Projecting young talent in cycling, as in any sport, is a difficult endeavor. Maturation, both physically and mentally, coaching, sponsorship, and desire can all play an integral part in the development of a cyclist. But sometimes, on those rare occasions, talent can, figuratively, leap off the page and make you take notice.

Coryn Rivera is just such a talent.

Since she began racing competitively, the 17-year-old has earned more junior national titles, 24, on the road, track, and through cyclocross than she has actually celebrated birthdays. Coryn, who packs as much power in her legs as Manny Pacquiao does in his punches, could easily be described as a phenom, but that descriptor actually belies the amount of work and preparation she has put into what has quickly become her passion.

With a seemingly never ending upward trajectory, Coryn’s transition from the junior ranks to the senior women’s circuit will undoubtedly be closely scrutinized. But, if this season was any type of an indicator, the youngest of the Elite PROMAN Hit Squad has already proven that she more than belongs in their company. This past season, she roared to victory in three events, the Manhattan Beach Grand Prix, the San Rafael Twilight Criterium, and the Cascade Cycling Classic criterium, her first National Racing Calendar win, despite being saddled by the constraints of junior gearing. These efforts earned her the distinction of being named the Best U23 Woman of the Year by Velonews.

In my conversation with Coryn Rivera, we tackle junior gearing, growing up a Filipino-American, and racing for the US National Team.

Lenny B (LB): When did you officially start racing...when did you know you were good?

Coryn Rivera (CR): My first race was a kid's race in 2003. The next year I did the same race again then started to race more local races. So I officially started racing in 2004. Well I won both the kid's race, but my first real race with a license and rolling out the junior gears was the LA Circuit Race in 2004. I think I knew I was kind of good because I started crying when I beat all but one boy in the junior field [smiles].

LB: You had some big wins this year, is there a favorite among them?

CR: I think my personal favorite was San Rafael Twilight. We had a really good team out there for that race and we were all super aggressive. We all owned that race; attack, after attack, after attack. When it all came  together for the final lap, I set up for the sprint and I just so happen to cross the line first! And afterward it was a big celebration for the team. Everyone was just so happy and we all felt like we accomplished something amazing; it was a lot of fun.

LB: For those out there who don't know about the constraints of junior gearing could you please explain the difference? Has is helped/hurt you in certain races/terrain?

CR: 'Junior Gearing' is a USA Cycling rule that restrict juniors to a 52 tooth front chainring and a 14 tooth end cog. Most adults race with a 53 tooth front chainring and an 11 tooth end cog. During NRC criteriums I am usually always in my 52/14. Sometimes I think I won’t be able to hang on, but somehow I end up sticking. The gear is not impossible. The most trouble I have with the gearing is on downhills during longer road races. I have to work SO hard on the downhills just to keep up.  I am SO worked from just trying to keep up on the downhill that when it comes to the climbs, I just can’t keep up. But the bottom line about junior gears is that they are a blessing in disguise. I have to spin super fast sometimes during races, but once I get my "big girl" gears and I still spin as fast as I did with junior gearing, I will be that much more faster.

LB: You have ridden for the US National team, most recently in Russia. What was that experience like and what does your future agenda look like with the US National team?

CR: Yes, I was in Russia with the US National Team for the Jr Road and Track World Championships. I don’t think I ever want to go back to Russia ever in my life, [laughs]. We were basically quarantined in our hotel. Then we would have to take a 30-minute bus ride to the road course/velodrome, which were right next to each other. That was the ONLY place we could ride. If we rode on the road we would probably get run over.

The food was almost exactly the same for breakfast/lunch/dinner every day. And as far as the racing went, it didn’t go the way I wanted it to go.

I just recently came back from the Manchester Track World Cup about 3 weeks ago. That was quite an experience. I qualified for the final in the scratch race and finished 13th in the scratch and Shelley [Olds] finished 3rd! And in the points race qualifier I got crashed out by a Hong Kong chick and was unable to collect enough points to qualify for the final. But there are no plans for the rest of 2009, at least to race with the US National Team, but I am going to US National Team track camps every month for the rest of the year.

LB: What have been your favorite races, places, and/or experiences with the National team so far?

CR: I’d have to say my favorite experience with the national team so far was my month long trip to Belgium. It was the first time ever for USA Cycling to invite junior girls to the national team house in Izegem, Belgium. I was there with Kendall Ryan, Kaitie Antonneau, and Anna Young. We had a lot of fun and success. We did 4 races on the road and spent a weekend of track racing in Apeldoorn, Holland. We worked well together as a team during the races and I learned a ton about the European style of racing. I won 2 races on the road and won the derny race on the track in Apeldoorn.

LB: It is currently your off-season from the road, but you recently raced overseas on the track as well as some cyclocross. What does the rest of your program look like as you prepare for next year?

CR: Right now I am preparing for cyclocross nationals in Bend, Oregon. But I am still using the track as training for cyclocross.

LB: PROMAN is undergoing some major changes for next year. Do you know what your schedule is yet, and are there certain races that you are targeting?

CR: Yup, there are going to be a lot of team changes for next year. At this time, there is no set schedule yet but I am still targeting Junior Road and Track World Championships in Italy during the summer.

LB: You have some great leaders/role models within PROMAN. What is the most important thing you have learned from any/all of them? Is there one person who has been the most influential?

CR: Especially being the youngest person on the team during the really big races, everyone is a role model to me. I have learned a lot from everyone; Shelley Olds, Nicola Cranmer, Rachel Lloyd, Cari Higgins, are just a few that have always been there for me to help me out and teach me the ropes. I think everything they have told me is important, I can’t put my finger on one important thing I have learned from them, they are all important.

LB: What are your strengths as a rider?

CR: I think I have a lot of strengths as a rider. I don’t want to just call myself a sprinter after winning many criteriums this year. I’d say I’m a bicycle racer. I’m still a junior and I’m still developing into the kind of racer I want to be.

LB: You have won national championships on the road, on the track and in cyclocross. Which cycling discipline is your favorite? Which one suits your talents the best?

CR: Road is my favorite cycling discipline. Track is the most helpful cycling discipline. And cyclocross is the fun discipline. I think road racing suits my talents best because it has everything, from climbs to downhills to technical areas.

LB: Road races or criteriums?

CR: Hmm…this is a tough one. Lately, I’ve done well at criteriums, but I do love road racing. I’ll say road races because the criterium is not a world championship event. Road races really push your limits while making you think tactically.

LB: You bring up a good point about tactics, as cycling is as much mental as it is physical. How much of your success has been a product of “out thinking” your opponents rather than just “being the fastest” one out there?

CR: I’m not quite sure exactly how much of my early success has been a product of out smarting my competition, but I’m sure a good amount of my current success has to do with outsmarting my competition. I’ve been very competitive since I was really young, so it has grown with me. I really hate losing, so I try to prepare as much as I can physically and mentally for races.

LB: Mass start races, sprints, or timed events?

CR: Definitely mass start races. It’s not just power that can win the race; you also have to be smart.

LB: A recent photo of you with Shelley Olds was captioned “PROMAN Hit Squad's 5-foot assassins.” Does being of smaller stature help you in mass start races, or conversely, as a smaller rider, do you take a beating in the pack?

CR: I’d say being a 5-foot assassin has the best of both worlds. I am able to squeeze through some gaps and spaces that most other riders couldn’t. Plus, I can get a draft off of pretty much everyone, but not everyone can draft off of me. But that can also work in a bad way because sometimes people do not want to get into a breakaway with a smaller rider because they can’t get a draft off of us. When I was in Manchester for the World Cup, I remember a Czech rider trying to fight me for a wheel and her thigh hit my shoulder. It could have potentially been dangerous, but I held my ground. Overall I think being smaller is more beneficial in the peloton.

LB: What are your future aspirations, both on and off the bike?

CR: In the future I’d like to develop into a world class female cyclist. I’d like to race in Europe and ultimately race in the Olympics. Off the bike, I plan to continue school, I don’t know where yet, but it is in the works.  I’m thinking of studying business and/or graphic design.

LB: Are you looking into schools that have accomplished cycling programs, or do you plan on racing for PROMAN during school?

CR: I am not quite sure at the moment, but I will probably race for both. For collegiate racing I would race for my school and for regular category racing I’d race for PROMAN.

LB: There aren’t that many Asian/Pacific Islanders in the professional peloton. In fact, this year was the first time an Asian rider finished the Tour de France in its 106 year history. How did you get your start? Is there anyone in your family that races? Do you have any cycling role models?

CR: My dad got me started on the bike. When I was still playing soccer, my dad and I used to go mountain biking at a local trail and I would be on a heavy mountain bike my dad bought me from Costco. Then I got upgraded to the back of the tandem and that was how I got exposed to road riding. Eventually I got my own road bike. Next thing I know, my dad signed me up for a kid’s race and everything evolved from there. Nobody races road in my family, but my dad used to race motocross and downhill.

Kristin Armstrong is an awesome cycling role model. I’d say the Olympics are the pinnacle for female cyclists, and she achieved that goal. It’s so great to see that everything she did to prepare for Olympics paid off.

LB: You have had great success at such a young age, do you consider yourself a role model?

CR: I personally don’t think so because I am still a junior, I am very young, I learn new things every day, and I am not a perfect cyclist. But sure, if I inspire people and they look up to me, I must be doing something right to be a role model.

LB: What is your favorite Filipino food?

CR: Hmm…I’d have to say Caldereta. I’m not sure if I spelled that right! But I know it tastes good! My mom cooks a lot of Filipino food, they are all really good, but I like Caldereta the best.

LB: Like some other Filipinos born in the States, sadly, I never really learned tagalog. Are you fluent, and here is the typical Filipino question, how often do you get back to the Philippines?

CR: I grew up with my parents speaking me to in tagalog and English or taglish. So I understand tagalong, but I can’t speak it. The last time I was back in the Philippines was when I was about 12, if I remember correctly. My aunts, uncles, and cousins all want me to take a visit, but it seems like I never have time.

LB: Music is a big part of the racing culture, from background music playing at some criteriums to training. What are some of your favorite songs, groups, artists?

CR: Yes, music is a very big part of my life in general. I listen to pretty much everything. If I were to list off who I listen to, it would take forever. But on my warm-up playlist I have: Chris Brown, MGMT, Lil Wayne, DJ Tiesto, Taking Back Sunday, Basshunter, Kevin Rudolf, Fort Minor, Phoenix, Jay-Z, Kings of Leon, LMFAO, Chester French, Donavon Frankenreiter, Armin Van Buuren, Justin Timberlake, Reel Big Fish, Super Mash Bros., The Dream, The Lonely Island… and it goes on and on.

LB: Although a big part of your life is on the bike, what are some things that you enjoy off of it?

CR: When I’m off the bike I try to enjoy that time as much as I can. I am usually caught up hanging out with friends and family, going to the beach, movies, snowboarding etc. Lately I’ve been enjoying painting/designing Oakleys.

To track Coryn as she takes on world of cycling, visit her website or follow her on Twitter.

Photos: Courtesy Bob Cullinan, CycleTo; Rob Evans

By Nicola Cranmer

After a successful US National Championships in Colorado Springs, Lorraine Jarvis (PROMAN Hit Squad) headed to Sydney, Australia for the UCI Masters World Championships.

The first event of the week, the 500m, was one that Jarvis had personally targeted for quite some time. "For two years, my goal has been to beat the 500m world record of 39.70 set in 2007,” remarked the Vice President and 26-year veteran of Wells Fargo Bank in downtown San Francisco.

Her dreams; however, were almost shattered as Jarvis was hit by a car during her daily commute from San Anselmo earlier this year — an accident that would require the use of an Exogen bone stimulator to heal a broken clavicle.  Undeterred, Jarvis quickly refocused on her goal of becoming a World Champion and did so in a brilliant fashion.

Jarvis commented, "I heard that 2009 Masters Nationals were going to be in Colorado Springs and I considered adjusting my training to peak at Nationals for a chance at that record, but my husband convinced me to "keep my eye on the prize," which of course was to win at Worlds two months later. I stuck with my training schedule and here I am today with the rainbow jersey and a time of 39.42! Thank you coach Kelly!!!"

Lorraine also scored a bronze medal in the match sprint at the UCI Track Masters World Championships, taking the win over Marian Renshaw, who happens to be the mother of Columbia-HTC's lead out sensation, Mark Renshaw.

A competitive volleyball player for many years, Jarvis was encouraged into track racing by her husband and coach Kelly Silberberg. Her first event was the 500m at the 2004 Northern California State Championships, which she won.  In addition to her exploits on the track, Jarvis also spearheads the team's community clean up day, an annual event in which team members pick up trash along the popular commuter route from Sausalito up to the Golden Gate Bridge.

Up next for this unstoppable Masters rider will be another assault on the World Record in the 500m, but only after a well deserved winter break.

Photos: Kelly Silberberg (top); Rob Evans (bottom)

Colorado Springs, Colo. - USA Cycling announced on Tuesday that its member athletes elected Cari Higgins to the position of Athlete Trustee.

Higgins will serve as one of two athlete representatives on the United States Cycling Federation (USCF) Board of Trustees. The USCF is an association within USA Cycling; it governs all disciplines of cycling.

"I am looking forward to improving the communication between the athletes and their governing body,” Higgins said. “It is an honor to act as the voice of athletes in the political process."

Cari Higgins is a seven-time US National Track Champion, including the 2009 Women's Omnium, and four-time Pan Am Championship medalist. She rides for the PROMAN Hit Squad, is coached by national record holder Missy Thompson, and lives and trains in Boulder, Colo. Committed to the development of cycling, she and Thompson founded the Flatiron Flyers Junior Cycling Project, also based in Boulder.

Next week Higgins will join Dutch rider Eva Heijmans to compete in the classic Amsterdam Six-Day track race. Following that, she will compete in the first track World Cup of the season in Manchester, England.

Photo: Rob Evans

Olds successfully defended her 2008 title with a very impressive win.

Carson, CA - Shelley Olds is one of the most versatile riders in the peloton.  Earlier this year, she finished second in Stage 8 of the Giro d’Italia Femminile and more recently came away with a 3rd place on stage 5 and the overall sprinters jersey at Giro Della Toscana.

With all four PROMAN riders making it to the National Championship Scratch finals, the scene at the ADT Velodrome in Carson, CA was set for a fast race.

Coryn Rivera, PROMAN's 17-year-old sensation who was riding in her very first Elite Track Nationals final, launched an attack right off the line and drew out the field. She would ride a very attentive and aggressive race. Christen King continued PROMAN's assault on the title when she coupled with Theresa Cliff Ryan (Verducci Breakaway) in what many considered to be the winning move.  The two would establish a considerable gap, but they were eventually bought back into the fold.

Once the field was back together, the defending national champion countered immediately and did not look back from there.  Olds would dig deep to lap the field and claim the victory solo.

Christen King and Hanan Alves-Hyde raced very well, each looking at winning opportunities but the move of the race was Shelley’s well-timed attack.

Prior to the scratch race Higgins, Olds and King raced to a silver medal in the team pursuit, finishing behind the winning team of Sarah Hammer, Dotsie Bausch and Kim Geist. Higgins would further add to her personal medal count with a silver in the 500m, while teammate, Hanan Alves-Hyde, would score a personal best in the Individual Pursuit.

Shelley Olds along with Cari Higgins, and Coryn Rivera, who is now old enough to compete in her first UCI World Cup season, will be racing at the Manchester World Cup at the end of the month.

by Nicola Cranmer

The first National Championship Omnium was held at ADT Velodrome, Carson CA yesterday, September 30th, with PROMAN’s Cari Higgins coming out on top. Higgins recent success at Pan American Championships, with 4 medals, is an indication that the Boulder resident is on the rise.

The Omnium consist of five events, a 200m TT, 5 km Scratch Race, 2 km Individual Pursuit, 10 km Points Race, and a 500m TT. Higgins finished an impressive first in three of the five events, while also earning a second and fourth placed finish.

“This was the most important race for me this week because I feel like on the world level this is where I’m most competitive,” explained Higgins. “I really wanted to show what I can do in this event and the dominance of our entire ProMan squad.”

Higgins teammate, Christen King took fifth place honors. (second place points race and 3rd place 2k pursuit). Hanan Alves- Hyde also rode a very solid first omnium.

PROMAN Racing last year held the inaugural Women’s International Style Omnium at Hellyer Velodrome, San Jose CA. Points are scored in the Omnium by the rider's finishing position in each race. So, five first places would give a final score of five points. Five second places would give a score of 10 points. Lowest points total wins. The Omnium is now a World Championship event and is being considered for the 2012 London Olympics.

Cari will be joined today by 2008 National Scratch race champ Shelley Olds, Christen King, Coryn Rivera, Hanan Alves-Hyde, and Lorraine Jarvis. The squad will be racing 500m, team pursuit and scratch race.

Boulder, Colorado - Cari Higgins (PROMAN Hit Squad Professional Cycling Team) made her debut last week racing for the US National Cycling Team in Mexico City at the Velodrome de CERA. Higgins competed in and received a medal in all the individual sprint disciplines including the 500m, match sprints, and keirin, as well as the scratch race, a track endurance event. Higgins' accounted for four of the six medals by the USA team.

Higgins commented "I am really inspired after some great international competition. I am already back on the track training and ready to step it up to meet new challenges and my goals. I am looking forward to the opportunities to race abroad this winter and ultimately the World Championships. I am taking 2009 to concentrate more on my sprinting and it is nice to see it paying off. There is nothing like sprinting the fastest women in the world".

Higgins' training on the bike and in the gym will continue in Colorado leading up to the US Elite National Championships and the World Cup season starting in October. In her third year on the track, sponsors like PROMAN and Violich Farms, have given her the opportunity to compete in her track discipline.

"The teams dedication to track racing is paying off, resulting in National, World Cup and Pan American medals," stated Nicola Cranmer, team founder and manager, "It compliments our road program very well with many riders straddling both disciplines. Our focus on junior development will ensure an accelerated growth and longevity in women's track racing. Several of our girls attended the recently held inaugural USAC track camp for junior girls. Three of those girls including PROMAN rider Coryn Rivera are currently in Moscow for Junior Track and Road World Championships. With USAC Athletic Director, Jim Miller's continued support of women's cycling, the future is secure.

Up next on the track calendar is Elite Track Nationals, Sept 30 - Oct 4th, Carson, CA where both Cari Higgins and Shelley Olds will defend their five 2008 National titles. They will be joined by Coryn Rivera, Hanan Alves-Hyde, Christen King and Lorraine Jarvis.

Higgins is sponsored by PROMAN Professional Women's Cycling, Violich Farms, Tiemeyer Cycles, Speedplay, and SKINS.

For complete list of sponsors visit http://www.promanracing.com/
Team news and updates follow http://twitter.com/nicolacranmer

Photos: Greg Pent (top); Rob Evans (inset)

At the highest level of the sport, the Directeur Sportif, or sporting director, manages the daily operations of the cycling team. Often times you will see them following their riders in the team car, communicating with them about tactics, race situations, or upcoming terrain, and even provide some mechanical assistance. But at the lower levels of the sport, the responsibilities of the sporting director, or team manager, can run the full gambit of things, from pinning race numbers on jerseys or filling water bottles to sending out newsletters or even being the team masseuse.

Such is the life of Nicola Cranmer, Team Manager for the PROMAN Hit Squad. Since founding the California based women’s cycling team in 2006, Nicola has taken it from regional amateur team to national elite professional team, and now to UCI track team. In doing so, she has helped foster the dreams of the individuals she has worked with as well as precipitated the agenda of all women in cycling.

Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with Nicola to discuss PROMAN’s newly formed Junior Development program, garner her perspective on women’s cycling, and explore her own passions as a cyclist.

Granny’s 30 (G): From your bio, you stated that you were previously an apprentice jockey, did you grow up around horses?

Nicola Cranmer (NC): Yes, you could say that in a sense, the horses were mostly on television; it certainly wasn’t a glamorous poetic introduction to them.

My dad is a huge horse racing fan, so I grew up with him jumping up and down on the edge of the sofa screaming ‘go on my son, come on come on! Betting on horses is legal everywhere in England and its quite common to pop down to the local bookies on a Saturday morning, get some fish and chips and a few pints and either watch racing at home or at the pub. My dad would bet a few pounds on a horse for himself and for me. Mostly I picked horses for their name back then, later on form. I was one of those girls that had every inch of her bedroom wall covered with pictures of horses; most of my friends had pictures of Duran Duran, Starsky and Hutch or the Human League, horses most certainly kept me out of trouble [that came later].

My mum when she was younger used to baby-sit for one of the leading thoroughbred trainers in England – Sir Gordon Richards; she stayed in touch with him and occasionally rode his horses. I remember one day I must have been about seven or eight I watched my mum riding, she was challenged by the man she was riding with to a race, they galloped across a field neck and neck it was very exciting, my Mum won the ‘race’ and it left quite an impression on me. I was then hooked. We were quite poor growing up although I didn’t realize it at the time, so I could never afford to have a horse of my own. I worked in a riding school on the weekends in exchange for free riding lessons; I knew I wanted to make a career out of it. My grandparents lived in a village where there was a training facility, so when I finished my secondary modern school, I moved in with them and worked for one of the leading trainers in the UK.

G: Were you ever into equestrian riding or was it purely racing? If racing, what type, flat or steeplechase?

NC: I competed in gymkhanas at about age 12 and a little cross-country; I went straight into thoroughbred racing at age 16. I was fortunate enough to work in the top yard in the country for a trainer, David Elsworth. In my first year in horse racing, one of the horses I took care of, Melindra won at Royal ascot, I got to meet the queen mum, that’s where the glamorous side of horse racing came in. Melindra was a very sassy two year old filly that was rescued by a police woman from a knackers yard, (slaughter house) turns out she was a really good sprinter, of course it was a rags to riches story that the media loved. It’s sort of the equivalent of an unknown rider winning Flanders.

It was a mixed yard, both flat and steeplechase.

G: How did you get into the sport of cycling? Did you ride prior to your move to California…before your mountain biking days?

NC: The only bike riding I ever did in England was a way of avoiding drinking and driving, although you could still get arrested for being drunk on a bike. The good thing was the local police man rode a bike and I was pretty sure I could out ride him if I needed to

There is a huge pub culture in England and it’s just what you do, if you weren’t paralytic by 11pm (pub closing) it just wasn’t a good night out. It’s weird thinking about it now, but it’s part of life there. I was 17 at the time. I lived in a little village and would ride my bike to the pub – skirt, heels and all. I think my bike had 3 gears but I didn’t really ever use them. It also had a dynamo light which was really tricky when riding home from the pub at night, struggling up the hill with the light getting dimmer and dimmer and finally stopping at the top, the first few feet of the descent it was pitch black until the dynamo got working again! Once in a while my skirt would get sucked into the oily chain, I mostly wore black then so it didn’t bother me much. It would have been far too sensible and not very fashionable to put trousers and trainers (sneakers) on.

I moved to California in 1986, primarily because I needed to take some time off from riding horses due to an injury, I decided to move to California for six months. While I was here I met a guy, Dan Lewbin, then expert National XC Champ, in the local bike shop – Planeaway Bikes, formerly the Koski Brother’s Cove Bike Shop in Tiburon (The Koski Brothers are the less known pioneers of mountain biking), who asked if I would like to go riding one day. I actually purchased a road bike first and would go on long rides by myself. I had no clue as to what I was doing. I would pack a lunch; slices of cheese, ham or salami and weird things like that…sometimes I would be out there all day.

I eventually borrowed a mountain bike and went riding with Dan and his friends who belonged to a sort of renegade outlaw team, DFL - "Dead Fucking Last," I quickly became a ‘member.’ At that time, mountain bike racing was so fun with classic races like Shasta Lemurian, Revenge of the Siskyous, TNT, Rockhopper, etc. These were more point-to-point or big epic loop races, which have now been replaced in favor of more spectator friendly lap races. It was good times, with bands and kegs at the finishes. I was naturally quite good and progressed quickly from sport to expert cross country, then to pro downhill. I raced for WTB and later PROFLEX. WTB now sponsors my team with tires and saddles.

In 1997, my life abruptly changed and so did my bike racing career, which I hesitate to call a career as I wasn’t getting paid. While riding my mountain bike on a Mount Tam fire road, I got a speeding ticket (yes, the state park rangers would literally hide behind trees on fire roads with radar guns), which led to a refusal of entry back into the US due to an over stayed visa. As I was not allowed to be let back into the US for over two years, I moved back to London, and signed with Lennox Lewis’s sports agency as a mountain biker.

My three years back in the UK were pretty incredible though. I met some wonderful people; one of them would eventually be the title sponsor of the team that I was to start 8 years later. It’s quite a long story, but a fascinating one for another day!

I moved back to the States in 2001 and then found myself back on the bike again. Simon Andalib, former Village Peddler employee/bike racer, was responsible for getting me back into racing, and pro mountain biker Chris Greene was a huge support and training partner.

G: What was your motivation behind starting up a cycling team?

NC: My main motivation…racing on a co-ed team I noticed that the men got more support than the women. This was frustrating so I decided to form a women’s team. I quickly found a shop sponsor, Paradigm Cycles, which at the time was owned by Julia Violich. Julia who is also the current 40+ national XC champ and 2nd placed finisher at Masters Worlds, has since sold the shop, and assists as our sponsorship director. It would be impossible running the team without her support.

Our title sponsor came to us very quickly too, and we wouldn’t be where we are today without them. PROMAN – PROject MANagement is a German engineering company, one of the biggest in the world, they certainly don’t need the advertising. They sponsor the team solely to assist its athletes attaining their goals and dreams; a very unique situation. I am eternally grateful for their support.

G: When you decided to start up the team, what was the hardest thing about starting it up? What turned out to be easier than you thought?

NC: The title sponsor came very easily, that was huge! Starting the team was actually one of those serendipitous moments where everything flowed. Not saying anything was really easy, it’s always been hard work, which is something I am not afraid of. I think the hardest thing is being taken seriously. It seems you have to pay your dues in road cycling for people to respect you. The team is rolling into its 4th year and I think we are gaining respect both on and off the bike. The road scene is pretty tight knit and I would say much of the respect is gained off the bike; integrity and a good sense of humor go a long way. There have been times that have challenged me beyond what I thought was my capacity but I seem to be coming out of it all OK. I have certainly made plenty of mistakes along the way. I don’t pretend to be anything I’m not, I don’t pretend to even know what I am doing – I am just doing it to the best of my ability with what I know. I think it’s a continual learning process and I enjoy pushing myself to become better at what I do. I love the sport of cycling and intend to be here for a long time. It’s a wonderful community of people and I have forged friendships that will last a lifetime.

We are at a point in the team’s growth where we are outgrowing our title sponsor. Although PROMAN will continue to support us I need to generate more sponsor dollars to give the athletes what they deserve. There is just so much that I want to do. We rely on private donations from fans, family and friends, even cyclists from other teams have contributed in the past. Without this kind of support we would not exist. We are definitely a community effort.

G: As Team Manager for PROMAN Hit Squad what are your responsibilities?

NC: Well, this may take a while, I do everything from securing sponsorships, order clothing, take care of logistics, update the blog, write newsletter, fill water bottles, recruiting and even occasionally massages, I was a massage therapist for 11 years – you name it I do it. It wouldn’t be fair to say I am a one-woman show, but I do take care of the meat of the project and I couldn’t do it without the help of the team and friends. I definitely need to delegate more. I think most people have no idea what goes into running a team. I really almost have three teams to run, road, cross and track, which is split into two categories domestic and UCI. The UCI team has been a challenge; one of our riders Shelley Olds has excelled beyond belief and will continue to do so.

I formed the UCI team two years ago to enable Shelley to compete at the highest level of track racing, the World Cup circuit. Last year we were in Sydney, Beijing, LA and Copenhagen. This year Manchester and Melbourne, and she raced Copenhagen with the US National team. It’s been a great experience and an interesting one. I sit at managers’ meetings at these World Cup events and I am the only woman team owner in a room of about 150 managers and coaches, there are other women coaches and managers but very few (by the way, some assume I am the masseuse).

I would like to see more women in leadership roles in cycling especially in track racing. Working with former Saturn director, Giana Roberge has been instrumental in my growth and confidence. Her years of experience brought professionalism and high expectation to the team. I have learned a lot from her and take my responsibilities very seriously. Giana has since stepped away from her directing role with the birth of her first child. One of my biggest responsibilities is to the athletes on the team who not only show ability on the bike but passion loyalty, dedication and a trust in me to assist them with their goals.

Shelley Olds plays an important role as my partner on the team, her dedication and vision is so strong. Shelley has had opportunities to join other teams, and certainly get paid better, but she is determined to create the kind of environment that will allow her to follow her dream of the 2012 Olympics. She is a natural leader and has inspired me to reach for higher goals than I would have imagined. Her fiancé Rob Evans has also been a significant in developing a business strategy for the team for the future. Tim Brennan, team mechanic and sounding board, has also been a dedicated supporter of the team, taking care of everything technical and just basically being a good ear when times get rough. My ringtone on his phone is the pinball machine…I think that tells you a lot!

Julia Violich has also been a rock. She is a dedicated supporter of everything cycling, who I could not do without. We are also very fortunate to be joined by Cari Higgins, 4-time elite track champ. Cari fits well into our program, she has a strong track focus and dedicates much time to mentoring juniors in her hometown of Boulder, CO. Rachel Lloyd is another key member, she keeps things dirty with her Cross and Super D skills and is also a natural with the juniors. All team members contribute in one way or another and without the support of these people there would be no team.

I would also be remiss if I did not mention any and all of our sponsors: PROMAN, Violich Farms, Paradigm Cycles, BMC Bikes, Cane Creek Wheels, SRAM Bike Components, Enduro Bearings, Rudy Project, Voler Clothing, JL Racing Clothing, Skins, Northwave Shoes, WTB Tires & Saddles, Arundel Cage & Bar Tape. Sapim Spokes, Velocity Rims, Dumondetech Lube, Pure Swiss Water, Mez Design, CLIF Bar, Peet's Coffee & Tea, Whole Athlete, Marin Spine & Wellness, Larkspur Hotels, Northpoint Advisors, and Brake Through Media.

G: Some former band/orchestra members who have gone up front [of the band] with the baton have stated that it's hard to jump back in [for whatever reason], have you found that with your managing a team and racing for it?

NC: The first two years it was not a problem for me to manage and race as we were racing at a regional level and the team was smaller. Things changed; however, going into the third year when NRC races came into the picture, and now UCI. It’s very important to have a solid foundation by which to operate a team, and I have come to terms that I will be racing less. I am ok with that. I think racing with the team on occasion has its definite advantages. Although all the girls appreciate what I do as a manager there is nothing quite like sacrificing your personal race for another, it forms a deep bond and a different level of appreciation.

Managing has its own set of challenges to keep me focused. I will jump in a few crits this year to help my teammates but I will focus mostly on track racing. My goals will be at Masters Track Nationals and hopefully Masters Track Worlds. But the girls on the team are so dedicated and focused that they deserve more attention, although they constantly remind me to focus on myself. My priority as far as the team goes is them. If I can provide a situation where all they have to worry about is racing their bike I will be happy. That being said, most of the current team members are very active in the team’s growth off the bike as well. We do have a great support crew.

G: Mountain or Road?

NC: Mountain for the soul, the big drop offs and technical descents, road for the grace, sprints and team efforts

G: Road or Track?

NC: Track for the speed and tangibility and to increase power for the road

G: Crits or Stage Races?

NC: Crit slut all the way! I am starting to appreciate more and more the beauty and challenges of the stage race though.

G: With your title sponsor (PROMAN) in Dusseldorf, Germany has there been any talk/consideration of the team racing in Europe?

NC: Yes we have considered racing the road team in Europe, it’s very expensive to send a team but we certainly hope to, the Spring Classics would be a priority if we had the budget. The UCI track team has raced two World Cup seasons overseas. Since we first chatted, PROMAN riders, Shelley Olds, Rachel Lloyd & Megan Guarnier, Ashley Dymond and Coryn Rivera have raced for the US National team in Europe. Shelley competed in Italy on the track and was on the podium all three days of racing and was on the podium at a World Cup. Megan also competed in races in Italy, Belgium and France, including the Spring Classic – Tour of Flanders. Both Shelley and Megan also recently competed in the Giro d’Italia Femminile. Betina Hold also headed to Europe to race for the Canadian National Team.

We have Jim Miller to thank for these opportunities internationally. These kinds of experiences are invaluable to our athletes and will add to the depth of our young squad. Jim has developed an outstanding women’s program and works very closely with developing domestic teams. He is very modest in regards to his achievements but I am very grateful for his focus on women’s racing.

I also want to mention two other people, Michael Engleman and Kristin Armstrong. Michael Engleman’s contribution to women’s cycling in the form of The U.S Women’s Cycling Development Program (USWCDP) is crucial to the maintenance & growth of the sport. Likewise, Kristin Armstrong's contribution to cycling as a whole and to women's cycling specifically is immeasurable. The newly formed Kristin Armstrong Academy is instrumental in the development of our young riders.

BMC bicycles, based in Switzerland and distributed by QBP, is working with the team for the second year. We had an opportunity to visit the facility last summer, and it is an amazing place. All the guys who work for BMC are a great. We are the first U.S women’s team that BMC has worked with and I am really grateful for their support, and the support of women’s racing.

G: Where do you see PROMAN/ Racing in the future…with a full U23 Development squad…as a UCI team racing both in the US and in Europe?

NC: My vision for the team has become apparent and crystal clear in the past couple of months. Creating our junior program is very exciting.

The junior development compliments our elite program offering accomplished riders an opportunity to pass along experience and wisdom. It is my hope that the team can offer the juniors an environment where they can develop their cycling skills, achieve their personal goals in competition and to encourage and maintain a healthy lifestyle as well as creating future ambassadors for women's cycling. It’s easy to talk the talk but we are truly walking it and have an international vision for our development program.

I feel that an investment in junior riders, girls in particular, is crucial to the growth of women's racing in the US. Recently appointed USAC athletic director, Jim Miller, has assured me that he will continue to focus on women's development. Miller has successfully developed the women's road endurance program that has resulted in world class contenders and Olympic gold.

It was an easy choice for us to include juniors in our program. You don't get the instant podium gratification that you would if I used the budget to hire elite riders, but PROMAN team members are in this for the long haul and we hope to contribute more to women's cycling than a win on any given weekend. Don't get me wrong, its fun to win and see the athletes achieve their performance goals but we are dedicated to taking this program well past the podium and helping secure the future of women’s cycling.

Although we are the USA’s premiere women's track team, our focus is definitely more diverse, spanning road, cross track and mountain. I feel it’s important to expose all of our juniors to every discipline defining a focus can come much later. It is my goal to get two of our juniors to World Cup level in the next two years. I would like to do it sooner but to compete at the elite World Cup level the rider has to be at the racing age of 18. Our riders range from ages 12 – 16 years old. The two I have in mind will be ready as soon as they are 17-years-old, so in 2010 and 2011 expect to see two of our juniors racing Track World Cups…the Road to 2016 Olympics is already being paved.

We currently have four junior girls from the Bay Area, where the team is based. We wanted to be very hands on in our first year in order to discover the needs of these young athletes. We plan on expanding it into a national program in the future. We have also added Coryn Rivera, who at 16-years-old holds 21 national titles, road, track and cross, to the roster. She will be focusing on Junior Worlds as well as some NRC races. On junior gearing, she has wins at this year’s Manhattan Beach Grand Prix, the San Rafael Twilight Criterium, and on Saturday she pulled off her biggest win in the Downtown Bend Criterium, which is part of the Cascade Cycling Classic.

Current National champions, Shelley Olds and Cari Higgins and I will be scouting for new juniors throughout the year. It’s our aim to establish more programs throughout the US over the next few years. Budget is our only limiting factor. I am finding many more companies, even industry sponsors, are keen to assist in the development of future athletes. I am hoping that this is an indicator of a promising future for our program; after all it secures their future consumer base! It is apparent that there is a need for more junior girls programs; this was evident by the number of resumes I received from many aspiring athletes, mostly from the USA but also from Australia, Ecuador and Mexico.

Our program is designed to take care of a rider from junior through elite. There are other junior programs as well as pro women's teams out there, but its in-between where lots of girls fall through the cracks. It’s my hope to bridge that gap. While focusing on juniors with world level potential, it’s my hope to offer a club program to young girls that just enjoy riding and competing at regional levels but will have a support system and resources to tap into. Again, the infrastructure for this is set and the wheels are in motion, it just requires a bigger budget.

Supporting juniors comes with a lot of responsibility, which we take very seriously, there are challenges involved. Of course there is a huge emphasis and encouragement on schoolwork.

The junior are an integral part of the team, their unbridled enthusiasm, is infectious and breathes vibrancy into it.

G: PROMAN won the NCNCA Women's Premiere Series in 2006 & 2007, had exceptional results at the 2008 US Track Nationals…what are the team goals this year…your personal goals?

NC: As far as team goals, a national jersey in every discipline wouldn’t be too farfetched: road, track, mountain and cross. And to see the team grow and succeed both on and off the bike, community is a big part of the plan for PROMAN Racing. I would also like to see continued development of women’s track and road racing in the US. A goal is to add more women’s stages to the Amgen Tour of California, and this could potentially happen. This year’s criterium, while a little early in the NRC calendar, was even more well received than last year. It’s very important for women’s racing to be associated with the rolling Amgen Tour of California media machine and other U.S tours.

Increased media exposure for Women’s racing is necessary to leverage more sponsorship dollars. Last year, PROMAN hosted the first International Style Omnium at Hellyer Velodrome. Because of its success, it will now be contested at the national level at the USAC Track Nationals in October.

G: What was your best moment on a bicycle…the worst?

NC: Best - Thousand Esses (Laguanitas fire break) it was a beautiful summer day or at least I remember it that way. I was riding with a few guys and we were going to poach some illegal single track, this trail was particularly challenging and there was a section near the top of the trail that very few people had conquered. That particular day I felt really confident dropping into the trail, I even said out loud that I was going to clean it today. It actually wasn’t even a trail but a firebreak; it was steep and loose. The guys I was riding with started ahead of me and they were waiting at the most difficult section as we were going to practice it. Well I was relaxed and happy and started in on the descent, I gracefully approached the difficult section with my eyes fixed on the trail ahead, it felt like I just floated over it and continued on, past my friends and just kept going. My friends were astonished, as was I. That was about 13 years ago and they still talk about it. The trail seems to have gotten steeper over the years and the drop off even bigger, but hey that’s the stuff legends are made of and that day, in my mind, I was one!

Worst moment had to be riding in the Mount Shasta area the day began clear and sunny but at about the 4th hour of riding a snow storm blew in and I had a long road descent, I was the most cold I had ever been, I could barely brake and my tears froze! I felt cold for days after.

G: Your most memorable race…your most forgetful?

NC: Let’s start with the worst. Worst race would have to be as a cat 3 on the road – Snelling road race. I was on third wheel going into the final half kilometer, with the field a few meters behind, this was a very rough road aptly named the cheese grater. I had a front tire blow out and went down immediately, after that it was carnage; the noise was something I will never forget, half the peloton rode over me. I ended up with some separated ribs, lots of road rash and tire burns on my neck and back where I had literally been ridden over. There were gals who were far worse off than me, including Tracey Ford who was racing for a rival team and she lost the tip of her finger. I felt really awful. Although it was an accident and no one blamed me, it was a tough time for sure. I personally contacted all involved that I knew were hurt.

Most memorable...I have won several races but somehow the moments that spring to mind are the races I have performed a solid lead out or bridged a team mate to a break or brought back a break. I do get great satisfaction out of team work, but yes its fun to win. One particularly memorable moment was helping Tracey Ford win the Fidelity Burlingame Criterium 2 years ago. Yes, the same Tracey who had lost the tip of her finger in the horrible Snelling crash!

Burlingame was a goal race for her. I had flown back the night before from my managerial duties at Nature Valley GP where Shelley Olds ended up 6th in the GC. I was feeling like crap, it had been a tough week. During the race I felt as though I could not hold my position, with three laps to go I could see that Tracey was not in a good spot, she was 2nd wheel and would find herself at the front much too early. I am not sure what happened in that moment but I knew that I was committed to helping her win, I went from the back of the field to the front, picked up Kristin along the way, leaving Tracey third wheel, I put the hammer down and went as hard as I could for over a lap to ensure no surge from behind, I pulled off with two turns to go leaving Kristin to finish the job for Tracey. Tracey won and was so grateful. It’s amazing where you can find strength when someone is depending on you. We have a lot of gals on the team that will bury themselves for the cause. It wasn’t a national level race but the satisfaction of helping a team mate achieve a goal was what mattered.

G: What did you think about Georgia Gould's petitioning the UCI for "Equal Pay"?

NC: I signed it and I agree that women should get equal pay but I am not sure if contacting the UCI directly on this is the only answer, although of course they have the power to implement the rule. It’s the race promoters who need to understand that women deserve equal pay – it’s a numbers game when you look at it from a business perspective and more men generally enter the races. But yes, absolutely women dedicate just as much of their lives to training and racing and in my opinion actually make more sacrifices so they deserve equal pay. This is different as it is salary but in a UCI track trade team contract, minimum wage (approx $12,000) is to be paid to both male and female racers annually.

G: You've stated that the team is somewhere in between a professional team and an amateur one. What are the unique challenges that you're confronted with "straddling both canoes," so to speak?

NC: The biggest challenge is man power. I want to be able to support a regional team as well as a pro team but it’s become apparent that I cannot do it all and will be focusing on a UCI track trade team and a small road team in 2009. This will allow me time to contribute in other areas of cycling, such as race promotion and to do a better job of managing. I am determined to make a stamp in the world of track racing, there needs to be more support for women also in road racing too but there are already some strong women ambassadors for the road.

G: You have two riders in Shelley Olds and Rachel Lloyd who have proven that they can compete on a world stage, how do you support their efforts while building that team of riders to support them?

NC: Both Shelley and Rachel’s disciplines; track and cyclocross are not so team oriented, it’s the road racing that brings the team together. They both enjoy being part of a team during the road season as it takes the pressure off the individual performance. Shelley’s goal was to podium at a track World Cup this year and to develop as a track racer with the ultimate goal of the Points race at the 2012 Olympics. She achieved the first goal. I have decided to put a strong focus in this area; it is something I love to do.

Rachel had similar goals for this year, which perhaps will be her last at the World Cup level of cyclocross. It was a difficult decision for me, but this season, so Rachel could get the level of support she deserves, she will be racing on another team with a very strong cross identity. With an already stretched out budget with increasing costs of international travel it seemed like the best thing for Rachel. It was a tough choice for both of us as she is very loyal and we are also great friends. She has rejoined us for road races in 2009.

G: Riders and teams come and go, but women’s cycling seems to be getting hit fairly hard with sponsors pulling out for the 2009 season. First, what is appealing about women’s cycling relative to men’s cycling? What do you think should change in women's cycling to get people, and sponsors, more interested and excited about it?

NC: This is a question that quite honestly bewilders me. I see the massive marketing potential in women athletes but it seems to be a sentiment that is not shared. There is a fine line between exploiting women's sexuality and women’s athleticism in cycling...it seems to be defined as one or the other, I think marketing strategists are confused by this. I recently spent time at the Amgen Tour of California and I was reminded of how the cycling industry is run primarily by men who show very little interest in women's cycling. Yes, some companies dedicate a few sponsorship dollars and product to a couple of teams for PR purposes, but in large part most companies are not very interested in the true development of women’s cycling. Men's teams get far more. There are a few industry companies; however that have put thought into women’s products. I have always been incredibly grateful for all the support but this gratitude can easily turn into frustration.

I believe women are far better ambassadors for the sport and the products they represent, for example, whenever the team travels internationally we take an extra few days to visit sponsors or dealers where their products are sold or we visit local schools. Team members will make time for shop rides or rides with local clubs. We are always well received wherever we go. Team members constantly reach out to the public to promote their sport. I can honestly say this is true of most women’s teams.

Women’s racing is exciting, I know that the top women’s teams in the U.S are very conscious of the comparisons to men's racing and race aggressively and hard to keep it exciting.

There are many parallels between the cycling industry I am now immersed in, and the world of horse racing and soccer that I grew up in. The struggle for women is very apparent. I am not one for sugar coating and there is a lot of smoke and mirrors in women's cycling and I certainly don’t want to sound bitter but it’s a sport that is struggling to gain the attention and exposure it deserves. The women racers and team managers make incredible compromises and sacrifices to ensure that their teams are out there on the circuit. Demographics show that women purchase more bikes than men and support the sport financially.

So what's the problem?

I wish I knew the answer. Surely it cannot all be a focus on the Tour de France and other grand tours? I notice in certain popular online cycling magazines that the men and the women can compete in the same NRC event and the men's headline is always first and in bold and the women's underneath in a smaller font!

I do know that the bigger races in the USA should all include a women's event; it helps to be a part of a big media machine like Amgen Tour of California or Tour of Missouri as both of these races are working hard to include a women's event, it my hope to see an extension of the criterium at ATOC. A three day stage race would be a good start.

That being said, we are forging ahead with a new program model that will ensure longevity and continued growth in the sport. We have a team of very bright future stars, I used to love the expression, "sky’s the limit," but I think we can go further.

Photos: Rob Evans (first through third, fifth and seventh); Bob Cullinan, CycleTo (fourth and sixth)

Bend, Ore. — It took Rock Racing nearly the entire race to chase down a four-man breakaway Saturday night at the Downtown Bend Criterium at the Bend Memorial Clinic Cascade Cycling Classic.

But once the catch was made, there was little doubt who would be the man of the moment.

Ivan Dominguez blazed down the long finishing stretch lined by a massive crowd to score Rock Racing’s second stage win. Alejandro Borrajo (Colavita-Sutter Homes presented by Cooking Light) finished second and Andrew Pinfold (OUCH presented by Maxxis) was third.

Rock Racing’s Oscar Sevilla, who won Stage 2 to take the overall lead, retained his yellow jersey, as there was no change in the overall standings.

The victory is Dominguez’s first since joining the Rock Racing team earlier last month. But he is no stranger to winning in Bend. Two years ago, the Cuban-born, U.S. citizen won this same stage (racing for the Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team) in a field sprint.

“The last win that I had was in Georgia (at the Tour de Georgia in April of 2008), so this feels great,” Dominguez said. “I like this sprint. It’s long – the way I like. I knew if I went with 300 meters to go that no one was going to pass me.”

Dominguez’s fast finish would not have been possible without the help of his Rock Racing teammates, who worked tirelessly to keep Kirk Carlsen (Felt-Holowesko Partners-Garmin), Michael Creed (Team Type 1), Russ Langley (Battley Harley-Davidson) and Jackson Stewart (BMC Pro Cycling) from stealing the win. The four came within 15 seconds of catching the back of the field at one point.

But Rock Racing teamed up with OUCH presented by Maxxis and the two teams traded pulls to shave seconds off the advantage each time around the six-tenths-of-a-mile (1 km) course after the four riders’ lead peaked at 60 seconds with 35 minutes left in the 90-minute race.

“I said to the guys to keep the break there,” Dominguez said. “I told them we had to take care of the jersey. Tomorrow’s another day. We didn’t need to kill it. That was good for us.”

Sunday’s final stage is the 83-mile 133 km) Awbrey Butte Circuit Race. Sevilla leads Jeff Louder (BMC) by 40 seconds. Rock Racing’s Francisco Mancebo is in third, 1:00 back of Sevilla. A third rider from Rock Racing, Victor Hugo Peña, is seventh, 1:54 behind.

Stage 5 Results - Men
1. Ivan Dominguez (USA) Rock Racing
2. Alejandro Borrajo (Arg) Colavita-Sutter Home
3. Andrew Pinfold (Can) OUCH presentec by Maxxis

General Classification After Stage 5 - Men
1. Oscar Sevilla Rivera (Rock Racing)
2. Jeff Louder (BMC Racing Tea)
3. Francisco Mancebo Perez (Rock Racing)
4. Ian Mckissick (BMC Racing Team)
5. Rory Sutherland OUCH presented by Maxxis)
6. Chris Baldwin (OUCH presented by Maxxis)
7. Victor Hugo Pena (Rock Racing)
8. Darren Lill (Team Type 1)
9. Jeremy Vennell (BISSELL Pro Cycling Team)
10. Matt Wilson (Team Type 1)

Youth Is Served
With much of the focus surrounding the precocious talents of Evelyn Stevens (Webcor Builders), who was still atop of the General Classification of the 30th Bend Memorial Clinic Cascade Cycling Classic going into Saturday's Downtown Bend Criterium, it was easy to forget about all of the amazing talent within the Women's peloton.

Not to be overshadowed, Coryn Rivera (PROMAN Hit Squad) showed why she would also be a force to reckon with in the future. The 16-year-old Rivera, already a winner at this year's Manhattan Beach Grand Prix and San Rafael Twilight Criterium, would out kick Colavita's Tina Pic and Kristy Broun (Team Lip Smacker) to take the Downtown Bend Criterium.

Given the assembled field, this is undoubtedly Rivera's biggest win to date, and surprisingly all of it was done with junior gearing.

Stage 5 Results - Women
1. Coryn Rivera (USA) Proman Hit Squad
2. Tina Pic (USA) Colavita-Sutter Home
3. Kristy Broun (Aus) Lip Smackers

General Classification After Stage 5 - Women
1. Evelyn Stevens (Webcor Builders)
2. Amber Rais (Team TIBCO)
3. Alison Powers (Team Type 1)
4. Julie Beveridge (Team TIBCO)
5. Cath Cheatley (Colavita Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light
6. Katharine Carroll (Team TIBCO)
7. Chrissy Ruiter (ValueAct Capital Cycling Team)
8. Jessica Phillips (Team Lip Smacker)
9. Alison Starnes (Team TIBCO)
10. Meredith Miller (Team TIBCO)

Photos: Courtesy Brian Hodes, VeloImages (top); Bob Cullinan, CycleTo (middle and bottom)

Building on Early Season Success of Its Junior Squad, PROMAN Plans National Campaign

Marin County, Calif. – The PROMAN Women’s Professional Cycling Team today announced plans to expand its new Junior development program. After successes at multiple NorCal regional events already this season, the four-woman squad will compete in its first national level event at the Sea Otter Classic this Thursday and Friday, April 16-17, with plans to participate in other national caliber events throughout 2009.

The four members of PROMAN’s inaugural Junior program, pictured above with GM Nicola Cranmer, are:

• Claire Jensen, age 13, 2008 National Track Champion and NCNCA State TT Champion
• Nikka van den Dries, age 14, 2008 NCNCA State Champion in RR, TT, Crit and Track
• Ruth Winder, age 15, 2008 NCNCA State TT Champion
• Christina Yglesias, age 16, 2008 NCNCA State Champion in RR, Crit and Track

“We’re excited about our Junior program and delighted about how well it’s come together already this season,” explained founder and General Manager, Nicola Cranmer. “We’ve built our team one step at a time with the help of extremely supportive sponsors and members of the community. We’re hoping to boost junior cycling at the national level by supporting young women who have already distinguished themselves at the regional and state levels.”

The PROMAN Women’s Professional Cycling Team is comprised of eight professional riders, including Track Worlds veteran Shelley Olds (2008 Elite National Scratch Race Champion and US National Team member), Rachel Lloyd (2008 PRO Super D National Champion and US National Team member) and Cari Higgins (2008 Elite 4x National Track Champion). These riders have been coaching and mentoring the PROMAN Juniors, sharing valuable experience to the promising young athletes.

Passing it on (left to right): State and National Champs Olds, Cranmer, Higgins and Lloyd inspire – and are inspired by – their Juniors

All four Juniors participated in the USAC development clinics held in Santa Rosa, California, last year. While instructing these young riders, Cranmer and Olds came up with the idea of a Junior development squad. “The desire to start a Junior program was a direct result of observing these young women” reported Olds. “We wanted to help them succeed, as well as invest in the future of our sport.”

Cranmer went on to explain that there is still a disproportionate amount of money and product support going to men’s cycling programs and even to men’s squads on co-ed teams. The PROMAN Women’s Professional Cycling Team continues to raise awareness and build a following, with hopes of not only establishing itself as a prominent North American women’s team, but generating more interest and financial support for its Juniors who may go on to be some of the next generation of cycling champions.

“I feel that investing in Junior riders – girls in particular – is critical to the growth of cycling in the US,” asserted Cranmer. “Recently appointed USAC athletic director, Jim Miller, has assured me that he will continue to focus on women's development. Miller has successfully expanded the women's road endurance program resulting in world class contenders and Olympic gold. I have complete faith in Jim's ability to continue to develop a new and exciting paradigm for female racers in the US."

About PROMAN Women's Professional Cycling / UCI Pro Track Team
The PROMAN Women’s Professional Cycling Team is dedicated to promoting the enjoyable and ethical growth of American cycling for women, and serving as a platform for women to earn berths on the United States National Cycling, Mountain Bike and Cyclocross Teams. PROMAN works in partnership with USA Cycling, the UCI and the Agency for Sporting Ethics (ASE), which in 2007 created the most aggressive anti-doping program in professional sports. All PROMAN riders and staff support a strict Code of Conduct, striving to treat competitors, race organizers, national and international cycling officials, spectators and fans with the highest standards of fairness, character, kindness and respect. The team believes in and loves the bicycle as a force for positive social change, an environmentally responsible transportation option and a healthy, enjoyable way of life for boys, girls, men and women of all ages. Product sponsors include BMC, Rudy Project, SRAM, Northwave, WTB, Clif Bar, Skins, Arundel and Ritchey Design. For more information visit www.proman-paradigm.blogspot.com and www.promanracing.com. Team updates via: http://twitter.com/nicolacranmer.

Photos: Rob Evans (top & middle); Robert Lowe (bottom; Ruth Winder can win on the road and on the dirt).

PROMAN Racing partners with BMC and Frankie Andreu for upcoming Liberty Classic and Nature Valley Grand Prix.

PROMAN Racing, in its third year, is pleased to announce a partnership with Swiss bicycle manufacturer BMC. The team does not operate under a large corporate umbrella but by generous donations from product sponsors, small businesses, family friends, Marin County BMC dealer Paradigm Cycles and even fellow racers; it is truly a community effort. To receive support from an industry giant such as BMC is a tremendous boost.

"The PROMAN Women's Team is a fantastic and unique program that BMC is proud to support," said Scott Thomson, General Manager of BMC North America. "Their grass-roots approach brings together a potent blend of elite and developing athletes. They ticked all the right boxes in building this program, so there was no question about BMC getting involved. We are excited to support these outstanding athletes with the best technology. It has been an exciting season thus far, and we're looking forward to having them race in our back yard at the Nature Valley Grand Prix."

With a stellar roster for the upcoming Liberty Classic, PROMAN Racing is ready for the challenges of Manayunk and Lemon Hill.

"PROMAN has a great roster and I think they are ready to have a great showing at the upcoming Liberty Classic! This team could be the underdog team gone wild. Look for a rider like Shelley Olds (above) to be on the podium." Said Robin Zellner, technical director for the race, “ I have watched this team develop at a steady pace over the last few years, there is a lot of depth and dedication, they are here to stay”.

Following Liberty Classic the team returns to Minnesota for its second shot at the Nature Valley Grand Prix. The team claimed podium spots and a 6th place GC last year. “ In 2007 we were a young green team, with a stronger roster this time around and lots of racing under our belt we could spring some surprises” commented Olds.

Nature Valley GP is the accomplishment of David La Porte and his tireless team. “ Its not just a race it is spectacular entertainment.” Phenomenal crowds and great support for the women’s event draws top caliber female racers from around the world.

Joining the team for these races is former U.S Postal rider Frankie Andreu who will be taking the directors seat. Although very familiar with the pro men’s peloton he is keen to experience women’s racing.

“American women currently are a dominating force in the world of cycling. I believe PROMAN Racing has the right structure and roster to help continue that development.” Said Frankie. “I look forward to making a winning formula with the PROMAN's Women's Cycling Team at the Liberty Classic and Nature Valley GP. They have a great roster for these events, and as they continue to gain experience, they will gain on the world's elite. I'm sure I will learn from the team a side of cycling I don't know much about. In return, I hope to give them the knowledge I have gained during my years racing as a professional.”

Why Andreu some may ask? ”Well,” said manager Nicola Cranmer, “apart from his vast experience as a professional racer, the media love Frankie, any way I can draw attention to women’s cycling is a good thing. For our team it’s not just about getting on the podium it’s also necessary to apply energy to the broader vision of women’s racing which is struggling.”

Roster for Liberty Classic and Nature Valley GP

Shelley Olds USA
Rachel Lloyd USA
Betina Hold CAN
Megan Guarnier USA
Melodie Metzger USA
Virginia Perkins USA
Kristin Drumm USA
Helene Drumm USA

Nicola Cranmer Founder/Manager
Frankie Andreu, Director Sportif
Tim Brennan, Team Mechanic

Photos: Rob Evans - 2008 PROMAN team (top) and Shelley Olds, 2nd place overall Tulsa Tough NRC (middle); Paul Doran - Virgina Perkins (bottom).