August 20, 2004 – Day seven of the Park City Cycling Festival featured the nation’s future time trial stars on a course than ran alongside the Great Salt Lake. Chris Stockburger (Fort Collins, Colo.) and Rebecca Much (Chicago, Ill.) took today’s prizes in the men’s and women’s 17-18 category. Their performances on the challenging Antelope Island course that the announcers called “pain city,” earned them automatic nominations to the Junior World Championships in Verona, Italy.

Stockburger bested defending national champion Zack Taylor (Marietta, Ga.) to take the stars and stripes jersey. Finishing the 20 km course in 27:03.74, the Colorado rider added another superb accomplishment to his already successful season. He won the Junior Tour L’Abitibi earlier this summer, but securing a spot on the Junior World Championship team was his most important objective of the season. “It was my main goal all year and it was tough,” Stockburger explained. “I knew this time trial today was my big opportunity to go to Italy.”

Taylor secured the silver medal, while Michael Sheppard (Oak Hills, Calif.) takes home the bronze. Noah Young (Seattle, Wash.) and Zach Bolian (Nashville, Tenn.) posted podium finishes in fourth and fifth place.

Rebecca Much gained her invitation to Italy with a time of 30:38.59 on the 20 km ride, over 40 seconds faster than her nearest threat – silver medalist Kimberly Geist (Emmaus, Pa.) The rider from the windy city won two Superweek races this season in addition to her first stars and stripes jersey and a spot on the World Championship team, making this her breakout season. “I’m super happy,” Rebecca said after her win. “This was my biggest goal for the season.” Rebecca’s coach set up her time trial bike for her to train with. “I’ve been riding it for a few weeks and doing some specific time trial efforts,” she said. “I am so thrilled to be going to the World Championships.”

Lauren Trull (Greensboro, N.C.) earned the bronze medal this afternoon, while Natalie Klemko (Bristol, Wis.) and Shannon Koch (Flowermound, Texas) posted the fourth and fifth fastest times.