Grand Prix of Cycling : Young, 28, Has No Plans to Retire

Connie Paraskevin Young, the premier women’s sprint cyclist in the United States and a bronze medalist in the match sprints last year at the Seoul Olympic Games, has been riding competitively for 18 years.

But Young, 28, has no immediate plans to retire.

“I think I’m still improving,” said the former three-time world sprint champion. “I’m still competitive internationally. I realistically feel that I can compete for another five or six years, easily.”

Young said this knowing that corporate sponsorship has extended the careers of American cyclists, who in the past were forced practically to starve themselves in order to continue competing.

“What you’re going to see in the future are older, more mature and better-prepared athletes,” Young said.

Including, of course, Connie Paraskevin Young, who was a quarterfinal winner in the women’s match sprints Friday night during the Sundance Grand Prix of Cycling at the Olympic Velodrome at Cal State Dominguez Hills.

Young has altered her training schedule this season, adding weight training and, for the first time, running in season. “I’m always looking for a way to get more power out of myself,” she said.

And in another twist in her routine, out of others, too.

She has taken on the added responsibilities of manager of her team, which includes Mark Gorski, the Olympic sprint gold medalist in 1984.

Among those with whom Young works is Bonnie Blair, a former speedskating training partner and gold medalist in the 500-meter speedskating event in the 1988 Winter Olympics at Calgary, Canada.

“She’s one of my many projects for the year,” Young said of Blair, who will make her competitive cycling debut at the Chicago stop of the Sundance Grand Prix June 1-3 at the Northbrook, Ill., Velodrome.

But Young’s main priority, of course, is improving herself.

Physically, she said, she feels fine.

A once-mysterious malady, which was caused when her neck locked up and whose symptoms included severe headaches and double vision, has been kept in control through regular treatments from her chiropractor, Dr. Robert Moore of Irvine.

“Women have won world championships in their mid-30s,” said Young, who would like to add her name to the list.

Advancing to today’s semifinals in the match sprints were Gorski, U.S. Olympian Ken Carpenter, Canadian Olympian Curt Harnett and Paul Swift.

Among those who will join Young in the women’s semifinals is Janie Eickhoff of Los Alamitos, who won the women’s miss and out Thursday night.

Racing today starts at 1 p.m., with finals scheduled in seven events, including the men’s and women’s sprints.