USA Cycling is also making team announcements today providing the list of the eight US Continental and three Women’s teams.

Continuing Continental teams are:

Bissell Cycling
SmartStop presented by Mountain Khakis
Team Optum presented by Kelly Benefits Strategies
5-Hour Energy
Bontrager Cycling Team
Hincapie Sportswear Development Team
Jamis Hagens Berman
Jelly Belly presented by Kenda

The three women’s teams are:

Specialized-Lulumon
Optum presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies
Team TIBCO-To the Top

For more detailed information see  USA Cycling.

As a reminder, please send us your team employment updates. There are fewer professional teams and we would like to keep track of you.

It’s been a busy start to the week with notice of a shorter offseason for those who ride in the dirt and announcements of who is in or out of the Pro Tour.

First off, the UCI released their final list of Pro Tour teams earlier today. According to the list on their website Katusha is out, Argos-Shimano are in and questions regarding both SaxoBank and RadioShackNissan are answered.

The UCI also issued a statement that they have been talking to the owner of Omega Pharma-QuickStep regarding the development of new professional road racing calendar. Their statement can be seen here and stay tuned for more information to come this spring.

Not to be left out of the news, USA Cycling announced 2013 professional mountain bike schedule. They’ve announced a start date of March 2nd in Texas followed by three events in California …

Just three days after announcing a professional category for women with matching professional titles to be awarded, USA Cycling releases their event schedule for championship events.

2013 USA Cycling National Championship Events Calendar

January 9, Cyclocross Championships (Madison, WI)
May 3-5, Collegiate Road Championships (Ogden, UT)
May 18,  Elite BMX Championships (Chula Vista, CA)
May 25-27, Professional Road & Time Trial Championships (Chattanooga, TN)
June 1, Amateur BMX Championships (Nashville, TN)
June 15-16, 24-Hour Mountain Bike Championships (Gallup, NM)
July 3-7, Amateur & Para-cycling Road Championships (Madison, WI)
July 6, Marathon Mountain Bike Championships (Sun Valley, ID)
July 18-21, Cross Country Mountain Bike Championships (Bear Creek Resort, PA)
July 25-28, Junior Track Championships (Trexlertown, PA)
July 27, Professional Criterium Championships (High Point, NC)
July 30–August 4, Masters Track Championships (Indianapolis, IN)
August 2-4, Gravity Mountain Bike Championships (Angel Fire, NM)
August 9-11, Elite Timed Track Championships (Carson, CA)
August 22-24, Elite Mass Start Track Championships …

A major step for women’s cycling occurred today as USA Cycling announced the creation of a professional women’s category. Along with this new level of cycling will come a championship and title for both road and time trial.

“There has been a tremendous increase in awareness and interest in women’s professional road racing over the past decade,” said USA Cycling CEO and President Steve Johnson.  “We were very excited to add women’s representation to the Professional Road Committee as part of last year’s governance reform; and I think bringing the two championships together and equalizing the prize lists are important steps in the continuing development of women’s cycling in the U.S.”

For more details, see USA Cycling’s announcement here:
USA Cycling announces creation of women’s pro team structure – USA Cycling.