Colorado Springs, Colo. (December 19, 2007)—USA Cycling announced today its first lot of nominations to the U.S. National Team for the 2008 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships in Treviso, Italy, Jan. 26-27.

Sixteen athletes were nominated to the squad in the elite women’s, U23 men’s and junior men’s categories based on their competitive performance over the course of the last year.

After capturing a silver medal at the 2007 world championships, Katie Compton (Colorado Springs, Colo./Spike Shooter) received an automatic nomination and will lead the elite women’s squad. Compton is currently ranked second in the world behind Dutchwoman Daphny van den Brand and earlier this year captured the biggest win of her career with a victory at the third round of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup in the Netherlands.

Discretionary nominations to the elite women’s team went to Rachel Lloyd (Fairfax, Calif./Proman-Paradigm), Kerry Barnholt (Boulder, Colo./Tokyo Joe’s-Van Dessel), Sue Butler (Portland, Ore./River City Bicycles) and Amy Dombroski (Boulder, Colo./Velo Bella-Kona).

As the highest-ranked American in the final overall U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclo-cross standings, Georgia Gould (Ketchum, Idaho/Luna) also received an automatic nomination but declined participation.

In the U23 men’s division, Bjorn Selander (Hudson, Wis./VMG Racing) earned the only automatic nomination to the team with his victory last weekend at the USA Cycling Cyclo-cross National Championships. 

Discretionary selections to the men’s U23 team went to last year’s world championship silver medalist in the junior men’s category, Daniel Summerhill (Centennial, Colo./Clif Bar Development), as well as collegiate national champion Jamie Driscoll (Jericho, Vt./Fiordifrutta), Chance Noble (Camarillo, Calif./California Giant) and Nichloas Weighall (Mill Creek, Wash./Rad Racing Northwest).

As the junior men’s national champion, Luke Keough (Sandwich, Mass./CL Noonan) earned the sole automatic nomination to the junior men’s team.

Steve Fisher (Lynwood, Wash./Rad Racing Northwest), Eric Emsky (Fall City, Wash./Rad Racing Northwest), Gavin Mannion (Dedham, Mass./Hot Tubes) and Zach McDonald (Bainbridge, Island, Wash./Oh Boy Oberto-Redline) earned discretionary nominations to the junior men’s squad.

The elite men’s nominations will be announced on January 14 following the next two rounds of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup in Belgium and France.

2008 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships

Treviso, Italy

January 26-27

U.S. Nominations:

Elite Women

Katie Compton (Colorado Springs, Colo.)

Georgia Gould (Ketchum, Idaho)*

Rachel Lloyd (Fairfax, Calif.)

Kerry Barnholt (Boulder, Colo.)

Sue Butler (Portland, Ore.)

Amy Dombroski (Boulder, Colo.)

U23 Men

Bjorn Selander (Hudson, Wis.)

Jamie Driscoll (Jericho, Vt.)

Daniel Summerhill (Centennial, Colo.)

Chance Noble (Camarillo, Calif.)

Nick Weighall (Mill Creek, Wash.)

Junior Men

Luke Keough (Sandwich, Mass.)

Steve Fisher (Lynwood, Wash.)

Eric Emsky (Fall City, Wash.)

Gavin Mannion (Dedham, Mass.)

Zach McDonald (Bainbridge Island, Wash.)

*declined nomination

About USA Cycling
Recognized by the U.S. Olympic Committee and the Union Cycliste Internationale, USA Cycling promotes American cycling through its 60,000 members and 2,500 annual events. USA Cycling associations include the BMX Association (BMX), National Off-Road Bicycle Association (mountain bike), U.S. Cycling Federation (road/track), the National Collegiate Cycling Association and the U.S. Professional Racing Organization (professional men’s road). For more information, visit www.usacycling.org or contact USA Cycling Director of Communications, Andy Lee at 719-866-4867.