April 29, 2003 – The Wachovia Cycling Series, managed by Threshold Sports, announced today its largest men's professional field in the 19-year history of the series. An internationally diverse compilation of 22 teams will bring over 100 of the world's top pro cyclists to the region this June.
The four-race Wachovia Cycling Series, America's Elite Week of Cycling, is set for June 3-8, 2003 in Lancaster, PA, Trenton, NJ and Philadelphia. Professional men's teams will compete in Lancaster on June 3rd, Trenton on June 5th and wrap up with the United States Road Cycling Championship Wachovia USPRO Championship – in Philadelphia on June 8th. The Wachovia Liberty Classic pro women's race is also set for June 8th in Philadelphia.
“The caliber of the American and international teams will certainly draw thousands of cycling fans to the streets of Philadelphia, Lancaster and Trenton to see the world's greatest cyclists at their best. The support of these fans has helped make the Wachovia USPRO Championship the single largest one-day sporting event in the region,” said Wachovia's Pam Frey, Regional President for Greater Philadelphia/Delaware. The following teams are scheduled to compete in the 2003 Wachovia Cycling Series:
– 7Up/Maxxis (USA)
– Colavita Bolla (USA)
– CSC Tiscali (DEN)
– Flanders IteamNova.com (BEL)
– Formaggi Pinzolo (ITA)
– Health Net (USA)
– Jelly Belly Carlsbad Clothing (USA)
– Jittery Joe's Coffee (USA)
– LeMond Fitness Blender Magazine (USA)
– Mroz (POL)
– Navigators (USA)
– Ofoto Lombardi Sports (USA)
– Prime Alliance (USA)
– Saeco Longoni Sport (ITA)
– Saturn (USA)
– Schroeder Iron (USA)
– Sidermec Saunier Duval Vini Caldirola (ITA)
– Sierra Nevada/Clif Bar (USA)
– Sportsbook.com (USA)
– US Postal Service (USA)
– Webcor (USA)
– West Virginia Pro Cycling (USA)
With six international teams (three Italian, one Polish, one Belgian and
one Danish) and an unprecedented 16 domestic teams, this year's Wachovia
Cycling Series is on track to break many records. Since the Wachovia
Cycling Series began with races in Philadelphia (in 1985), Trenton (in
1989) and Lancaster (in 1992), the American cyclists have dominated the
title winning 22 of the total 43 men's pro races.
Italian cyclists have done very well leading the international riders with
six titles, followed by New Zealand with three wins then Canada, Denmark
and Australia with two victories each. Riders from Belgium, England,
Latvia, Czech Republic, Holland and Sweden have each garnered one win.
Only one rider, Fred Rodriguez (USA), who currently rides for Sidermec
Saunier Duval Vini Caldirola, holds the distinction of winning all three
races in the series ('95 Lancaster, '00 Trenton and '01 Philadelphia).
Four athletes, George Hincapie (USA), Jacob Piil (DEN), Roberto Gaggioli
(ITA) and Michael Zanoli (USA) have won two titles with Piil being the only
rider to win two races in a single year (Lancaster and Philadelphia in
1999).
Among this year's featured cyclists set to compete in the 2003 Wachovia
Cycling Series are Fred Rodriguez; Henk Vogels of Navigators, the current
record-time holder (in 2000) for the Wachovia USPRO Championship race and,
the 2002 Pro Cycling Tour points champion; George Hincapie of USPS, the
1999 First Union USPRO Champion; and Mark Walters of Navigators, the 2002
First Union USPRO Champion.
Women's teams competing in the Wachovia Liberty Classic will be named at a
later date.