June 18, 2004 – Christine Thorburn (Davenport, Iowa), earned a nomination to
the 2004 U.S. Olympic Cycling Team after winning the 2004 USCF Elite
National Time Trial Championships on Thursday afternoon. The 34-year-old
medical doctor clocked a time of 34:16.25 over a demanding 24K course to
best a field stacked with talented competition on her way to her first-ever
national title. The win resulted in an automatic nomination to the
three-woman squad that will represent the U.S. later this summer in Athens.

Entering the race, a long list of heavy favorites readied for their shot at
making the Olympic team including three-time defending national time trial
champion, Kimberly Bruckner (Boulder, Colo.), 2000 Olympic silver medalist,
Mari Holden (Colorado Springs, Colo.), Dede Barry (Boulder, Colo.), Amber
Neben (Irvine, Calif.) and Kristin Armstrong (Boise, Idaho). Thorburn was
faced with the daunting task of outperforming each and every one of her more
decorated competitors who possessed the same Olympic dreams, and in classic
David vs. Goliath fashion rose the occasion and overcame her underdog
status.

“I wasn’t really worried about anyone else,” Thorburn said of her winning
ride following the awards ceremony. “I just tried to do the best I could.
It was a hard course with quite a bit of climbing yet not too technical
which really suited me.”

Starting midway through the field of 66 riders, all Thorburn could do after
posting her time was wait and see if any of the pre-race favorites could
crack her mark. Neben came the closest, coming within eight seconds of
Thorburn, and the final two riders, Barry and Bruckner, were even further
off the pace.

“I went so early in the rotation that I didn’t know if I had a good time
until some of the other girls started to finish, then I knew that I had a
real chance,” said Thorburn.

Thorburn cited the one minute start intervals between riders when she was on
the course as an ally. “I thought I had a bit of an advantage starting with
one minute intervals. I could see the riders ahead of me, so it gave me
something to focus on rather than the pain.”

Considered an outside shot at winning, Thorburn saw herself as a legitimate
contender. “I told myself I could do it and that I was physiologically
capable of winning. I think not having the added pressure of high
expectations that some of the others may have had worked to my advantage.”

Thorburn is in her second year of a post-doctorate fellowship in
Rheumatology at Stanford University, but now turns her attention to Athens
and the following two months of preparation leading up to the Olympic games.

Today’s third place finisher, Barry, holds a strong chance of being
nominated to the Olympic team as the highest-ranked American in the UCI
standings. Under USA Cycling’s Olympic Selection Procedures, the third
criterion used in Olympic selection is international ranking as of July 5.
Barry currently holds that distinction, ranked 13th in the world. “I have a
strong ambition to ride the time trial in Athens,” said Barry during her
post-race interview. “I didn’t feel any pressure out there since I’ve
already qualified. I’m just looking forward to putting in the proper
training and effort towards Athens.”

A disappointed Bruckner simply didn’t have her usual national championship
form today. “I was feeling off all week,” she said. “I was flying a few
weeks ago, but just wasn’t feeling good today.”

Remaining Olympic hopefuls now turn their focus on Saturday’s road race
where a win will also result in an automatic nomination to the Olympic
squad. And with all the pressure behind her, Thorburn can now relax as her
spot on the team is secure. For the remainder of America’s top women’s
cycling talent, a win on Saturday remains as their last chance.

Entering Saturday’s road race, the favorites still include Neben, Armstrong,
and Bruckner along with Katrina Grove (Solana Beach, Calif.) and Tina Pic
(Dahlonega, Ga.). Several other riders will contend, but Thorburn is glad
she doesn’t have to focus too much on a win this weekend. “I liked my
chances in the road race,” she said. “It’s a good course for me, but with
the aggression of the T-Mobile team, it would have been difficult. I’ve
been on the receiving end of their attacks. It’s not fun.”

2004 USCF Elite National Time Trial Championships

1. Christine Thorburn (Davenport, Iowa) 34:16.25
2. Amber Neben (Irvine, Calif.) 34:34.49
3. Dede Barry (Boulder, Colo.) 34:26.31
4. Kristin Armstrong (Boise, Idaho) 34:37.51
5. Kimberly Bruckner (Boulder, Colo.) 34:47.43