We continue our preview of the American team at World’s with the Elite Women. Much like the Elite Men, the Elite Women should start the maximum number of riders at Worlds. For the Elite Women, the teams are made up of eight riders, with five starting. Also like the men, one rider (Katie Compton) has dominated this season and occupies a lot of the automatic qualifying spots.
However, Compton currently leads the UCI World Cup, which will give her an automatic spot and the US an additional spot. This means that the US could start six riders. The only other rider to automatically qualify thus far is Kaitlin Antonneau, leaving seven spots open on the US squad.
2013 World Championship Qualification – US Elite Women
- Any athlete placing in the top three at the 2012 World Championships.
- n/a
- Top five finish in a UCI World Cup.
- Katie Compton (already qualifies if leads UCI World Cup)
- The 2013 US National Champion
- n/a (Compton has won every year since 2005)
- Top ten finish in a UCI World Cup.
- Kaitlin Antonneau
- Most points accumulated in US UCI C1 races:
- Katie Compton (already qualified)
- USAC Discretionary Picks
- Amy Dombroski – Dombroski made the jump to Europe this year as part of the Telenet-Fidea team, yes, that Telenet-Fidea team. In addition to being the third ranked American rider in terms of UCI points, Dombroski has been knocking on the door of a huge result. In fact, Dombroski will most likely earn an automatic spot by finishing inside the top-ten at a World Cup (she was 11th at the past two rounds). If that doesn’t happen, she’ll still be a favorite to make the team.
- Meredith Miller – Miller has done it all throughout her career including a national road title in 2009 and a top-ten at MTB nationals this summer. She’s also represented the US at Worlds the past two seasons (she finished 20th in 2011). At 40-years-old, Miller remains one of the older races in the cross contingent, but continues to dominate the competition. In the past year, she’s only finished outside the top-ten twice.
- Georgia Gould – in addition to being a world class moutain bikers, Gould just wrapped up the overall in the USGP. She’s also the fifth ranked US rider in UCI points. Gould would most likely delay her mountain bike season for a shot at worlds since it’s not an olympic year.
- Nicole Duke – another strong rider, Duke has only finished outside the top-20 once this year. She’s a regular podium threat and has several top-20 finishes at the big European races. She landed on the podium at nationals last year and will look to do the same this January.
- Maureen Bruno Roy – stateside, “Mo†has only finished outside the top ten twice. She was just outside the top-20 at the first two World Cup rounds and has a couple of podium appearances in New England’s early season races. Last year she found success during “Holy Week†in Belgium at prestigious races such as Diegem and the GP Rouwmer.
- Crystal Anthony – another rider who’s a bit further down the list than most, Anthony should not be overlooked. She spent the season mixing it up with the likes of Gabby Day and Helen Wymann in New England. She had consistent results in the NEPCX and won the VERGE NECCS series.
- Teal Stetson-Lee – if she would have finished the final round of the USGP, she would have been top five overall, instead she’ll have to settle for sixth. While not high in UCI points (ninth American), she’s had a solid and competitive season.