Frey Boosts Olympic Cycling Chances With Victory in National 40K Race

John Frey of Albuquerque, N.M., the U.S. record-holder in the 40-kilometer individual cycling time trial, won the national title in the event Saturday, boosting his chances for a berth on the U.S. Olympic team.

Norm Alvis of Sacramento, the defending national champion, finished second, and John Stenner of Boulder, Colo., was third.

Frey’s winning time on the 24-mile course was 50 minutes 26.16 seconds.

“I think we have a chance for a medal (in the Olympics),” Frey said after the race.

The race was the first in a series of competitions during the next 10 days that will decide both the Olympic team and the national championships. More than 500 of the country’s best amateur cyclists are scheduled to compete.

The selection trials will be used to pick four men to compete in the 100-kilometer team trial at Seoul, and five riders each for the men’s and women’s “long” road racing squads.

The Olympic road racing teams will consist of three men and three women. There is no Olympic women’s team time trial event.

The top two riders in the men’s and women’s road races will get automatic Olympic berths. The third riders will be decided at the discretion of the coaches, but points earned in the trials are expected to play a large part in such selection. Two alternates also will be picked for the “long” teams.

The Olympic track cycling trials are scheduled for Houston Aug. 16-21.