. That's the US team's best shot.

I think the selction process for "slots" is flawed. A one race criteria, even Worlds, does account for a known top TT riders who are injured at the time.

Dave Z is still a guy who could podium although he's alway been oddly better at mid-length, 20-30k courses.

 

[Kennf1]

Maybe they didnt have much choice, Dave Z and bottle are probably in the "10" (see clinic)

Dave Z, Vandevelde, Hincapie, and Leipheimer all requested that their names be withdrawn from consideration.

 

[screaming fist]

Dave Z, Vandevelde, Hincapie, and Leipheimer all requested that their names be withdrawn from consideration.

any source?

 

[BillytheKid]

Dave Z, Vandevelde, Hincapie, and Leipheimer all requested that their names be withdrawn from consideration.

Wow. That's headline news. How come I am only reading it here?

According to....