USA Cycling names world’s track squad

By Press Release – USA Cycling

USA Cycling announced on Thursday its selection of riders who will representthe United States at the 2007 UCI Track World Championships in Palma deMallorca March 29-April 1.Headlining the roster for the women’s squad is defending world championin the three-kilometer individual pursuit, Sarah Hammer (Ouch Pro Cycling). Hammer captured the world title last year in Bordeaux, France – the firstfor an elite American track rider since 1996 – where her mark of 3:37.227in the gold-medal final was just fast enough to edge Olga Slyusareva (RUS)for the rainbow jersey.This year, Hammer will have her sights set on two events – both theindividual pursuit and the points race. In her only international competitionof the season, Hammer rode to gold medals in both the pursuit and the pointsrace at the third round of the UCI Track World Cup series in Los Angelesin January. Her pursuit mark of 3:32.058 in the qualifying round was anew American record, personal best and ADT Event Center track record.Joining Hammer on the women’s squad will be first-time world championshipcompetitor Neva Day (South Bay Wheelmen), Becky Quinn and Jennie Reed.Reed and Quinn were the only other American women to medal in internationalcompetition this season with three medals between them.  Reed wona silver medal in the keirin at the World Cup opener in Sydney last Novemberand a bronze medal in the keirin at the Los Angeles World Cup. Quinn rodeto a silver medal in the scratch race in Los Angeles.

In Palma de Mallorca, Quinn will compete in the scratch race while Reedwill contest the keirin and the sprint. Day will ride the individual pursuit.Men
The two-man men’s contingent consists of two endurance athletes – MichaelCreed and Brad Huff, both members of the Slipstream-Chipotle team. Creedwill compete in the men’s points race, while Huff will contest the scratchrace and the newly added omnium competition.Huff was the only male to medal for the U.S. in World Cup competitionthis season with a bronze medal in the scratch race at the series finalein Manchester, Great Britain last month.In Palma de Mallorca, the omnium competition will make its world championshipdebut and consists of several events – a 200-meter time trial, a five-kilometerscratch race, a three-kilometer individual pursuit, a 15-kilometer pointsrace and a kilometer time trial – all tied together with a cumulative pointssystem.2007 UCI Track World Championships
Palma de Mallorca, Spain – March 29-April 1Women
Sarah Hammer (Temecula, Calif.) – Individual Pursuit, Points Race
Neva Day (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) – Individual Pursuit
Becky Quinn (Quakertown, Pa.) – Scratch Race
Jennie Reed (Kirkland, Wash) – Sprint, KeirinMen
Michael Creed (Colorado Springs, Colo.) – Points Race
Brad Huff (Fair Grove, Mo.) – Points Race, Omnium