Women’s pro racing has never been hotter, or more contested. It returns to the Nature Valley Grand Prix again this year in the Women’s Prestige Cycling Series, where the individual title is once again on the line.

Kristin Armstrong (TEAm Lipton) claimed the 2006 crown from 2005 champion Christine Thorburne (Webcor - Platinum) as the two powerhouse riders were heading for Gold and Bronze medals respectively at the 2006 World Time Trial Championships. Both riders are expected to face off in the 2007 Women's Prestige Cycling Series.

Women's racing is one of the top priorities at the Nature Valley Grand Prix. As part of that commitment, the Nature Valley Grand Prix is the organizer of the Women's Prestige Cycling Series, a national race series open only to women. This series of races highlights top women's races in North America. The 2007 schedule is:

Mar 22-25 Redlands Bicycle Classic
June 20-24 Nature Valley Grand Prix
July 23-29 International Tour de 'Toona
Sept 21-23 CD&P Bermuda Grand Prix

March sees race one of the series at the Redlands Bicycle Classic in California, with the Nature Valley Grand Prix next in June. Stage three is the International Tour de 'Toona in July, and the series wraps up in September with the CD&P Bermuda Grand Prix, serving both as the finale and the grand prize. The top ten teams following the International Tour de ‘Toona receive housing and a generous travel subsidy to attend the very popular CD&P Bermuda Grand Prix. Fourteen teams have already registered for the 2007 Series, hoping to make the trip to the CD&P Bermuda Grand Prix.

The Women's Prestige Cycling Series began in 2004 with the goal of shining the spotlight on women's racing. The Series grew out of meetings in Minnesota in 2003 at the first Women's Cycling Summit Conference hosted at the Nature Valley Grand Prix. With the proliferation of men-only stage races sponsored by the states of California, Georgia, Utah and Missouri, the Women's Prestige Cycling Series is now more important than ever.

Riders, Teams and Moves

Canadian phenomenon Alex Wrubleski (Colavita) is the clear favorite for the Series Best Young Rider competition. Last year's winner and runner up, Katharine Carroll (Victory Brewing) and Erinne Willock (Webcor - Platinum), are now "too old" for this under 26 (U26) division. Wrubleski, who claimed the Best Young Rider jersey at the Nature Valley Grand Prix in 2006, also won two Canadian National Championships and is clearly a rider to watch for both the young rider competition and for the overall Series.

Brooke Miller (TIBCO) was the surprise winner of the Series Sprint competition in 2006. She burst onto the national scene with her win at the Nature Valley Grand Prix's Cannon Falls Road Race, going on to claim that race's Freewheel Bike Sprint jersey. She returns to defend her crown in 2007, but is likely in the crosshairs of veteran sprinters like Laura Van Gilder (Cheerwine) and Tina Pic (Colavita).

The team competition is wide open in 2007. Webcor - Platinum overtook TEAm Lipton to claim the title at the Bermuda Grand Prix. The slate starts clean for 2007, however, and the transfers of stars Laura Van Gilder from Litpon to Cheerwine and Erinne Willock from Webcor - Platinum to Team ExpressCopy.com are likely to change the math. Teams already committed for 2007 include TEAm Lipton, Colavita / Cooking Light Cycling Team, Team Arrons Rents, Team Cheerwine, Team ExpressCopy.com, Team Kenda Tire, Advil Chapstick Cycling Team, Team Wachovia /IBC and ValueAct Capital.