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Some things to know about the cycling worlds

By WTOP Staff

HAROLD HECKLE
Associated Press

MADRID (AP) — With the grand tours over and done with, it’s time to get ready for the road cycling world championships.

Many of the biggest names in the sport — including Fabian Cancellara, Cadel Evans, Chris Froome, Alejandro Valverde and Bradley Wiggins — will be in Spain next week to compete in a variety of races around Spain’s hilly landscape of El Bierzo, northwest of Madrid.

Here are some things to know about the events that begin Sunday with a 57.1-kilometer (35.5-mile) men and women’s team time trial:

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AWESOME AUSTRALIA

The men’s races will be held on rolling terrain with short but steep climbs that will test both climb specialists and sprinters.

On paper, Australian riders seems to be the best suited to cope with the challenges posed by El Bierzo’s topography.

After becoming the first rider to win back-to-back Canadian races in Quebec and Montreal, Simon Gerrans is a strong contender, but Michael Matthews’ ability to climb could see the Canberra rider challenge for overall victory.

Gerrans has recovered from injuries sustained in a crash at this year’s Tour de France that also affected British rider Mark Cavendish.

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TIME TRIAL

This race pits Cancellara against German rider Tony Martin, who showed his class by beating his nearest rival in the 20th stage of the Tour by 1 minute, 39 seconds.

Martin is aiming to win his fourth title in a row. However, competition will be tough because Wiggins and American rider Taylor Phinney are also in contention.

With four titles to his credit, Cancellara is the specialist to beat.

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COLOMBIAN UNIFORMS

The Colombian women’s team garnered some recent attention because of its uniforms.

The body-hugging riding suits have a flesh-colored section from the ribcage down to the thighs. Many among the crowd attending the Tour of Tuscany in Italy stared as the IDRD-Bogota Humana-San Mateo-Solgar team rode by.

International Cycling Union President Brian Cookson wrote on his Twitter account that the uniform was “unacceptable.”

It was unclear if the six-member team will wear the same design in Spain.

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BRADLEY’S BRITS

Wiggins will attempt to improve on the time trial silver medals he won in 2011 and 2013. But Britain’s overall challenge will be spearheaded by 2013 Tour de France champion Froome, who finished second behind Alberto Contador at the Spanish Vuelta.

Britain’s nine-rider road race men’s team also includes Geraint Thomas, Pete Kennaugh, Adam Yates, Simon Yates, Luke Rowe and Steve Cummings.

Wiggins will not contest the road race to focus exclusively on the time trial and will be joined by Alex Dowsett, who triumphed in that category at the Commonwealth Games.

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MONEY MATTERS

About 2,000 years ago, El Bierzo was one of the Roman Empire’s greatest sources of gold, and its ancient mines form the landscape through which the riders will race.

Ponferrada could do with some gold to help finance this year’s race. Money matters have been at the core of the championships for two years, and the UCI almost pulled out at one stage, given the deep financial crisis Spain was going through.

Host cities pay the UCI 5 million euros ($6.4 million) to hold such events, and the cost of organizing the worlds could reach 14 million euros by the time the men’s elite road race ends on Sept. 28.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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