May 7, 2004 – USA Cycling's National Racing Calendar is well underway, and Chris Horner (Bend, Ore.) and Tina Pic (Dahlonega, Ga.) are at the top of the rankings while Horner aims to defend his 2003 title and Pic hopes to distance herself from last year's winner – Lyne Bessette (CAN).

Chris Horner claimed the 2002 and 2003 titles with 1,266 and 2,841 points respectively. This year, with five months left on the calendar, Horner is already well ahead of the closest competition.

Men's NRC Individual Rankings

1. Chris Horner (USA), Webcor Builders, 1,085
2. Lance Armstrong, (USA), USPS, 660
3. Cesar Grajales (COL), Jittery Joes, 549
4. Scott Moninger (USA), Health Net presented by Maxxis, 484
5. Jens Voight (GER), Team CSC, 460
6. Eric Wohlberg (CAN), Sierra Nevada Cycling, 355
7. Brice Jones (USA), Health Net presented by Maxxis, 321
8. Adam Bergman (USA), Jelly Belly Aramark, 311
9. John Lieswyn (USA), Health Net presented by Maxxis, 310
10. Davide Frattini (ITA), Monex Cycling Team, 307

The men's individual standings are vital this year, as the top 150 Americans
in NRC rankings through June 1 will receive an invitation to the Team USA
Selection Race which will take place in conjunction with the USCF Elite
National Road Championships in Redlands, Calif. The winner of the Men's 181
km road race will receive the first automatic nomination to the 2004 U.S.
Olympic Team. Ten more NRC events take place before June 1, including this
weekend's Joe Martin Memorial Stage Race.

The women's rankings are much closer than the men's as number one ranked
Tina Pic is only 11 points ahead of last year's overall winner Lyne Bessette
(CAN). In 2003, Bessette gained 2,085 points, while Pic came in second with
1,621.

Women's NRC Individual Rankings

1. Tina Pic (USA), Genesis Scuba/FFCC, 624
2. Lyne Bessette (CAN), Quark Cycling Team, 613
3. Kristin Armstrong (USA),, T-Mobile, 360
4. Christine Thorburn (USA),, Webcor Cycling Team, 360
5. Genevieve Jeanson (CAN), Team Rona, 276
6. Susan Palmer-Komar (CAN), Genesis Scuba/FFCC, 236
7. Brooke Ourada (USA),, Victory Brewing, 235
8. Magali Le Floch (FRA), Quark Cycling Team, 227
9. Mari Holden (USA),, T-Mobile, 203
10. Amber Neben (USA),, T-Mobile, 192

In the men's team standings, Health Net presented by Maxxis tops the list
with 1,607 points. Webcor Builders is close behind with 1,526 and US Postal
Service is currently in third with 1,221. Not surprisingly, T-Mobile is in
first place for the women with 1,119, while Genesis Scuba/FFCC is at 1,087 and
Quark Cycling is right behind with 1,062.