January 9, 2006 – Officials with the Women’s Prestige Cycling Series have released the schedule for 2006. This year’s edition will include three of North America’s most prestigious stage races:

June 14 — 18 : Nature Valley Grand Prix
July 24 — 30 : International Tour de Toona
September 7 — 10 : CD&P Bermuda Grand Prix

The Series has been reduced from the four-race format held in previous years to make it more accessible to teams with limited travel budgets. “We’ve heard from a number of excellent events that wanted to be part of this year’s Series”, said Series coordinator David LaPorte. “They were very deserving and would have been great additions to the schedule. However, one of our most important goals is to make it possible for all of the teams to complete the full schedule, so we’re keeping the Series compact.”

The response from the teams has been excellent. “We’ve always wanted to participate in the Series”, said America’s Dairyland director Rebecca Anderson, “but four races was just more than our travel budget could bear. The Series is the best thing that’s happened to women’s racing in years and we’re super excited that we can participate in it this year.”

Fourteen teams have committed to the Series in the past few days, even though no formal announcement had been made: Aaron Cycling Team, Colavita / Cooking Light, CPT-Colnago Cycling Team, Palo Alto Bicycles, Team America’s Dairyland, Team Biovail, Team Cheerwine, Team Kenda Tire, Team Lipton, Valkyrie Sports, Velo Bella, Victory Brewing Cycling Team and Webcor Builders Cycling Team

Teams interested in participating in the 2006 Women’s Prestige Cycling Series should contact the organizers at wpcs@womencyclists.com

About the Women’s Prestige Cycling Series

The Women’s Prestige Cycling Series began in 2004 with the goal of highlighting women’s racing by giving them a spotlight that they don’t have to share with the men. The Series grew out of meetings that began in Minnesota in 2003 at the first Yoplait Women’s Cycling Summit Conference hosted at the Nature Valley Grand Prix. The Summits, now sponsored by Yoplait Nouriche, take place twice a year: at the Nature Valley Grand Prix in June and at the Interbike trade show in September.

Visit www.WomenCyclists.com for more information.