Attn: Handcylcists. Note the potential change (below) to the Paralympic Team
selection criteria. Check ushf.org in the coming days for more details on
this breaking news.

-----Original Message-----
From: Joe Walsh [mailto:Joe.Walsh@...]
Sent: Friday, April 30, 2004 4:37 PM
To: ian@...; 'Jim Lehman'
Subject: Paralympic Cycling Team Selection


Please forward to all potentially interested and affected parties. Thank
you.

April 30, 2004 - 4:25 PM Mountain time

ANNOUNCEMENT

REGARDING THE U.S. PARALYMPIC CYCLING SELECTION PROCEDURES
www.usparalympics.org/sports

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has communicated to the U.S.
Olympic Committee (received 9:00 AM Mountain Time 4/30/04) that the Cycling
Program for the 2004 Paralympic Games may be altered. The Individual Time
Trial (Road) for classes HCB & HCC (handcycling classes) may be conducted
using an adjusted time system. This is a change from the original program,
in which all results of this race would be unadjusted finish times,
irrespective of class.

The proposed change is similar to that being used in the LC 1- LC4 Men's 1
kilometer time trial, the CP3-CP4 Men's 1 kilometer time trial, the LC and
CP classes Women's 1 kilometer time trial and the LC and CP classes Women's
road time trial. The method of adjusting times for these events has yet to
be announced by the IPC. The IPC Cycling Sport Executive Committee has
proposed this change to the IPC Executive Committee, which as of this
announcement has not considered the proposal.

With a possible change in the Paralympic Games program, the U.S. Paralympics
division of the USOC will refrain from nominating the Paralympic Games
cycling team until the IPC Executive Committee makes a definitive ruling on
the Cycling committee's proposal. THE PARALYMPIC CYCLING TRIALS RACES
ONGOING IN FRISCO, TEXAS APRIL 30 - MAY 2 WILL CONTINUE AS SCHEDULED.

Should the proposed change be made by the IPC, the U.S. Paralympic Cycling
Team Selection Procedures will be adjusted by adding a U.S. Paralympics HCB
class Elite Standard for the road time trial. HCB racers' times in the
Paralympic Trials 20 km road time trial (May 2) would then be compared to
this HCB standard (see the selection procedures for details). If the IPC
change is not made, HCB racers in the May 2 time trial will compete in the
HCC class and times will be compared to the HCC elite standard, as
published. The selection procedures, dated September 30, 2003, are
published at www.usparalympics.org/sports. Paragraph IX of these procedures
detail that should international parameters for the Games be changed, the
USOC may find it necessary to modify the selection procedures.

This HCB elite standard, if needed, would be based on the results of the
2002 IPC Cycling World Championships the same way that all other elite
standards have been developed. The HCB standard, if used, will be 2:01.1
min/km.

The U.S. Paralympic Cycling Trials in the road time trial will take place on
Sunday, May 2, 2004 in Frisco, Texas, near Dallas. The race will begin at
9:00 AM Central Time. Registration for this event will be held 4:30-5:30 PM
on Saturday, May 1 at the Frisco Superdrome and 7:00-7:30 AM on Sunday, May
2 at the start of the time trial.

Maps and information on the Paralympic Cycling Trials road time trial can be
found at www.superdrome.com. Should you need additional information on the
race, call Frances Liberato at 214-289-9986.

If you have questions regarding the Paralympic team selection procedures or
this announcement call Joe Walsh, Director, Paralympic Programs at
719-330-0197 or e-mail joe.walsh@....