On Tap...

Post Tour Letdown?
No way, no how! As the calendar flips to August and the temperatures flip off the charts, the racing season is kicking into high gear. Of the 24 listings below, 11 are on US Cycling's list of significant races, and two are on the National Racing Calendar (NRC).

The folks in the land of the Grand Banks are in for some excellent racing as it host both of the NRC races. The Presbyterian Hospital Invitational Criterium in Charlotte, North Carolina takes place on Saturday the 4th, and the Hanes Park Classic in Winston Salem on Sunday the 5th. The former is part of the US Crit Series.

Closer to home, the NAS-Track International 3-Day in Rochester Hills, MI begins tonight, Friday the 3rd at 7pm. Teams from California, Colorado, Indiana, Georgia, Minnesota, Michigan, and Canada will be representing 8 different velodromes.

08/03/2007
Golden Wheel Race/Corp Challenge
Trexlertown, PA
Statesville Criteruim 2007
Statesville, NC
American Velodrome Challenge- Elite Quailfier
Indianapolis, IN
NAS-Track International 3-Day
Rochester Hills, MI

08/04/2007
Downtown Bloomington Criterium
Bloomington, IN
Deodate Road Race (TM)
Deodate, PA
Bike Source Criterium
Charlotte, NC
Ada Criterium
Ada, MI
Pur Tour
Mason, OH
Sisquoc Road Race and SoCal/NVJr St Champ
Santa Maria, CA
Grayslake Cycling Classic at Prairie Crossing
Grayslake, IL
Huntsville 100
Huntsville, UT
Wisconsin State Time Trial Championship
Kansasville, WI
District Road Race Championships
Marina, CA
Pan-Mass Challenge
Boston, MA
Presbyterian Hospital Invitational Criterium
Charlotte, NC
San Diego AVC Elite Nationals Qualifier 2007
San Diego, CA

08/05/2007
Elgin Cycling Classic
Elgin, IL
NJ Track Championships - Mass Start and Sprint Eve
Breinigsville, PA
Timpani Criterium
Santa Clara, CA
Zionsville G.P.
Zionsville, OH
Zoar Road Race
Zoar, OH
Hanes Park Classic
Winston Salem, NC
Zaveta Construction Circuit Race
Doylestown, PA

As a life long Boston Red Sox fan, listed among the races above is the Pan-Mass Challenge. The Pan-Massachusetts Challenge raises money for life-saving cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through its Jimmy Fund. The annual bike-a-thon crosses the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and offers one and two day riding options from 47 to 192 miles. Like most things on the east coast, the Pan-Mass is an original. It is considered the nation’s first fundraising bike-a-thon and raises more money than any other athletic fundraising event in the country.

Venga, Venga, Venga
As if Spain doesn't have enough to celebrate with Alberto Contador's (Discovery Channel) victory in France, the biggest Spanish one-day race, the Clasica San Sebastian takes places on Saturday. As Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne has been tabbed, The Revenge, for those who miss out on the Belgian Spring Semi-Classic, Het Volk, San Sebastian has served as a small measure of redemption for those riders who haven't faired well at the Tour.

Look for Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) to make amends.