On Tap...

Across the pond, the Vuelta a Espana begins this weekend. The third of Europe's grand tours has always suffered in perception because of its place on the racing calendar, but that doesn't mean it is less grand than either the Tour or the Giro.

The Vuelta certainly won't suffer from a lack of star power as we will get to see the winners of both this year's Tour and Giro face off in somewhat of a rubber match. In addition to Carlos Sastre (CSC-Saxo Bank) and Alberto Contador (Astana), Tom Boonen (Quick Step), who was a non-invitee to the Tour de France, will make his 2008 grand tour debut at the Vuelta.

For a full PREVIEW
For the START LIST


Schedule
Stage 1 - August 30 Granada - Granada TTT (7 km)
Stage 2 - August 31 Granada – Jaén (167 km)
Stage 3 - September 1 Jaén – Córdoba (165 km)
Stage 4 - September 2 Córdoba – Puertollano (153 km)
Stage 5 - September 3 Ciudad Real - Ciudad Real ITT (40 km)
Stage 6 - September 4 Ciudad Real - Toledo162 km
Rest Day 1 - September 5
Stage 7 - September 6 Barbastro – Andorra (224 km)
Stage 8 - September 7 Andorra - Pla de Beret (160 km)
Stage 9 - September 8 Viella – Sabiñánigo (198 km)
Stage 10 - September 9 Sabiñánigo – Zaragoza (173 km)
Stage 11 - September 10 Calahorra – Burgos (178 km)
Stage 12 - September 11 Burgos – Suances (180 km)
Rest Day 2 - September 12
Stage 13 - September 13 San Vicente de la Barquera - Alto de L'Angliru (199 km)
Stage 14 - September 14 Oviedo - E. E. Fuentes de Invierno (158 km)
Stage 15 - September 15 Cudillero – Ponferrada (198 km)
Stage 16 - September 16 Ponferrada – Zamora (185 km)
Stage 17 - September 17 Zamora – Valladolid (160 km)
Stage 18 - September 18 Valladolid - Las Rozas (179 km)
Stage 19 - September 19 Las Rozas – Segovia (161 km)
Stage 20 - September 20 La Granja de San Ildefonso - Alto de Navacerrada ITT (16 km)
Stage 21 - September 21 San Sebastián de los Reyes – Madrid (110 km)


In the States, the USA Cycling Pro Championships takes place in Greenville, South Carolina this weekend.

Schedule of Events & Details
Saturday, August 30 - USA Cycling Professional Individual Time Trial Championship

• Start/finish will feature a new course at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR). The Greenville CU-ICAR campus is located off of Millennium Blvd. in Technology Neighborhood I, 12 miles from downtown Greenville.
• The ITT start will begin at 11:00 a.m.
• The Championship course is 6.9 miles in length and participating athletes will complete 3 laps, for a total of 20.7 miles.
• Staggered start at one minute intervals for competitors

Sunday, August 31st - USA Cycling Professional Road Race Championship

• Start/Finish in downtown Greenville; start time 1:00pm and finish between 4:00-5:00 p.m.
• Over 110 miles of racing with 10 downtown laps; over 100 athletes expected in the field
• FREE downtown health & wellness expo during the race, including Big Screen TV with live race coverage

Before the Tour of Missouri kicks off on September 8th, the Show-Me state makes way for the Gateway Cup over Labor Day Weekend. In an effort to promote women's racing in the Midwest, an $8,000 minimum is available in the purse for the four days of criterium racing.


For more details, visit the Gateway Cup website.

Around The Bend
For races in and around your specific area check the listings below.

08/30/2008
Lehigh Valley Winery Criterium
Breinigsville, PA
Challenge Challenge Road Race
Challenge, CA
1st Annual Greenford Road Race
Greenford, OH
Trophee de Grimpeurs - Un-Official Michigan State Climbers Championship
Milford, MI
Far West Championships
Encino, CA
West Lafayette Road Race
West Lafayette, IN
Civano Town Criterium
Tucson, AZ
2008 Nittany Cup
Breinigsville, PA
Illinois State Time Trial Championship
Harvard, IL

08/31/2008
Dunnigan Hills Road Race
Yolo, CA
Clarks Valley Elite TT Championship 40 and 20 KM
Harrisburg, PA

09/01/2008
44th Debaets-Devo Pro-AM Memorial
Auburn Hills, MI
Giro Di San Francisco
San Francisco, CA
IL. State Velo Kilo & 500m Championship
Northbrook, IL

For results and photos of some of the races above, click through to Truesport.com .


Within Sight
09/06/2008
Lotoja Classic
Logan, UT to Jackson, WY
Warnerville Time Trial
Oakdale, CA
Priority Health Cycling Classic
Grand Rapids, MI
Univest Grand Prix
Souderton, PA
LARPD Cyclocross Race Series
Livermore, CA
Nebraska State Championship Road Race
Raymond, NE
Walnut Cove Criterium
Walnut Cove, NC

09/07/2008
Team Time Trial and Tandem TT Arizona State Championship
Picacho Peak, AZ
Redding Velo Mt Shasta Hillclimb
Mt Shasta City, CA
Fiesta Island SCNCA Masters/Jrs TT Championships
San Diego, CA
Benicia Town Race
Benicia, CA
Univest Criterium of Doylestown
Doylestown, PA
Carolina Cup 2008
Greensboro, NC