US time trial champion Carmen Small (Cervelo Bigla) has expressed her utter disappointment over not being selected for one of the four spots available on the US national team headed to the Rio Olympic Games in August. In a Twitter post on Saturday, two days after USA Cycling announced their four-woman team, Small said she that was simply heartbroken.
“I'm truly overwhelmed by the support & personal messages I have received in the last two days, what an amazing community. My heart is broken,” she wrote.
USA Cycling announced the selection on Thursday afternoon. According to the national federation’s press team, none of the nine riders on the long list, except for automatic nominee Megan Guarnier (Boels-Dolmans), knew who would secure the remaining three spots available as per the nation's four-woman quota.
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The long list included Small, two-time Giro Rosa winner Mara Abbott (Wiggle High5), Kristin Armstrong (Twenty16-Ridebiker), Amber Neben (Bepink), Shelley Olds (Clance), Coryn Rivera (UnitedHealthcare), Lauren Stephens (Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank), UCI Hour Record holder Evelyn Stevens (Boels-Dolmans) and Tayler Wiles (Orica-AIS). All of them found out at the same time as everyone else, including the press.
Guarnier secured her place on the Olympic team by placing third at the World Championships in Richmond, Virginia last September. There were still three spots available for the road race and two for the time trial. However, the two riders competing in the time trial must also race the road race.
USA Cycling’s selection committee announced the remaining three spots; Abbott for the road race, and the final two spots for the road race and the time trial went to Stevens and Armstrong. The road course in Rio is expected to suit strong climbers like Abbott, and Guarnier, too, because it is hilly with a nine-kilometre climb near the end. The time trial course is also challenging.
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