USA Cycling Announces 2011 Pan American Continental MTB Championships Team 5

USA Cycling just announced the 26 athletes that will represent the U.S.A. at the 2011 Pan American Mountain Bike Championships, April 1-3, in Bogota, Colombia.  Of those 26 riders, 11 comprise the downhill and four cross part of the team.

Chris Van Dine will lead the U.S. gravity contingent. After finishing sixth in last year’s Continental Championship downhill contest, Van Dine will be looking for a podium spot this time around. He’ll be joined by Ethan Quehl, Luciano Worl, Michael Buell, Kyle Thomas, and Dante Harmony, as well as USA Cycling Professional Mountain Bike gravity Tour standouts Heikki Hall, Mitch Ropelato, and JD Swanguen.

 

In the elite women’s downhill competition, Katie Holden will look to defend her continental title from a year ago. The reigning Pan American champion will be joined by USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships silver medalist Jacqueline Harmony.

 

“I expect our gravity team to be one of, if not the, strongest team at the event,” explained USA Cycling Mountain Bike Director Marc Gullickson.

Chris Van Dine (Jim Thorpe, Pa.)

Ethan Quehl (Grayson, Ga.)

Luciano Worl (Woodinville, Wa.)

Michael Buell (Nederland, Colo./Team Geronimo/Banshee)

Heikki Hall (Durango, Colo.)

Mitch Ropelato (Ogden, Utah/SPS North America)

Kyle Thomas (Issaquah, Wash./Diamondback)

JD Swanguen (San Diego, Calif./DRD Intense)

Dante Harmony (Sedona, Ariz.)

 

Katie Holden (Scotts Valley, Calif.)

Jacqueline Harmony (Sedona, Ariz.)

For the full press release, including XC team details, check out USAcycling.org