USA Cycling supporting 34 racers in Europe in April

Phinney, Stetina highlight national development team roster

USA Cycling (USAC) announced National Team rosters and race schedules for the month of April. Its Under 23, junior, and women's national teams will contest a total of 24 races throughout western Europe. Beginning with this weekend's Triptyque des Monts et Chateaux in Belgium, USAC is hosting 14 Under 23 athletes, six juniors and 14 women as part of a program to develop future world-class cyclists.

For the next several weeks, some of the nation's top young talent will live at USAC's National Development Team headquarters in Izegem, Belgium, and race with the national team, including Taylor Phinney (Trek-Livestrong), Peter Stetina (Garmin-Slipstream), Chris Barton (BMC Racing), Tejay Van Garderen (Rabobank), Ben King (Trek-Livestrong), Cole House (BMC Racing), Bjorn Selander (Trek-Livestrong), Austin Carroll (BMC Racing), Guy East (Trek-Livestrong), Taylor Shelden (Garmin-Slipstream), Chris Monteleone (Hincapie-Gary Fisher), Peter Salon (Garmin-Slipstream), Kirk Carlsen (Garmin Slipstream) and Kevin Soller (Waste Management).

"This season marks the 10th year of our Under 23 National Team program," said Steve Johnson, USA Cycling chief executive officer. "Since its inception, the program has provided unparalleled development opportunities for hundreds of American cyclists as they pursue a career in the pro ranks." Many of the athletes belong to US-based, UCI-registered squads, but have limited European racing opportunities available under their trade team banners.

Phinney, who is also a member of the Trek-Livestrong program, which primarily competes on American soil, last week won a world championship in the individual pursuit and is scheduled to compete in the three-day Triptyque des Monts et Chateaux, the Tour of Flanders, Cote Picardie and the ZLM Tour with the U23 National Team.

Stetina will get much of his European racing will come as part of the national team, including the Circuit des Ardennias, Cote Picardie and Liege-Bastogne-Liege. Carroll and Barton are also part of the BMC Racing Team.

In addition, USAC will also field a junior national team including Alex Battles-Wood (Power Train), Nathan Brown (Hot Tubes), Lawson Craddock (Hot Tubes), Adam Leibovitz (Nuvo Cultural Trail), Connor O'Leary (FFKR Architechts-SportsBaseOnline) and Jacob Rathe (CMG Racing). The group of juniors will live at the national team headquarters throughout the month, racing in several local Belgium events as well as the four-day Ster Zuid van Limberg stage race in the Netherlands.

Two separate women's squads will head to Europe to compete throughout Belgium, the Netherlands and France. Amber Rais (Tibco), Jessica Phillips, Ally Stacher (Kenda), Kristin McGrath (ValueAct Capital), and Lea Davision (Rocky Mountain-Maxxis) will kick things off for the women's national team with the Tour of Flanders on Sunday. Joining that squad later in the month will be Kacey Manderfield (Lip Smackers), Katharine Carroll (Tibco) and Katheryn Curi-Mattis (Webcor).

The second group of women will also be competing throughout France, including Shannon Koch (Metro Volkswagen), Ashley Anderson (Texas/FCS Cycling), Casey Gale (Metro Volkswagen), Amanda Miller (Lip Smackers), Ashley Dymond (Proman), Lauren Hecht (Webcor-Alto Velo).

USA Cycling National Team Race Schedule for April 2008

Under 23: Triptique Monts et Chateaux, Circuit des Ardennais, Tour of Flanders, Cote Picardie, Liege-Bastogne-Liege, ZLM Tour, Zellik-Galmaarden, Memorial Arno Wallard, Ronde van Noord Holland, GP Affligem

Junior men 17-18: Ster Zuid van Limberg

Women: Drentse 8 van Dwingeloo, Novilion Eurocup Ronde van Drenthe, Coupe de France Ladies Berry, Unive Ronde van Drenthe, Coupe de France Pujols, Ronde van Gelderland, Ladies Berry, Chambery 1.15, La Fleche Wallone, Omloop van Borsele, GO Stad Roeselare