Cyclist says she's ready to compete

By Mike Prater

Gannett News Service

ATHENS, Greece - United States cyclist Kristin Armstrong gets to compete twice Sunday - in her first Olympic road race in the afternoon and again at night in an arbitration case against USA Cycling.

The 73.7-mile road race consists of nine laps around the Acropolis and through the historic streets of downtown Athens. There are 67 riders in the field, and the race will last about four hours.

Later Sunday, an arbitrator is scheduled to hear Armstrong's appeal to race in Wednesday's time trial. The Idaho racer was left out of the race in favor of Iowa cyclist Christine Thorburn when USA Cycling officials made their final roster decision Wednesday. There are three women on the U.S. cycling team, including Dede Barry of Colorado, and only two get to race in the time trial.

All three will compete in Sunday's road race.

Armstrong, 30, believes the time trial is her best chance to medal at these games. She's a former world-class triathlete and is familiar with the time trial format - a solo sprint from start to finish, with the fastest time winning the race.

Armstrong disagrees with the selection process and immediately filed an appeal. She hired California attorney Howard Jacobs to handle her case, she said.

``Obviously I have to move forward and don't forget the reason why I'm here, to fulfill a lifelong dream,'' Armstrong said. ``At the same time, I want to fight for my rights as an athlete.''

USA Cycling coach Jim Ochowicz, part of a five-member panel that voted for Thorburn, said he doesn't know what to expect Sunday night.

``I can't comment on that. I have no idea what might happen,'' he said.

Thorburn won the national time trial championship at the Olympic Trials in June, the same week Armstrong won the national road race to secure her spot on the Olympic team. Armstrong's beef is the selection criteria - she believes it should be based on international results.

USA Cycling's official selection process considers, in order, medal capability, international results and head-to-head results.

``The selection process was a little bit ambiguous,'' Thorburn said.

Armstrong has two top-three finishes in international time trials this season - one in France and one in Germany. Thorburn has none, and they've beaten each other once. This is the first Olympics for both, and an American woman hasn't won a medal in road cycling in 20 years.

As for the afternoon race, Armstrong is expecting the adventure of a lifetime, and it has nothing to do with potential sightseeing possibilities.

All the Olympic cyclists - the men raced on the same course Saturday, and there were several crashes that sent riders to the hospital - have said the track is technical with slick roads, cobblestone sections and tight curves. Throw in scorching heat and blistering humidity and you have the potential for pack riding, crashes and a race of attrition.