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JUAREZ BACK ON THE OLYMPIC ROAD AFTER CLAIMING OLYMPIC LONG TEAM SPOT
GOODYEAR, Ariz. (March 5, 2000) - American mountain bike legend Tinker Juarez, Downey, Calif., rode for his country at the first Olympic mountain bike race in 1996, and now he's on the road to the 2000 Games in Sydney. Juarez claimed a spot on the U.S. Olympic Long Team when he placed second - the top American - at the 2000 Olympic Long Team Mountain Bike Qualifying Event March 5 in Goodyear, Ariz.
The U.S. Olympic Long Team is comprised of athletes who have met the respective disciplines' qualifying procedures and are among the pool of athletes who are eligible to earn a spot on the official U.S. Olympic Cycling team.
Canadian Roland Green (Team GT) won the event, while 1999 National Cross-Country Mountain Bike Champion Travis Brown, Boulder, Colo., (Trek-Volkswagen), already a member of the long team, earned third.
The front of the field experienced several lead changes throughout the five-lap race. Canadian Andreas Hestler, Greg Randolph, Boulder, Colo., (Team GT) and Olympic Long Team member Steve Larsen, Ashland, Ore., (L.L. Bean/Mongoose) led the first two laps, with Juarez (Volvo-Cannondale) and Brown in tow 20 seconds back. By the end of the third lap the lead trio changed with Green, Juarez and Canadian Chris Sheppard ahead of the field by 30 seconds.
"It was a really hard race, and I just didn't know what was going to happen. There was no room for mistakes, so I think I rode pretty well. A couple of breaks came my way because some of the other riders had some problems out there," said Juarez, who finished 19th at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. "I didn't know how fast Roland was going to go, so I was trying to keep an eye on him."
Green never faltered at the front, but Brown began gaining ground. Brown, who narrowly missed his chance for the '96 Olympic Team after an injury sidelined him, passed Sheppard, but in the end, Juarez couldn't be caught.
"I didn't feel like I had the edge to chase, but it still felt good. I may have not had the fight, but I still think this is probably the best I've ever ridden this early in the season," said Brown, who added he was happy with the addition of Juarez to the team. "We have a solid group of riders and we'll be able to encourage and support each other throughout the season."
Because of his Canadian citizenship, Green was ineligible for the U.S. Olympic Long Team. Still, the Canadian national team member said the race provided a solid pre-season warm up.
"It was a fun and technical course. This race was really just an extension of my training. I wanted find out how hard I could push myself, and after today, I think I should have good form for the World Cups," Green said.
Only the top U.S. rider in Sunday's race, provided he finished in the top-three riders, qualified for the long team. As an Olympic Long Team member, Juarez will travel, train and compete with the team through the summer.
"I had a difficult season last year, and people thought my career was dwindling. I had some good training over the winter, and I was eager for the season to start. This was a great race to kick off this year," Juarez said.
Larsen, the '99 Pan American Games gold medalist, had a bout of bad luck when the chain broke on his bike. After quickly fixing it, he worked his way through the field and finished 10th.
Other Olympic Long Team members, who were named earlier in 2000, include Brown, Steve Larsen, Alison Dunlap (Colorado Springs, Colo.), Shari Kain (Cupertino, Calif.) and Ruthie Matthes (Durango, Colo.) Ann Trombley (Golden, Colo.) qualified for the long team Sat., March 4, at the women's long team qualifying race.
2000 Olympic Long Team Mountain Bike Qualifying Event, March 5, Goodyear, Ariz.
Pro Men, 5 laps, 40 miles
1. ROLAND GREEN, Victoria, BC, Canada, (Team GT) at 2 hours, 20 minutes and 13 seconds; 2. Tinker Juarez, Downey, Calif., (Volvo-Cannondale) @ 2:20:31; 3. Travis Brown, Boulder, Colo., (Trek-Volkswagen) @ 2:21:06; 4. Chris Sheppard, Kamloops, BC, Canada (Haro Bicycles) @ 2:21:28; 5. Jimi Killen, Fort Collins, Colo., (Schwinn Toyota RAV4) @ 2:23:04; 6. Mathieu Toulouse, Montreal, Que., Canada, @ 2:23:12; 7. Seamus MacGrath, Millgrove, Canada, (Haro Bicycles) @ 2:23:49; 8. Matthew Decore, Jasper, Ariz., @ 2:25:04; 9. Pete Swenson, Boulder, Colo., (SoBe/HeadShok) @ 2:25:19; 10. Steve Larsen, Ashland, Ore., (L.L. Bean/Mongoose) @ 2:25:38 |
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