Jeff Louder, from Salt Lake City, is one of a seven-man team picked by USA Cycling to race for the United States in the 262 kilometer Elite Men's Road Race at Zolder, Belgium, on Sunday.
Louder, 24, is completing his third season as a European-based professional cyclist. He was picked on the basis of his relevant experience and consistently good results throughout the season which include a victory at Westrozebeke and several other solid placings in top-level races. Louder, a graduate of Judge Memorial High School, began his cycling career in Utah and for the past 5 years has been living and training in Oostende, Belgium. He races for the 23-man Belgian team Landbouwkrediet-Colnago (Team sponsor Landbouwkrediet is a Farm Credit Bank and co-sponsor Colnago is a premier Italian bike manufacturer).
The U.S. team also includes Fred Rodriquez (Emeryville, Calif.) who rides for Belgian team Domo-Farm Frites; Chris Horner (Bend, Ore./ Prime Alliance), Dylan Casey (Walnut Creek, Calif. / US Postal), Mike Sayers (Sacramento, Calif. / Mercury), Antonio Cruz (Long Beach, Calif. / US Postal), and Guido Trenti (Natick, Mass. / Aqua-Saponne).
The World Road Championships and the Olympics are the only major events where riders from various professional teams combine to race as national teams. The event at Zolder will include teams from Belgium, Holland, Spain and Italy in addition to teams representing all cycling nations. Organizers expect 150,000 paying spectators to attend the race in addition to the millions of mostly European television viewers who will watch the six hour event live (OLN will broadcast a replay in the US on October 31st). The winner earns the right to wear the world champion's Rainbow Jersey for the following year and to wear rainbow stripes on their jersey sleeves for the rest of their career. Former world men's champions from the US are Greg Lemond and Lance Armstrong, the only Americans to also win the Tour de France.