USA Cycling today announced its full line-up for the UCI Road World Championships, which begin on September 20 in Richmond, Virginia, with Taylor Phinney named for both Elite men's races. Phinney made his return to competition last month following a 15-month layoff due to injuries, and quickly returned to his winning ways, taking a victory and the race lead on the opening stage of the USA Pro Challenge.
Joining Phinney for the men's road race is his BMC Racing teammate Brent Bookwalter, together with Cannondale-Garmin's Ben King and Alex Howes, and Tyler Farrar (MTN-Qhubeka). Phinney will also compete in the individual time trial, with the second rider to be named by September 11, together with the last rider for the road race.
Ben King, winner of a stage in the Criterium International this year, was thrilled to be selected to compete in the world championships in his home state. The maximum number for the Elite men's teams is nine, but the USA narrowly met the requirements to earn six as the host country, and competition for those spots has been strong.
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“Riding the Worlds is one of my major goals of the season and the first step was making the selection," King told Cyclingnews from the Vuelta a Espana. "We qualified six spots and obviously the US is a huge country so it’s a real honour to be chosen as one of those to represent our nation."
"In the road-race I’ll probably have a support role, cover some early moves…we haven’t discussed the tactics, but obviously coming from the Vuelta, [where I’ve been] having a similar role here of covering breakaways, protecting GC guys, posiitoning coming into the climbs," King said.
As a resident of Virginia, King has had ample opportunity to familiarise himself with the course, which winds around downtown Richmond, sweeping down through the Shockoe Bottom, along the James River, then up the cobbled Libby Hill climb, the steep ramp up 23rd Street and heading back to the finish via the uphill stretch of Governor Street cresting with 200m to go.
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