Taylor Knibb skips Olympic Road Cycling race to focus on Triathlon and Time Trial

Taylor Knibb managed to qualify for no fewer than four Olympic disciplines, but it has now become clear that the top American athlete is dropping one of those four races: in order to be able to focus as much as possible on the Olympic triathlon, Olympic Mixed Team Relay and Olympic Time Trial, Knibb has chosen not to start in the Olympic Road Cycling race.

In mid-May, Knibb won the U.S. Time Trial Championships, which not only qualified her for the Olympic time trial, but also automatically qualified her for the Olympic road race. Because of her overcrowded schedule, however, she let that one slip by: the time trial in Paris is scheduled for July 27, and then the women’s triathlon follows just four days later, on July 31. Finally, Knibb races the Mixed Team Relay on Aug. 5.

Knibb is considered one of the major contenders for both the individual triathlon and the Mixed Team Relay (USA).

The women’s Olympic road race takes place on Aug. 4, just one day before the Mixed Team Relay, so Knibb has decided not to participate. Her spot will be taken by Kristen Faulkner.