USA WORLDS SELECTION INFO!

Here's the main info for any elite or jr gravity racer looking to qualify for the '09 World Champs in Australia.

Full info here

Elite Downhill (male and female)

Eligible Participants: USAC International License Holders; Age 19 and over
Maximum Start Positions: 7
Athletes may receive automatic nominations to the team based on the following prioritized criteria:

1. Any athlete placing in the top three (3) at the 2008 World Championships in the same event and category. In order to maintain their position on the Team, the eligible athlete(s) must continue to demonstrate the ability to finish in the top 3 at the World Championships during the current racing season. This evaluation will be based on results from major international competition and current ranking on the appropriate UCI Individual Classification.

2. Any U.S. rider finishing in the top five (5) in a 2009 UCI Downhill World Cup race by August 3rd, 2009. Events include World Cup DH #1 thru #7. Up to three (3) athletes will be selected from this criterion. If more than three (3) athletes meet this criterion, only the three (3) athletes with the highest World Cup placing as of August 3rd, 2009 will be nominated. In the event of a tie, the automatic selection(s) will be filled, in order of priority, by the rider(s) with the highest Overall World Cup ranking as of August 4th, 2009.

3. Any male U.S. riders ranked in the top fifteen (15) in the 2009 UCI Elite Men Downhill World Cup rankings, as of August 4th, 2009. The positions will be filled, in order of priority, based on the UCI rankings (highest to lowest) until all qualified riders have been nominated or there are no more start positions available.

4. Any female U.S. riders ranked in the top eight (8) in the 2009 UCI Elite Women Downhill World Cup rankings, as of August 4th, 2009. The positions will be filled, in order of priority, based on the UCI rankings (highest to lowest) until all qualified riders have been nominated or there are no more start positions available.

5. The winner of the 2009 Elite National Mountain Bike Downhill Championships. This event is currently scheduled for July 16th-19th, 2009 in Sol Vista, Colorado.

Note-funded position(s) will be filled in order of selection criterion priority. After the final funded position is filled, all other riders who qualify automatically will NOT be funded.

Junior Downhill (male and female)

Eligible Participants: USAC International License Holders; Age 17 and 18
Maximum Start Positions: 7
Athletes may receive automatic nominations to the team based on the following prioritized criteria:

1. Any athlete placing in the top three (3) at the 2008 World Championships in the same event and category. In order to maintain their position on the Team, the eligible athlete(s) must continue to demonstrate the ability to finish in the top 3 at the World Championships during the current racing season. This evaluation will be based on results from major international competition and current ranking on the appropriate UCI Individual Classification.

2. Any U.S. Junior rider finishing in the top fifteen (15) in a 2009 Elite UCI Downhill World Cup race by August 3rd, 2009. Events include World Cup DH #1 thru #7. Up to three (3) athletes will be selected from this criterion. If more than three (3) athletes meet this criterion, the three (3) athletes with the highest World Cup placing as of August 3rd, 2009 will be nominated. In the event of a tie, the automatic selection(s) will be filled, in order of priority, by the rider(s) with the highest Overall World Cup ranking as of August 4th, 2009.

3. The winner of the 2009 Junior Cat.1 17-18 National Mountain Bike Downhill Championships. This event is currently scheduled for July 16th-19th, 2009 in Sol Vista, Colorado.

4. The winner of the Massanutten Yee-Ha! Junior Men Cat. 1 Downhill race scheduled for May 9th, 2009 in McGaheysville, Virginia OR the winner of the Fluidride Cup Junior Men Cat. 1 Downhill race scheduled for May 2-3rd, 2009 in Port Angeles, Washington. Of these two (2) race winners, the automatic spot will be granted to the one (1) rider with the higher finish at the Junior Cat. 1 National Mountain Bike Downhill Championships IF that rider finishes in the top three (3) in this race. This event is currently scheduled for July 16th-19th, 2009 in Sol Vista, Colorado.

Note-funded position(s) will be filled in order of selection criterion priority. After the final funded position is filled, all other riders who qualify automatically will NOT be funded.

Elite Mountain Cross

Eligible Participants: USAC International License Holders; Age 17 and over
Maximum Start Positions: 7
Athletes may receive automatic nominations to the team based on the following prioritized criteria:

1. Any athlete placing in the top three (3) at the 2008 World Championships in the same event and category. In order to maintain their position on the Team, the eligible athlete(s) must continue to demonstrate the ability to finish in the top 3 at the World Championships during the current racing season. This evaluation will be based on results from major international competition and current ranking on the appropriate UCI Individual Classification.

2. Any U.S. rider finishing in the top four (4) in a 2009 UCI World Cup Mountain Cross event by August 3rd, 2009. Events include World Cup 4X #1 thru #7. If more than one athlete finishes in the top four (4), the two (2) athletes with the highest Overall World Cup ranking by August 4th, 2009 will automatically qualify for the World Championship Team.

3. The winner of the 2009 Elite National Mountain Bike 4X Championships. This event is currently scheduled for July 16th-19th, 2009 in Sol Vista, Colorado.

4. The highest ranked U.S. riders from the 2009 UCI World Cup 4X Mountain Cross rankings, as of August 4th, 2009, only if they are ranked in the top ten (10) of the 2009 UCI 4X Individual World Rankings by August 4th, 2009.


FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

USAC will be assuming financial responsibility for riders in the teams listed, IF THE RIDERS MEET THE AUTOMATIC QUALIFICATION STANDARDS BELOW (see exceptions with Junior * & Elite DH**). USAC is limited in the number of riders we will fund, indicated by the maximum number in parentheses. USAC may also fund those athletes who are chosen via coaches’ discretionary selection. Information regarding USAC discretionary selection procedures can be found in the “General Team Selection Information” document on the USAC website. All riders should review this document as well as “USAC Process for selecting riders to protected events”. Both of these documents outline responsibilities and requirements for team selection. Please note that USAC may NOT fill the teams to the maximum number of riders if it deems petitioning riders are not medal capable or future medal capable.

1. Men X Country Elite (Maximum of 3)
2. Women X Country Elite (Maximum of 3)
3. U23 Men X Country Elite (Maximum of 1)
4. U23 Women X Country Elite (Maximum of 1)
5. *Junior Men X Country (Maximum of 2)
6. *Junior Women X Country (Maximum of 1)
7. *Junior Men Downhill (Maximum of 2)
8. *Junior Women Downhill (Maximum of 1)
9. **Elite Men Downhill (Maximum of 1)
10. **Elite Women Downhill (Maximum of 1)
11. Elite Men Mountain Cross (Not Funded; 0)
12. Elite Women Mountain Cross (Not Funded: 0)

*Note: A maximum of two (2) Junior Men athletes and one (1) Junior Women athlete in both XC and Downhill will be fully funded upon arrival to Canberra, Australia. These riders will be responsible for all travel to and from Canberra, Australia but will not be required to pay the Team Service Fee. These riders must meet the criteria for automatic selection and will be chosen in the prioritized order outlined in the Junior Downhill automatic selection portion of this document.

**Note: A maximum of one (1) Elite Men and Women Downhill athletes will be fully funded upon arrival to Canberra, Australia. These riders will be responsible for all travel to and from Canberra, Australia but will not be required to pay the Team Service Fee. These riders must meet criteria #1, #2, #3 or #4 for automatic selection outlined in the Elite Downhill automatic selection portion of this document. Riders who only meet criteria #5 will not be considered for this funding.

Podium Compensation- Any athlete that achieves a top three (3) finish at the 2009 MTB World Championships in the event in which they were selected will be refunded the Team Service Fee (if applicable) as well as a fare market value of their economy class round trip airfare ticket to Canberra, Australia (all excess baggage costs are the responsibility of the rider).

Team Service Fee- All team riders who are selected to the team but not funded that wish to use the USAC provided services will be required to pay a Team Service Fee of $1,800.00. This fee will cover lodging, food, ground transport in Canberra, Australia, race support and competition clothing for between 6 and 8 days depending on competition date. Any team riders not wishing to use the USAC provided services will be responsible for all costs and support of their trip including a fee for competition clothing.

IMPORTANT DATES AND DEADLINES

1. World Mountain Bike Championship Team Deadlines
1.1. Deadline for submission of petitions: July 21, 2009
1.2. Announcement of Team: August 13, 2009
1.3. Confirmation of intent to participate August 14, 2009