US Collegiate Championships return to Kansas

More than 500 student-athletes will return to Lawrence, Kansas next week for the 2007 USA Cycling Collegiate Road National Championships. The racers will represent colleges and universities from across the country, and will compete to win one of 18 national cycling titles.

The competitions are divided into Division I and Division II Men and Women with championship titles in the road race, criterium and overall, as well as team titles for the team time trial overall classification.

In addition to the national title, the women's competition in Lawrence will also serve as a qualifier for the Ryan Collegiate Women's All Star Team - a collection of eight different student-athletes from eight different schools who will earn an invitation to the Nature Valley Grand Prix on June 20-24.

The final individual omnium standings at the Collegiate Road National Championships will determine the all-star squad that will compete alongside some of the nation's top pro women. In addition to an invitation to Minnesota, the team will receive housing, a travel stipend, clothing and the direction of a team manager throughout the week.

Competition begins Friday, May 11 with the team time trial event. On Saturday, schools will compete in the road race competition. Sunday will feature criterium racing in downtown Lawrence.