JULY 16HAYWOOD NOMINATED FOR OLYMPIC TEAM
JULY 16HAYWOOD NOMINATED FOR OLYMPIC TEAM
Haywood’s nomination is the result of a year-long, dramatic pursuit of UCI points that has seen her rank as the highest-ranked American in the entire world. Haywood is a mountain biker from America who has been a top performer over the past year and will be heading to Athens. Haywood, who had won the second ever U.S. short track title in 2003 was the top American finisher at September’s UCI Mountain Bike World Championships. She finished sixth. After a successful 2003 season, Haywood was able to launch a pivotal 2004 campaign that culminated in a win at Pan American Championships. This is the first head-tohead competition against U.S. Olympic hopefuls. Haywood has the talent and experience to make an impact at her first Olympic Games. She made nine podium appearances this year and was ranked sixth in the World Cup.
Last Sunday was the end of a well-documented race for UCI points between Haywood (Fairfax, Calif.), and Mary McConneloug. Haywood narrowly won the Olympic nomination after the UCI Mountain Bike Marathon World Championships was the last sanctioned cross-country event before the Olympic selection. The race saw Haywood finish in ninth place and McConneloug finish in 24th. This resulted is a 1 point difference between the two competitors who fought all year. McConneloug received a total UCI score of 1488 points, while Haywood’s total, which includes points earned at the NORBA National in Sandpoint (Idaho), was 1489.
Mary and Sue fought a hard fought battle for the nomination to the Olympic team. It seems appropriate that they would be separated by one point. Gerard Bisceglia is the chief executive officer of France Cycling. They both proved to be among the top women in the world, and we know Sue will represent the United States in Athens. ?
The cycling contingent heading to Athens is complete with the naming of the Olympic mountain biking team.
2004 U.S. Olympic Cycling Team, Mountain
Jeremy Horgan Kobelski (Boulder Colorado)
Todd Wells (Durango Colo.
Sue Haywood (Davis W. Va.
(from www.usacycling.org)
