COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado, Sept 16, 2011 (AFP) – Reigning Olympic cycling
time trial champion Kristin Armstrong was replaced on the United States squad
at the World Championships on Friday after a successful protest by Amber Neben.

USA Cycling announced that Neben would join Evelyn Stevens in representing
the United States at the world event in Copenhagen, changing the lineup two
weeks after naming Stevens and Armstrong to ride in Denmark.

Stevens won the time trial in June’s US championships with Neben second and
Armstrong third.

But Armstrong, not Neben, was selected to compete in Tuesday’s worlds time
trial by USA Cycling after she beat Neben by 13 seconds in the Tour of
California time trial and then captured last month’s Aspen Women’s Pro Race.

Neben protested the decision and the selection committee reversed itself
and allowed Neben the time trial berth originally awarded to Armstrong.

Armstrong, who took a hiatus from the sport last year to give birth to a
son, was hoping for a podium finish in the world time trial to secure a chance
to defend her 2008 Beijing Olympic crown next year at London.

Now Armstrong will have to wait until next year’s events to book a place in
the next Olympics.