Andreu, Proman team up for charity ride weekend

Nine-time Tour de France finisher Frankie Andreu will take part in two charity events this weekend along with the Proman women's racing team. Proceeds from the first event, Saturday's "Ride the World Cups" fundraiser at the Hellyer Park velodrome in San Jose, California, will help pay to send Proman racers Shelly Olds and Nicole Cranmer to the UCI World Cup races.

The second event, a 42-mile fun ride in Marin County, California, will benefit the Marin County Bicycle Coalition.

Olds, who took 6th and 8th in the Scratch and Points races at the recent Manchester World Cup, will return from Europe in time to take part in the third edition of the Ride the World Cups event. Like the first two editions, the event promises to showcase some exciting track racing, as well as spotlight local Hellyer track heroes at the Junior, Elite, Masters National and even World Championship levels.

The Proman team will be introducing four new team riders at the RTWC event, all Juniors: Ruth Winder, Nikka Van Den Dries, Claire Jenson and Christina Noelle Yglesias. "This represents an important milestone in the team’s history," explained Cranmer. "Not only will we be continuing our support of women who are working their way up through the ranks in the form of our development squads, but we will have the opportunity to mentor and support promising young athletes who can follow in the footsteps of Shelley, Cari Higgins, Rachel Lloyd and other 'Proman Girls' who have excelled at the National and International levels."

Visit the Ride the World Cups web site for additional information for Saturday's event, and Cyclist Village for Sunday's fun ride.

Additional editorial assistance by Susan Westemeyer (SW)