Colorado Springs, Colo. (December 21, 2006)—VeloNews, the Journal of Competitive Cycling in North America, named the three 2006 American World Champions – Sarah Hammer (Temecula, Calif./Ouch Pro Cycling), Jill Kintner (Seattle, Wash./GT) and Kristin Armstrong (Boise, Idaho/Team Lipton) – as its 2006 North American “Women of the Year” in its annual year-end award issue.

Hammer became the first world champion in UCI elite track competition since 1996 with a victory in the women’s three-kilometer individual pursuit in Bordeaux, France last April.  Hammer clocked a time of 3:37.194 to set a personal best and qualify for the finals where she edged Russian Olga Slyusareva in the gold medal match.  It was first world title for an elite American on the track since Marty Nothstein captured a rainbow jersey in the men’s keirin in 1996.  Hammer’s world championship was also the first for an elite woman on the track in 11 years after Rebecca Twigg won a gold medal in the individual pursuit in 1995.

Hammer’s year didn’t end there as she broke an 11-year-old national record at the 2006 USA Cycling Elite Track National Championships, clocking a 3:32.865 to smash the old mark of 3:36.08 set by Twigg in 1995. It was also a new personal best and track record for the ADT Event Center Velodrome in Carson, Calif.

On the road, Armstrong captured a world title in the elite women’s time trial at the 2006 UCI Road World Championships in Salzburg, Austria this fall.  Armstrong clocked a winning time of 35:04.89 to beat two-time defending world champion Karen Thurig of Switzerland by 25 seconds over the 16.23-mile course.

Armstrong’s victory in the time trial was the third for an American woman in world championship history.  She joined 1994 world champion Karen Kurreck and 2000 winner Mari Holden as the only three riders in history to accomplish that feat.

In mountain biking, Kintner claimed her second-consecutive world title in the elite women’s 4-cross event with a flawless run from start to finish at the 2006 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Rotorua, New Zealand.

Kintner also won four of six events on the UCI World Cup circuit to earn the overall World Cup title.

The American world champions were three of seven riders to claim medals in elite world championship competitions in 2006.  Armstrong, Hammer and Kintner joined David Zabriskie (silver – men’s time trial), Christine Thorburn (bronze – women’s time trial), Randy Stumphauser (silver – men’s BMX) and Mike Day (bronze – men’s BMX) on the podium this season.

To read all about the three American women selected as VeloNews “North American Women of the Year”, and other VeloNews awards, pick up the latest copy today, or visit www.velonews.com.