One of the strongest teams at this year's Cascade Cycling Classic, Optum Pro Cycling presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies, is hosting a silent auction 6 pm Sunday, July 21 at GoodLife Brewing to support World Bicycle Relief, a far-reaching bike charity program. The nonprofit seeks to empower and strengthen rural communities in Africa through bike donations. Sunday, frame sets, wheels and other team gear will be up for grabs.

Optum is home to Bend's Alex Candelario, a rider who's long been known as one of the best sprinters in the domestic peloton. Look for Candelario to lead out one of Optum's young sprinters during Saturday night's downtown crit (men start at 7pm).

Oregonians Jade Wilcoxson and Brianna Walle, two of the fastest women in America, are on Optum's women's team and have, thus far, posted impressive results at the CCC. At Thursday's 16-mile time trial, Walle finished fourth, 1:09 back, and Wilcoxson took fifth, 1:14 behind winner Alison Powers, NOW and Novartis team.