June 18, 2007 (Minneapolis, MIN) – The Women’s Prestige Cycling Series continues on Wednesday, with Minnesota’s Nature Valley Grand Prix. This is the second of four races and so will have a major impact on the final outcome of the Series.

Coming out of the first series event, the Redland Bicycle Classic, Webcor Builders appeared to have a strangle hold on the team, individual and best young rider competitions. Mara Abbott, who recently won her third consecutive US Collegiate National Championship, had finished second at Redlands to Amber Neben (STAHL/SC Velo). Since Neben’s team is not part of the Series, Abbott became the surprise leader in both the individual and best young rider competitions. A team scoring system which provides bonus points for young riders, along with a third place finish by Webcor’s former US National Champion Katheryn Curi, gave Webcor a commanding lead over second place Team Cheerwine.

“The Women’s Prestige Series is an important goal for Webcor Builders,” said team manager Karen Brems. “We have a strong team for the Nature Valley Grand Prix and will work very hard to defend our lead in the series.”

Abbott will wear the Series leader’s jersey at the Nature Valley Grand Prix. Her competition will come from teammate Curi followed by Felicia Gomez (Aaron’s Cycling), Leigh Hobson (Team Cheerwine) and Kori Seehafer (TEAm Lipton) in third through fifth, all of who are on Nature Valley’s start list.

Although Abbott holds the lead in the Best Young Rider competition, TEAm Lipton’s Lauren Franges, in second, will be asked to wear that Jersey at Nature Valley. She’s followed by Laura Bowles (Advil/Chapstick), Joelle Numainville (Team ExpressCopy.com) and Caitlyn McCullough (Team TIBCO).

The Series Sprint competition also had a surprising outcome at Redlands. This leader’s jersey will be worn by TEAm Lipton’s Kori Seehafer, not known as a speedster. She’ll be pursued by Martina Patella (ValueAct Capital), Laura Van Gilder (Team Cheerwine) and 2006 Series Sprint champion Brooke Miller (Team TIBCO).

The outcome of the Nature Valley Grand Prix will set the stage for the showdown at the International Tour de “˜Toona, next month’s Series event which will select the teams that receive invitations to the Bermuda Grand Prix in September.

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 Women’s Cycling Summit Conference hosted at the Nature Valley Grand Prix. The Summits, now sponsored by Rasmussen College, 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.