For the fifth consecutive year, team Kenda-Seven Cycles elite racer Mary McConneloug was selected to the U.S. national team to compete in the Continental Mountain Bike Championships, and for the fifth consecutive year she took home a medal—this year adding a silver to her collection. Mary is the U.S.’s top ranked racer and one of the most consistent finishers on the circuit.
Kenda-Seven Cycles’ Mike Broderick was also selected to the U.S. team. Mike showed impressive early season form to finish 10th in the Elite men’s contest.
The Continental Mountain Bike Championships took place in Nequen, Argentina on March 11. The United States Mountain Bike Team collected a total of eight medals in a major step toward securing the maximum number of start positions at the 2008 Olympic Games for the U.S.
The Continental Championships are important because of the amount of international ranking points available—the primary factor in determining how many start positions countries receive at the 2008 Games in Beijing. Entering Sunday’s race, the United States was ranked fourth in the men’s standings behind Switzerland, France and Spain, while the women were ranked sixth behind Norway, Germany, Canada, China and Poland. The U.S. must hold a final ranking in the top-five for men and top-four for women on Dec. 31, 2007 to accumulate the maximum number of Olympic start spots.
Congratulations Mary and Mike!