Next RTWC Event Will Feature Nine-Time Tour de France Veteran Andreu and Local Hellyer Track Champions; Video Coverage by CyclistVillage.com

Marin County, Calif., – PROMAN riders Shelley Olds and Nicola Cranmer traveled to Manchester, Great Britain, to compete in the first World Cup track event in front of a sold out stadium and electrifying crowds. Olds was able to build on PROMAN’s growing prominence in track cycling’s most important international series by taking 6th and 8th in the Scratch and Points races, respectively.

“We are very excited,” reported Olds from Manchester. “Everything seems to be falling into place for our racing squads at just the right time. It is also humbling and inspiring to be here in Manchester, one of the world’s track racing Meccas. The British Track Program is absolutely without equal; after dominating the Beijing Olympic track events, they’ve swept the highest podium steps in almost every event at this World Cup opener.”

For PROMAN, timing certainly seems key, as Olds and 30+ National Team Pursuit Champion/General Manager Cranmer return to the San Francisco Bay Area just in time to prepare for the third Ride the World Cup fundraiser. Like the first two editions, the event promises to showcase some exciting track racing, as well as spotlight local Hellyer track heroes at the Junior, Elite, Masters National and even World Championship levels. 2008 champions have been invited to show up with their complete collections of jerseys and medals for group pictures, including Daniel Holloway, Shelley Olds, multiple-event Masters World champion Larry Nolan and many others, which will make for unique photo opportunities. The photo session (all photographers are invited) will take place before the racing begins sometime between 12 noon and 2pm.

In addition, PROMAN will be introducing four new team riders at the RTWC event, all Juniors: Ruth Winder, Nikka Van Den Dries, Claire Jenson and Christina Noelle Yglesias. “This represents an important milestone in the team’s history,” explains Cranmer. “Not only will we be continuing our support of women who are working their way up through the ranks in the form of our development squads, but we will have the opportunity to mentor and support promising young athletes who can follow in the footsteps of Shelley, Cari Higgins, Rachel Lloyd and other ‘PROMAN Girls’ who have excelled at the National and International levels.”

Frankie Andreu and sponsor CyclistVillage.com are supporting the team’s fundraising efforts in the hope that PROMAN riders can participate in multiple World Cups over the next four years in order to properly prepare for track World Championships and the Olympics in 2012. Andreu began his own career on the track, and this year served as PROMAN team director at several road events. Organizers of the RTWC are planning to modify the race formats somewhat, running the points races first, followed by motor-paced scratch events for the finale. Visit www.ridetheworldcups.com for additional information.

There will also be a “Frankie Fun Ride” on Sunday, November 16th, at 9am starting from The Java Hut in Fairfax, Calif. (760 Center Blvd, Fairfax). It will be a 42-mile recreational ride where cyclists can meet and mingle with Andreu and other celebrities while on their bikes, as well as win prizes afterward. More details are available at http://www.cyclistvillage.com/?page_id=167&message=contest .

After what promise to be memorable events and hopefully successful fundraising efforts, Olds, Cranmer and teammate Cari Higgins – four-time Elite National Track Champion – will already be preparing for the next track World Cup in Melbourne, Australia November 20-22, 2008.

“I can’t wait to tell everyone about England,” added Olds, now back in the US. “I hope a lot of people can make it to the fundraiser on November fifteenth. It will be a truly memorable occasion; I’m really looking forward to it!”

About Frankie Andreu
Frankie Andreu began his cycling career on the track, winning the individual pursuit at the 1984 Junior National Track Cycling Championships. In 1985, he placed first in the Madison at the National Track Cycling Championships and second in both the Points Race and Team Pursuit. In 1988 Andreu qualified to represent the US Cycling Team at the Seoul Olympic Games, where he placed eighth in the Points Race. Andreu moved from track to road cycling after signing with the 7-Eleven Professional Cycling Team in 1989, the year he finished his first professional stage race, the Giro d’Italia. His highest finish in a stage at the Tour de France was second in 1993 while racing for the Motorola Professional Cycling Team along with a promising young teammate, Lance Armstrong. Andreu finished fourth at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games in the road race.

One of US cycling’s most popular and well respected riders, Andreu retired after racing as a professional for twelve years. During his career he competed in the Tour de France nine times from 1992-2000, always one of his team’s most consistent and selfless performers. In addition he competed in three Tours of Spain and one Giro d’ Italia. His racing experience not only encompassed Grand Tours, but also included high placings in World Cup events, World Championships, famed European “Spring Classics” and two Olympic Games (4th in 1996 and 8th in 1998). For more info visit: http://www.frankieandreu.com/history.html .

About PROMAN Women’s Professional Cycling / UCI Pro Track Team
The PROMAN Women’s Professional Cycling Team is dedicated to promoting the enjoyable and ethical growth of American cycling for women, and serving as a platform for women to earn berths on the United States National Cycling, Mountain Bike and Cyclocross Teams. PROMAN works in partnership with USA Cycling, the UCI and the Agency for Sporting Ethics (ASE), which in 2007 created the most aggressive anti-doping program in professional sports. All PROMAN riders and staff support a strict Code of Conduct, striving to treat competitors, race organizers, national and international cycling officials, spectators and fans with the highest standards of fairness, character, kindness and respect. The team believes in and loves the bicycle as a force for positive social change, an environmentally responsible transportation option and a healthy, enjoyable way of life for boys, girls, men and women of all ages. For more information visit www.proman-paradigm.blogspot.com and www.promanracing.com.