US Olympic Cycling Teams Announced

by Jimbo... on Jul 1, 2008 3:08 PM EDT

VeloNews has the article. Looks like the road team is Hincapie, Leipheimer, McCartney, Vande Velde and Zabriskie. No love for Horner. The TT'ers will be Levi and Zabriskie. The article has details about the ladies as well as the track squad. Kristen Armstrong is the only qualifier so far for the women's road race .

[deleted: hot dog-related chatter inserted to make the minimum word count. Something about bratwurst, condiments, hot grits, midgets, etc etc ... (ED)]

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Can't bitch about

a team like that. I just feel bad for Horner.

by Sui Juris on Jul 1, 2008 3:45 PM EDT reply actions

I'm always so ambivalent

about the teams being named (or trial events), I’m happy for those who make it, and sad for those who don’t. Zabriskie’s journal entry after his fall at the Giro, when he talked about his eyes welling up when he saw the woman in the Beijing 08 t-shirt at the airport when he was travelling home, was so touching. I’m glad he got named, and I hope he’s well enough to go and ride his best.

by Katiek on Jul 1, 2008 3:54 PM EDT reply actions

Really?

McCartney (and Vandevelde) rather than Horner? They must know something about the parcours that we don’t or maybe he has declined in favour of other objectives. Did any US riders take part in the pre-olympic race in Beijing that Cadel and the other aussies rode?

by Jens on Jul 1, 2008 4:18 PM EDT reply actions

no

by Bruce Suomi on Jul 1, 2008 4:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Ridiculous that Horner isn't on the team

Zabriskie hasn’t taken a one day race in his career I don’t think. Levi isn’t built for winning one day races, nor is Vande Velde. At least McCartney has shown that he can win a one day race. How Horner didn’t get an invite is beyond me. And why not Pate instead of Zabriskie? As usual, the US team will get destroyed in the road race. Thanks Sean Petty!

by EuroPeloton on Jul 1, 2008 4:35 PM EDT reply actions

+1

by Bruce Suomi on Jul 1, 2008 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed,

a healthy Horner should be on this squad, but I could have sworn I heard something about his back being injured as recently as the Dauphine. If he’s hurt, I can’t blame Petty for leaving him off of the team.

by The Team Chef on Jul 1, 2008 5:21 PM EDT up reply actions

This is like

the Germans dumping Klöden (he did get a medal at Sydney), insane decision.
Shite, I feel bad for Horner.

by Bruce Suomi on Jul 1, 2008 4:43 PM EDT reply actions

Horner

If I were creating the list, it would be hard for me to leave Horner off. I don’t have anything bad to say about any rider who made the team, but it looks like a race Horner could do well at. If nothing else, he has proven to be a team player willing to work for other riders.

by John.. on Jul 1, 2008 5:01 PM EDT reply actions

hmm...

Guess I’m the outlier. Yes, Horner was a good one day rider here in the States, but what has he won lately internationally? Not much more than anyone else on the list, I’d say. Also, Levi is the current national champion, so he’s an obvious pick.

Hinky is the closer, the others ride for support, or try to slip into the right break. Works for me.

by Jen See on Jul 1, 2008 5:32 PM EDT reply actions

disagree here

Horner is much better climber than GH… And the route is more for a climber than a sprinter.
But a though pick for US , since all the riders are very good.
Wonder how well DZ has healed from his nasty crash, and it’s known that LL and GH are not the friendliest anymore….

by Bruce Suomi on Jul 1, 2008 5:53 PM EDT up reply actions

I haven't heard that about LL and GH. What is the story?

Just here for the view

by ZoeRochelle on Jul 1, 2008 6:24 PM EDT up reply actions

agree Bruce, you're right on

DZ is useless in a one day race that isn’t a time trial, plain and simple. Plus he’ll becoming back from a huge back injury. A one two Horner/Hincapie combo would have been cool to see. Horner is a black sheep in US cycling though cause he didn’t kiss Armstrong’s ass.

by EuroPeloton on Jul 2, 2008 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions

Horner

I agree, Levi is obvious and he is the only one who gets an automatic bid according to the qualification procedures (3rd at Tour).

Horner was 15th at the Tour last year in support of Evans. He has won stages in Romandie and in the Tour de Suisse. He came very close to winning a stage of the Tour. He was fifth at Romandie last year. He was 8th at the worlds a few years ago.

I would not say that the others at that far behind him (Zabriskie was 5th at Dauphinie last year and has won stages in all three grand tours), but I do think Horner ranks above all the rest other than Levi – especially in a hilly one day race.

I should admit a bias that Horner is probably my favorite cyclists mostly because I like his attitude and how much he appears to enjoy riding his bike.

by John.. on Jul 1, 2008 5:53 PM EDT up reply actions

eh..

not a huge horner fan, so that probably explains it. i mean, i don’t dislike the guy or anything, but he’s not really on my list, so to speak.

by Jen See on Jul 1, 2008 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions

+1 John

by Bruce Suomi on Jul 1, 2008 5:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Horner injured

Chris left the Dolphin race due to a back injury. Perhaps he’s not in good enough condition? Of course if he’s riding the Cascade Classic…

by ursula on Jul 1, 2008 6:09 PM EDT reply actions

Question...

IF DZ’s back is still not good to go in another month plus, are there, is there an alternate that steps in to fill that 5th spot? And then who would it be if both Z and Horner are having back problems? Would Pate be the next to make sense?

I’m personally okay with the team. I love C so I’m super happy for him but I think it’s a solid team of riders. I love Horner and I would’ve been happy with him there too. Sad for Horner and others that didn’t make it as well. Heck I’m super excited for Meatball and really sad for Brad Huff at the same time. I so wanted to see them ride the Madison together but Lea got that first spot. These are never going to be perfect and I doubt never easy decisions.

"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."

by nikki on Jul 1, 2008 8:18 PM EDT reply actions

Pate seems like the logical TT choice

He can TT certainly. How he stacks up as a one day rider is a mystery to me? Anyone?

by Jimbo... on Jul 1, 2008 10:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Pate over C for the TT?

Do alternates get named at all for the team?

"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."

by nikki on Jul 1, 2008 11:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Pate was the U-23 world TT champ

Of course that was a while ago. I’d be happy either way, but happier for you if C got it.

by Jimbo... on Jul 1, 2008 11:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Pate is an amazing TT'r

and I’d be thrilled for him.
This year has been awesome for C and I’m pretty psyched to have C planning on riding nationals this year. I’m pretty sure this will be his first year there as in the past he’s been racing elsewhere. Good stuff!

"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."

by nikki on Jul 2, 2008 12:20 AM EDT up reply actions

by nikki on Jul 2, 2008 9:33 AM EDT up reply actions

I really wish they would stop calling him Mini-Phinney

I do not see that as endearing in any manner, but rather quite rude.
I highly doubt his parents refer to him in that manner what so ever.
They are both way too cool for that.

by Ryan_Liles on Jul 2, 2008 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions