Women's Prestige Cycling Series continues in Altoona

The US-based Women's Prestige Cycling Series will continue with the International Tour de 'Toona, which starts on Monday, July 25. This is the second season for this women-only series, which has already visited the Redlands Bicycle Classic and the Nature Valley Grand Prix. Following the Tour de' Toona, the top ten teams will receive travel grants to participate in the Series finale at the CD&P Bermuda Grand Prix.

Christine Thorburn (Webcor Builders) holds a commanding lead over Tina Pic (Quark) in the individual classification (440 vs 264 points), having won the overall titles at both Redlands and Nature Valley. Thorburn will be difficult to dislodge from the series lead if she shows the same form that she had at these other events. In contrast, Pic is in a virtual three-way tie for second with teammate Annette Buetler (Quark) and T-Mobile's Kim Baldwin (264, 264 & 253 points), leaving the second step of the podium still up for grabs.

The situation is similar in the Series' Best Young Rider competition: Thorburn's teammate Erinne Willock has a firm grip on the leader's position with 440 points, while Audrey Lemieux (Quark), Stefanie Graeter (Webcor Builders) and Alisha Lion (Ford-Basis) are in a virtual dead heat for second (231, 231 and 209 pts).

In a contrast with the overall and young rider classifications, no rider has laid claim to the Series sprint title. Although Ina Teutenberg (T-Mobile) took the early lead at Redlands, her lead slipped when Laura Van Gilder (Quark) won the Freewheel Bikes Sprint competition at the Nature Valley GP. Teutenberg holds a slim, eleven point margin over Van Gilder (341 vs. 330), with Van Gilder's teammate Tina Pic still within striking distance (257 pts).

The top three spots seem all but final in the Series team competition, with Webcor holding the lead over Quark and T-Mobile (942 vs. 722 & 542).

More information: www.womencyclists.com