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Kyle Strait To Race 4X and Downhill World Championships

5.8.2005

August 5, 2005.

18-year-old Kyle Strait of Redlands, California, is to once again represent the USA at the forthcoming UCI World Mountain Bike Championships to be held next month in Italy. The California native will be representing in both the Junior Menís Downhill and the Elite Menís 4X.

This is Kyleís 3rd visit to the World Championships, and so far he has met his goals in each attendance. In his first visit, Lugarno (SUI) 2003, Kyle finished 4th in the Junior Menís Downhill and surprised many who had thought of the talented young rider as mainly a free ride specialist. Last year in Les Gets (FRA), Kyle was one of the few gravity riders from the USA to collect a medal in recent years, taking the bronze in the Junior Menís Downhill.

This year Kyle has also qualified for the 4X which is an open category event, meaning Juniors (17 and 18 years), should they be good enough, must qualify along with Elite men (19 and over). Kyle was an automatic selection by USA Cycling after showing his prowess in this discipline at World Cup level where he is presently the 2nd highest ranked American behind the legendary Brian Lopes. Despite being a junior, Kyle has had two top 10 results out of the five 4X World Cups held so far, and is currently ranked 10th overall with 2 rounds to go.

ěRiding the 4X at the Worlds this year will be a huge honour. I remember the first 4X finals I ever saw at the Worlds, in Switzerland, and there were three guys in the stars and stripes making it to the final. The US has a strong history in this discipline and Iíll be doing my best to race those guys over there. I hear itís a super long track, more than a minute, so that should suit meî, said Kyle from Whistler Mountain today, where heís competing in the Crankworx event this weekend.

Travel to the World Cup events this year, which has stretched from Spain to Brazil, has been made possible by support from his major sponsors, Specialized Bicycles, Red Bull, Oakley, and Fox Shox.

USA Cycling also announced today that Kyle is a discretionary selection for the Junior Menís Downhill World Championships. Due to Kyleís international competition and filming commitments he was unable to participate in more than one NORBA Junior Expert race this season, which he duly won, but on the strength of his 3rd place at last yearís World Championships, and his 24th place overall in the UCI World Cup Downhill (highest ranked American) he has been announced as a member of the US National Team today.

ěIím stoked to be representing for the 3rd time. My goals for this event since 2003 have been pretty clear. I wanted a top ten in the first year, a podium the second, and well, this year Iíd like to take the win. Iím realistic enough to know there are other guys hungry for it like me. Brendan (Fairclough) from England has been riding really well, and thereís a gazillion Panozzoís from Australia! The French will also have a couple of riders to watch out for as always, but Iíve been racing most of these guys all season and have been riding to their times or better. Iím happy I saw the course last year, and I did pretty well on it, so Iím ready to hit it!î

Kyle will be in Europe two weeks earlier to participate in the 7th round of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Pila, Italy, and following that, the French Cup Finals in La Bresse, France. The World Championships take part in Livigno, Italy from August 30 to September 4, and both Kyleís finals will be on Saturday September 3rd.

Kyle would like to thank his sponsors: Specialized Bicycles, Red Bull, Oakley, Fox Shox, Hayes Brakes, 661 Protection, Bombshell Rims, SDG I-Beams and Seats, SRAM Components, Easton Bars and Stems, Profile Racing Cranks and Hubs, Crank Brothers Pedals, MRP Chain Guides, Chris King Headsets, and ODI Grips.