years, and the success is due in part to the US Women's Cycling Development Program (USWCDP), which was founded by Michael Engleman in 2006. Engleman, a been the face of women cycling development for over a decade. Cyclingnews' became so rabid over the previous year.

In just two year's the USWCDP has flourished beyond anyone's imagination, as witnessed by the quality of racing in the recent Redlands Bicycling Classic. program in the top ten and on the podium. The riders can easily be picked out in their black USWCDP hats in support of the program.

Mara Abbott, Katherine Carroll and Katheryn Curi are three of the women who had success at Redlands. Abbott and Curi are teammates racing for Webcor-Builders and finished on the podium of several stages of the race, along with second and third placed overall. Aaron's new rider Katherine Carroll finished fifth professional rider.

The USWCDP main goals are to scout and develop talent, answer questions and provide a network for female cyclist to grow. While the program is not involved with the US national team, its ultimate goal for riders sign contracts with professional teams or to be funneled into the national team ranks. "I spend all year on the road looking for the talent," Engleman said.

"We accept resumes too. What we also do is match a rider with a team based largely on their talent and personality because it is important for a rider to fit into a team well." peloton who come together as mentors, advisors and fundraisers for the program.

This year's overall winner of Redlands Classic, Amber Neben, feels so strongly about the program that she donated her prize money from Redlands to the USWCDP. Neben, a two time winner of the women's Tour de France who lives overseas and races for Team Flexpoint, mentors younger riders in the US. "I didn't start together," Neben said.

"When I found out about the USWCDP, I offered to mentor Fund."
the rider talent pool. "We offer our riders scholarship, travel money, and free coaching (limited)," Engleman said.

"We try to help riders that contact us and we try our best to answer questions to anyone. If we can pay a developing rider's four hundred dollar ticket that is a big deal."
2007 Colavita/Sutter Home's Alison Powers, a former Nordic skier, was scouted by Engleman as a one of the US next great cyclists.

Powers was a guest rider with Advil-ChapStick in 2006, and won the prestigious Tour de Toona prologue, which earned her a professional contract with Colavita/Sutter Home. "We knew Alison was a great rider and wanted to compete in the Tour de Toona last year," remembered Engleman. "She had no travel money so as a rider of our program we funded her expenses to that event.

"
by Engleman, and the numbers keep growing each month. Engleman noted that is next to impossible to take on every rider who calls, but that he never turns away a question. The program is becoming identified around the world with cyclists from Asia and Europe asking to be a part or the development process.

"Right now we only take US riders," Engleman said. "We did pick up our first Canadian rider, Alex Wrubleski who races for Colavita/Sutter Home."
from the women's peloton.

Along with Neben, the mentors this year include US Olympian Dede Demet-Barry and Colavita/Sutter Home's Dotsie Bausch. Riders who training, travel, nutrition, equipment and anything else related to racing. "The biggest question we get asked is, if I have a question who do I call?

" Engleman said. "Or how do I get on a team, or how do I guest ride, or how do I train. We want to give honest and straight answers to women who want to race.

that with women's cycling."
Not only has there been an influx of rider who want to help, the equipment of every rider. Industry sponsors such as Time Bikes and Shimano donate equipment to the program for new riders to start out with.

Time USA also donated two all effort. "Doug Knox from Time USA has a heart of gold and he saw that we needed equipment support," Engleman said. "There are a lot of good athletes that need help and he wanted to play the part in that.

"
Engleman added, "We do not make much money off of our sponsors, it is all based on donations support. We would like to see more non industry companies come on board in the future."
the rider dollars.

Engleman and programs like the USWCDP. "I think there is a story being missed in the women's peloton that we need to get out there," Engleman reiterates. "We should be promoting our talented riders and helping the network grow.

For that. I think we are on our way to bringing women's cycling to light.