BOISE, Idaho — Olympic gold medalist Kristin Armstrong was bumped from the U.S. time trial team at the world championships after USA Cycling reviewed Amber Neben‘s protest.
Armstrong said Friday that Neben challenged USA Cycling’s decision this month to enter Armstrong as one of two American riders in the time trial at worlds in Copenhagen, Denmark.
USA Cycling confirmed its switch to Neben more than six hours after Armstrong disclosed the decision. It declined to give a reason for the change.
Armstrong ended a brief retirement from professional cycling in 2010 after giving birth to her son. She had been hoping for a top-three finish in Denmark that would have automatically qualified her for the U.S. Olympic team bound for London next summer. Instead, she’s returning home to the uncertainty of having to qualify in races next year.
“I landed in Denmark to only find out that I had been replaced,” Armstrong said. “Three hours later in the airport I am on my way home.”
Evelyn Stevens finished first at the U.S. national championships time trial in June, winning the automatic bid. She was followed by Neben and Armstrong. But Armstrong was named as the discretionary nominee for the time trial squad by USA Cycling on Sept. 2 after winning the Tour of California time trial in May by 13 seconds over Neben, as well as the Aspen Women’s Pro Race in August.
France, Spain reach Euro basketball final
KAUNAS, Lithuania — Tony Parker scored 22 points to lead France past Russia 79-71 and set up a European championship final against defending gold medalist Spain. With the win, France is also back in the Olympics for the first time in 12 years.
“I’ve been chasing this for 11 years and I’m very happy that I can finally say I’m going to the Olympics,” Parker said. “I had tears in my eyes when the buzzer came and I knew we’d won the game.”
Juan Carlos Navarro scored 35 points in a performance his coach called a “masterpiece” as Spain beat Macedonia 92-80 in the first semifinal.
Dream, Lynx win WNBA playoff openers
UNCASVILLE, Conn. — Lindsey Harding scored 10 of her 21 points in the fourth quarter as the Atlanta Dream rallied to beat the Connecticut Sun 89-84, and Lindsay Whalen scored 20 points to lead the Minnesota Lynx past the San Antonio Silver Stars 66-65 in WNBA playoff openers.
Also, Lynx forward Maya Moore was chosen rookie of the year and her coach, Cheryl Reeve, earned coach of the year honors.
Footnotes.
Rafael Nadal routed Richard Gasquet 6-3, 6-0, 6-1 in helping Spain to a 2-0 start against France in the Davis Cup semifinals, while defending champion Serbia, playing without Novak Djokovic, trailed Argentina 2-0 in the other semifinal.
• Prized prospect Braeden Anderson will not attend Kansas this academic year after the NCAA declared the forward to be a partial qualifier. The Associated Press
