News
Women's Prestige gets new finale
Organizers of the Women's Prestige Cycling Series in the United States
of
America have announced that the Presbyterian Hospital Invitational in
Charlottte, North Carolina, will join the series and will serve as the
grand
finale in 2008. The event's addition will mark the first time the series'
five-year history that a one-day race has been included in a schedule
that
previously included all stage races.
"We're thrilled to be part of the Series", said Presbyterian
Hospital
Invitational director Thad Fischer. "Women's racing is a priority
of our
event and being the grand finale of the country's only national women's-only
series has long been a goal for us. We're going to work hard to create
the
grand finale that's worthy of this important series".
As the grand finale, the Presbyterian Hospital Invitational will be
the
deciding factor in a series that also includes the Redlands Bicycle
Classic,
the Nature Valley Grand Prix and the International Tour de 'Toona.
"Adding a big one-day criterium balances out the Series",
said Carmen
D'Aluisio, manager of the Aaron's Cycling Team. "Stage race specialists
may
well take the lead early in the Series, but the tables will be turned
in the
finale. This gives crit specialists a shot at the individual, best young
rider and team titles and could make for a dramatic finish to the Series."
As the only criterium ranked at 1.1 on the USA Cycling National Race
Calendar, the Presbyterian Hospital Invitational is the most important
criterium on that national calendar. Unlike the three stage races that
precede it on the Series schedule, this is a true sprinters' race.
Women's Prestige Cycling Series 2008 calendar:
Redlands Bicycle Classic (April 3-6)
Nature Valley Grand Prix (June 11-15)
Tour de 'Toona (July 21-27)
Presbyterian Hospital Invitational (August 2)

