http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040708/ap_on_sp_ol/oly_armstrong_athens_out_7
From the US Olympic team selection procedures:
http://www.usacycling.org/events/olympic.pdf
(1) MEN?S ROAD RACE
(a) Start Position(s): Maximum of 5 start positions
(b) Automatic Nomination Criteria (in order of priority):
(i) The first place (1st place) finisher of the elite MEN?S Olympic Cycling
Trials road race event.
(ii) Any athlete placing in the top three (3) at the 2003 World Road Cycling
Championships, Hamilton CAN, October 8 ? 12, 2003, provided that athlete
continues to demonstrate the ability to perform at a similar level based on
performances in international competition during the 2004 calendar year.
(iii)Any U.S. athlete finishing in the top-five (5) in the final general
classification in a UCI Grand Tour between July 1, 2003 and July 5, 2004.
If more than one athlete meets this criterion, the athlete with the highest
placing will be nominated first, followed by the athlete with the next highest
placing, and so on. If two athletes share the same placing, the athlete with
the highest ranking on the UCI men?s road list as of July 5, 2004 will be
nominated first, followed by the athlete with the next highest ranking and so
on. Any athlete qualifying in 2003 must demonstrate the ability to continue
to perform at a similar level based on performances in international
competitions in the 2004 calendar year.
(iv) Any U.S. athlete finishing in the top-five (5) in the final general
classification in a UCI World Cup, 1.HC or 2.HC event in 2004 by July 5.
If more than one athlete meets this criterion, the athlete with the highest
placing will be nominated first, followed by the athlete with the next highest
placing, and so on. If two athletes share the same placing, the athlete with
the highest ranking on the UCI men?s road list as of July 6, 2004 will be
nominated first, followed by the athlete with the next highest ranking and so
on.
(v) The top-ranked U.S. eligible athlete in the UCI Road World Cup rankings
on July 5, 2004 not otherwise qualified above and provided he is ranked in
the top 25.
(vi) The top-ranked U.S. eligible athlete in the UCI Road Rankings on July 5,
2004 not otherwise qualified above and provided if he is ranked in the top
50.
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So Freddy goes based on (iv), he's currently 49th in the UCI ranking.
He cut it close, good thing he took that stage in the Giro.
Bob Schwartz
[email hidden]