January 9, 2008 – At the beginning of a new year, the UCI America Tour is looking healthy and new teams are taking shape. The calendar is growing, and with 50 events registered, the overall situation is positive.

Three UCI Professional Teams registered at the end of December: one in Venezuela (SERRAMENTI PVC DIQUIGIOVANNI-ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI), and two in the USA, (SLIPSTREAM CHIPOTLE PRESENTED BY H30 and BMC Racing). In addition, UCI Continental Teams registered in the following countries: Canada 3, Colombia 2, USA 14. The final count for the Continental Teams will be known in January.

The only event in the America Tour in December was the Vuelta a Costa Rica from Dec 14 to 28. Teams from Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Mexico and Switzerland took part. The overall winner was the event’s defending champion, local cyclist Henry Raabe.

The America Tour leader remains the Brazilian Alex Diniz from the Scott Marcandes Team.

In January, the main event is the Vuelta a Tachira in Venezuela, a long and challenging race finishing on January 18th. The Tour de San Luis in Argentina will follow this event from January 22 – 27.

February will provide many more opportunities for riders to show their form, with events in North America, South America and Central America. Competitions on the calendar include the Amgen Tour of California, with the participation of several ProTour teams, the Tour de San Luis in Argentina, the traditional Vuelta a Cuba and a new event in the America Tour, the M&M Engineering Tour of Belize. An exciting month!!