Canada's UCI women's team unveiled

Newly registered UCI women's team, Expresscopy.com, have unveiled their 2007 lineup at an official presentation in Portland, Oregon, the home of their title sponsor. The new team brings the number of UCI registered women's teams in North America up to a record high of five. The number of women's UCI teams has increased 50% this year with 42 teams from across the globe, up from 28 in 2006. For a full list of women's UCI teams, please see the Cyclingnews teams database.

The Expresscopy.com team consists of eleven riders from Canada, USA and New Zealand and will be split into two divisions racing simultaneously in Europe and the US. The first division riders will tackle major European races then return to the North American circuit in May before heading back across the Atlantic in September to finish their season at the UCI Road World Championships in Stuttgart. The team's second division will focus solely on the North American circuit.

Following the presentation, the team will attend a training camp in Tucson, Arizona and then commence racing at the Valley of the Sun stage race starting in Phoenix on February 16.

Besides a busy racing schedule, the girls will be doing their bit for the community, promoting healthy and active lifestyles among female teenagers alongside a series of Olympic athletes and health specialists in a program called FitSpirit.

First division riders: Gina Grain (Can), Jessica Phillips (USA), Anne Samplonius (Can), Erinne Willock (Can), Meshy Holt (NZl), Audrey Lemieux (Can)

Second division riders: Stéphanie Bourbeau (Can), Jennifer Magur (USA), Joelle Numainville (Can), Alison Testroete (Can), Amanda Shaw (Can)

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