May 16, 2006 “” The Pro Cycling Tour, producers of the Commerce Bank Triple Crown of Cycling Benefiting Fox Chase Cancer Center, have announced their final selection of Elite Women’s teams scheduled to compete in the three race series. Twenty-three teams from around the world will take part in the first ever all Pennsylvania series, scheduled June 4-11.

This elite field represents one of the largest and most talented to assemble in North America to date with teams from New Zealand, Canada, Germany and the U.S. European strength will be on display once again with German Ina Yoko Teutenberg (T-Mobile) returning to defend her title in the Liberty Classic as well as Regina Schleicher (Equipe Nurnberger) who placed a close second last year. Looking to end a long drought by North American riders will be local favorite Laura Van Gilder (Team Lipton) who hails from nearby Cresco, PA. Also look for Van Gilder’s teammate Kristin Armstrong who is coming off an impressive victory at the Tour of the Gila in New Mexico.

The women will face challenging 25 mile short circuit races in the Commerce Bank Tom Bamford Lancaster Classic, Lancaster, PA on June 4 and the Commerce Bank Reading Classic, June 8 then back to the legendary 57.6 mile Commerce Bank International Liberty Classic in Philadelphia on Sunday, June 11.

For the first time ever there will be overall prize money awarded to the top point scorers in the combined three event series for both men and women. A total of $29,000 will be up for grabs for the women during the week.

The first two races in the Commerce Bank Triple Crown will be contested on challenging downtown criterium courses using the same start/finish line as the pro men’s circuit races to be held later in the day. The historic cities of Lancaster and Reading will host these races and with the rich cycling tradition in this area, the crowds lining the course are sure to be thick.

The final race of the Commerce Bank Triple Crown of Cycling will be held in downtown Philadelphia on the 14.4 mile Liberty Classic loop. The women will be completing four laps of this challenging course for a total of 57.6 miles that includes a crushing ascent up the famous Manayunk Wall climb on every lap. It will determine the final outcome of the Commerce Bank Triple Crown and the winner will take home the lion’s share of the $29,000 in prize money.

In addition to Commerce Bank, major sponsors of the series include the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the cities of Philadelphia, Lancaster and Reading, CSC and local ABC affiliate, WPVI-Channel 6, WMMR Radio in Philadelphia and WEEU Radio in Reading. Other sponsors will be announced soon.

UCI Elite Women’s Teams

-Aaron’s Cycling Team
-ADG / Joe’s Bike Shop
-Amoroso’s Racing Team
-Argon / Champion Cycling Team
-Bike NZ (New Zealand)
-Biovail (Canada)
-Cheerwine
-Colavita Cooking Light
-CRCA/Comedy Central-New Canaan Cyclery
-East Coast Velo
-Equipe Nuernberger Vershcherung (German)
-HPC / List
-Hub Racing
-Independent Fabrication
-Team Advil – Chapsitck
-Team Fuji / Bolt Brothers
-Team Lipton
-T-Mobile (USA)
-TravelGirl Magazine / BMW-Bianchi
-TRIA
-Verducci /Breakaway Racing
-Victory Brewing Cycling Team
-Webcor-Platinum Cycling Team