With the 2008 Olympic Games just four months away, the United States is currently illustrating its strength as one of the top women’s road cycling nations in the world, referenced by a pair of women in the top ten of the UCI’s individual international rankings, another two in the top ten of the UCI Women’s Road World Cup standings after three races, and a fourth-place nation’s ranking. With the incredible depth of talent USA Cycling has developed over the course of the last several years, American women look to move up the rankings further with significant international events on the horizon.

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This week, two Americans turned in outstanding performances in major European events as Christian Vande Velde and Lauren Franges finished near the top of the standings in France and the Netherlands respectively. At the Circuit Cycliste Sarthe, a 2.1-ranked four-day UCI stage race in France, Vande Velde won the stage-two time trial and finished second overall. Meanwhile, Franges finished sixth and won the Best Young Rider Category at the Drentse 8 van Dwingleoo, a UCI 1.1-ranked single-day race in Holland.

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Now that the 2008 competitive cycling season is in full swing, it’s time to begin thinking about this season’s USA Cycling Masters Road National Championships. Scheduled for June 30 - July 6 in Louisville, Ky., this year’s edition will see several changes based on valuable feedback from USA Cycling members. Some changes include the elimination of field size limits and the addition of qualifying heats when necessary, the implementation of on-site registration and race-day packet pick-up, a refund option in case your plans change, and an escalating registration fee structure. Please read the following guidelines to become familiar with the changes and registration process for 2008.

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This season, several American women - all members of domestic trade teams - are sacrificing bigger salaries, stability and time with loved ones to pursue their dreams of becoming world-class cyclists in the international peloton or future world championship participants and Olympians. Based at USA Cycling’s European Residence Center in Lucca, Italy throughout much of spring and summer, the five women are all part of USA Cycling’s Women’s National Team program which provides them with European racing opportunties, instruction and resources.

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As part of USA Cycling’s women’s talent identification and development initiatives, the national governing body is preparing to conduct a pair of Women’s Regional Development Camps in 2008. The first is set for June 22-27 at Sonoma State University in California, while the other is tentatively scheduled for early August in Lehigh County, Pa. The women’s-specific camps will provide athletically-gifted participants with the knowledge, instruction and resources necessary to excel at the sport of competitive cycling.

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IT provider, Computer Sciences Corp., has said that it will not renew its eight-year sponsorship of its cycling team -Team CSC- after this year.

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The route of the 2008 Tour of Britain has been unveiled, with the race launching in the heart of London with an 80km stage around an 8km circuit.

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