U.S. announces strong Worlds selection

Described by USA Cycling as one of the strongest squads assembled in recent years, the eight-strong elite men's squad - all of whom will contest the 267 kilometre road race - features seven ProTour riders, namely George Hincapie (Discovery Channel), David Zabriskie (Team CSC), Bobby Julich (Team CSC), Christian Vande Velde (Team CSC), Jason McCartney (Discovery Channel), John Devine (Discovery Channel) and Tyler Farrar (Cofidis), and one domestic-based professional in Danny Pate (Slipstream-Chipotle).

Both Hincapie and Pate have recently shown good form at the Tour of Missouri, where Hincapie took the overall win and Pate a solo victory on Stage 5. Hincapie's teammate McCartney, also a name to watch after his gutsy victory on Stage 14 of the Vuelta, will ride the time trial alongside last year's silver medallist Zabriskie.

Representing the elite women's team in the 172 kilometre road race will be Kristin Armstrong (Team Lipton), Amber Neben (Flexpoint), Christine Thorburn (Webcor Builders), Mara Abbott (Webcor Builders), Tina Pic (Colavita-Sutter Home-Cooking Light), Lauren Franges (Team Lipton) and Katheryn Curi (Webcor Builders).

For the time trial, the US has defending champion Armstrong, plus Neben, Thorburn and Pan American champion Alison Powers (Colavita-Sutter Home-Cooking Light).

In the Under 23 category, the five riders named for the road race are Peter Stetina (Slipstream-Chipotle), Craig Lewis (Slipstream-Chipotle), Tejay Van Garderen (VMG Racing), Max Jenkins (California Giant) and Tom Peterson (Slipstream-Chipotle).

Van Garderen and US national U23 time trial champion Nick Frey (HART) will contest the Under 23 time trial.