CHARLESTON, W.Va. Two cyclists competing in this weeks USA Cycling Pro Road Nationals have qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris. <\/p>\n
Over 100 athletes representing multiple countries completed the 33.7-kilometer course in downtown Charleston Wednesday. About 50 of those athletes were racing for a spot on the Paris 2024 Olympic Games team. <\/p>\n
First up, at the top of the Womens Elite Time Trial race was Taylor Knibb of Boulder, Colorado and Trek Factory Racing. Her time of 41:54.69 was good enough to become National Champion and qualify for the Olympics. <\/p>\n
Im in shock. Ill be perfectly honest, Im just in shock, she said after finding out she won. <\/p>\n
Knibb qualified for the USA Triathlon team at the Paris test event last year. Now, shes officially heading to Paris to represent USA Cycling. <\/p>\n
A new bike and new setup helped Knibb perform better this year. She said the Charleston route is a more flat course but very few hills thrown in and thats more her speed. <\/p>\n
Last year there were so many turns but only four times did I have to get to race-pace, said Knibb, There are so many incredible riders out here, it was such an incredible day riding with them. <\/p>\n
Kristen Faulkner (Homer, Alaska; EF Education-Cannondale) posted a 42:05.88 and Amber Neben (Lake Forest, Calif.) finished with a 42:44.53 to round out the podium. <\/p>\n
Spurts of heavy rain wouldnt slow down the Elite Men where over 28 athletes made an attempt to make the USA team. Finishing with of a time of 37:42.08, Brandon McNulty (Phoenix, Ariz.; UAE Team Emirates) beat second place finisher Tyler Stites (Tucson, Ariz.; Project Echelon Racing) by just under a minute. Neilson Powless (Houston; EF Education Easypost) finished out the podium with a third place time of 38:44.17. <\/p>\n
McNulty qualifies for his second Games appearance. He said this victory ranks towards the top for his career which has included many runs in Europe. <\/p>\n
Its always special to win a National Title, but this one had a bit more importance to qualify for the Olympics. This is a big one for me, McNulty said in a drenched suit after the game. <\/p>\n
The last few kilometers were the toughest but McNulty said he pushed through and it paid off in the end. <\/p>\n
I knew there was a headwind in the final stretch, I knew that would be the last big push, and I was dying, he said. Then luckily, I had a couple guys to catch in front of me to keep me motivated and pushing. <\/p>\n
Both cyclists said they enjoyed the cycling on Charlestons roads. McNulty called it a simple course. Knibb said shes looking forward to being in the city for the next four years. <\/p>\n
Podium Results for the U23 Womens Time Trial: <\/p>\n
Betty Hasse (Providence, R.I.; CCB p\/b Levine Law Group): 45:38.85 Chloe Patrick (Carson, Calif.; Cynisca Cycling): 47:51.28 Ella Brenneman (Gibsonia, Pa.; CCB p\/b Levine Law Group): 48:00.55 <\/p>\n
Podium Results for the U23 Mens Time Trial: <\/p>\n
Artem Shmidt (Cumming, Ga.; Hagens Berman Axeon): 38:52.17 Troy Fields (Hendersonville, Tenn.; Team California P\/B Verge): 39:52.27 Owen Cole (Chapel Hill, N.C.; UAE Team Emirates Gen Z): 39:52.29 <\/p>\n
Racing resumes Thursday starting at 6:30 p.m. for night one of the twilight criterium featuring Junior Women, Junior Men, and U23 Men who will take the course first. <\/p>\n
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Two American cyclists conquer streets of Charleston and clinch Olympic team berth - West Virginia MetroNews<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" CHARLESTON, W.Va. Two cyclists competing in this weeks USA Cycling Pro Road Nationals have qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris Continue reading