July 2, 2004 -The U.S. received another opportunity for a medal at the
Olympic Games after the International Cycling Union (UCI) offered the U.S.
a start position in the women’s points race. The U.S. did not originally
meet the automatic qualification process to secure a start position in that
event but has now been extended an invitation by the UCI to ensure a
complete field of competitors.

To automatically secure an Olympic start position for the women’s points
race in Athens, the U.S. needed to place in the either the top-four in the
points race or the top-10 in the individual pursuit at the UCI Track
Cycling World Championships in May or be one of the top-two countries in
the overall 2004 UCI World Cup standings not qualified through direct
performance at world championship competition.

Erin Mirabella (Racine, Wis.) who has been named to the 2004 U.S. Olympic
Team for the individual pursuit, placed 13th in the points race and 14th in
the individual pursuit at the world championships. Mirabella also finished
the World Cup season as the 10th ranked rider in the world.

In a related issue, USA Cycling was denied in its petition to receive a
second start position in the women’s mountain bike event. The U.S.
originally qualified two start positions in the event, but under a special
provision in the UCI guidelines one of its start positions was taken away
to accommodate a country that did not originally qualify a spot but had one
of its riders ranked in the top-30 in the individual standings.

The lone start position for women’s mountain bike will go to the leader in
UCI points on July 12. Currently Mary McConneloug (Fairfax, Calif.) and Sue
Haywood (Davis, W. Va.) are separated by a single UCI point in the latest
UCI standings with two major events remaining on the UCI calendar prior to
the selection date.