With the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games just months away, USA Triathlon is set to kick off the fourth and final year of its annual Haul to the Great Wall Elite Race Series.

The 2008 Series will give triathlon fans a chance to see athletes who have already qualified for Beijing, those who are looking for those final spots on the team, and those up-and-coming athletes who have their sights set on London in 2012.

Five great race destinations dot the schedule, with more than $800,000 in prize money up for grabs in 2008. The series kicks off with the U.S. Olympic Trials in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on April 19, followed by a return trip to the Hy-Vee Triathlon in Des Moines, Iowa on June 22. The Musselman Triathlon in Geneva, N.Y., on July 12, is on the docket for the second year, with Portland, Ore., playing host to the Elite and U23 National Championships on September 20. The San Francisco Triathlon at Treasure Island will wrap up the schedule with the Series Championship on November 8.

The events in Tuscaloosa and Des Moines are the final qualifiers for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team and participation by U.S. athletes will be restricted according to International Triathlon Union rankings. The final two races of the series follow the Olympic Games.

"We've really seen the cream rise to the top through this series, and in 2008 two of these events will determine the final athletes on our Olympic Team," said Scott Schnitzspahn, USAT sport performance director. "While it is the end of the 'Haul' we are already seeing the up and coming stars take the stage for the Road to London. This is a very exciting year for USAT elite athletes."

2008 Haul to the Great Wall Series Schedule:

U.S. Olympic Trials
Location: Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Date: April 19
Prize Purse: $50,000
Details: The top U.S. male and female finishers earn a spot on the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team.

The Hy-Vee Triathlon
Location: Des Moines, Iowa
Date: June 22
Prize Purse: $700,000
Details: Final male and female will qualify for 2008 U.S. Olympic Team at this race

The Musselman Triathlon
Location: Geneva, N.Y.
Date: July 12
Prize Purse: $20,000

USA Triathlon Elite and U23 Nationals
Location: Portland, Ore.
Date: September 20
Prize Purse: $40,000
Details: USAT Elite and U23 National Championship

The Treasure Island Triathlon
Location: San Francisco, Calif.
Date: November 8
Prize Purse: $40,000
Details: Series Championship; double series points

The Haul to the Great Wall series of Olympic distance (1.5k swim, 40k bike, 10k run) triathlons allows triathletes and spectators to get their first look at who might be competing at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Each race is sanctioned by USAT.

Athletes must compete in a minimum of three events to be eligible for the overall series title. If athletes compete in more than three events, the top-three results will be included in the points total. Overall Series Prize Purse $20,000: Three Deep - 1st $5,000, 2nd $3,000, 3rd $2,000.

Swimwear and sports apparel giant Speedo is also providing $5,000 in bonus money for each race on the six-city tour. American men and women who finish in the top-three in their respective races are eligible for the bonuses, with $1,500 going to the top finisher, $750 to second, and $250 to third.

In addition to the individual race bonus pool, Speedo is providing a $15,000 end-of-the-season bonus to be split if U.S. athletes finish first or second in the series. First place will receive $5,000 and second place will take home $2,500 in both the men's and women's categories.

Click Here to find out more about the 2008 Haul to the Great Wall Series.