NRC (National Racing Calendar) champion Tina Pic and Canadian national champion Alex Wrubleski of the Colavita/Sutter Home Women's cycling team will race against the top women cyclists in the world at Australia's Geelong Tour, the first UCI (Union Cycliste International) event of the 2007 season. Dotsie Bausch (USA) and Alison Powers (USA) will also represent the Colavita/Sutter Home squad at the three-day, four-stage race, which runs from February 27 through March 1.
"We are thrilled that the Colavita/Sutter Home will make its UCI debut at the Geelong Tour, which consistently draws the finest cyclists from the international women's peloton," said Team Director Jim Williams. "In addition, Tina, Alex, Dotsie and Alison are excited to race in the first round of the 2007 UCI Women's World Cup at the Geelong World Cup on March 3."
In preparation, Pic, Wrubleski, Bausch and Powers will join teammates Iona Wynter Parks (Jam), Sue Palmer-Komar (Can), Mackenzie Dickey (USA), Stacey Spencer (Can), Candice Blickem (USA), Sara Tillotson (USA), and Andrea Dvorak (USA) for eight days of rigorous training with the Colavita/Sutter Home men's team in Napa Valley, California from February 2 - 12. Hosted by co-title sponsor Sutter Home Winery, the training schedule will include steep hill climbs and long stretches of flat road to also ready the men's cycling squad for the upcoming Tour of California.
One of the most anticipated events in the USA cycling calendar, the roster for the Tour of California includes 18 of the world's top professional men's cycling teams. Director Sportif Tom Schuler noted, "The 2007 race marks the second year in a row that the Colavita/Sutter team has been selected for the Tour of California, considered one of the largest cycling events in North America." Sanctioned by UCI and USA Cycling, the eight-day stage race begins in San Francisco on February 18 and concludes in Long Beach on February 25.
Irish National Champion David McCann and former Canadian Criterium Champion Charles Dionne will make their debut in Colavita/Sutter Home colours at the Tour of California. They will be joined by teammates Davide Frattini (Ita), Gustavo Artacho (Arg), Tyler Wren (USA), Peter Hatton (Aus), Anthony Colby (USA), and Alejandro Acton (Arg). Co-title sponsor Sutter Home Winery, whose St. Helena, California headquarters are along the race route for stage two of the Tour of California, will also serve as an official wine sponsor for the event.
