The Aaron's Corporate Furnishings Professional Women's Cycling Team is moving into 2008, its third year, with a mix of five new, young cyclists joining six key returning racers. The team finished third overall in the US National Race Calendar (NRC) for 2007.
Leading the returning riders is Katharine Carroll-winner of the Athens Twilight Criterium, the Joe Martin Stage Race and the Sprint Jersey and final stage of the Tour Cycliste Feminin International de l'Ardeche. She was ranked fifth overall in the final 2007 NRC individual standings. Also returning is Felicia Gomez, winner of the Queen of the Mountains Jersey and a stage at the Mount Hood Stage Race, who was ranked fourth overall in 2007. Division I Collegiate National Champion Rebecca Larson, US Masters National Time Trial Champion Kristin Sanders and Carmen McNellis round out the list of veterans.
Catherine Powers will also return to the team part-time, while balancing racing with her new teaching career.
"We're starting with an incredibly strong base," Team Director Carmen D'Aluisio said. "To have so many returning riders from last year's team gives us a solid foundation from which to build. The commitment of these riders, as well as the hard work by all the people behind the scenes, has helped this team improve so dramatically in just a few years."
New to the team are U23 US Criterium National Champion Erica Allar, U23 Canadian Time Trial National Champion Julie Beveridge, Canadian standout Allison Testroete, cycling track star Anna Lang and former TEAm Lipton powerhouse Meredith Miller.
Aaron's Pro Women's Cycling Team for 2008: Katharine Carroll, Erica Allar, Felicia Gomez, Julie Beveridge, Rebecca Larson, Allison Testroete, Kristin Sanders, Anna Lang, Carmen McNellis, Meredith Miller, Catherine Powers under Director Carmen D'Aluisio