gregg
02-25-2005, 03:35 PM
110-Plus Already Signed Up to Ride in June 2005
February 23, 2005
TEMPE, Arizona- Organizers for the Insight Race Across America (RAAM) are preparing for the biggest event to date as the 2005 start approaches on June 19. Following the buzz behind last month's NBC Sports telecast of the 2004 race, participant interest in RAAM is at an all-time high and expected to continue soaring. On February 23, 2005, 114 riders had signed up for the solo and team categories in the ultra-distance cycling event, already surpassing last year's record 99 entries.
While history tells us that the Insight Race Across America (RAAM) is the same to ultra-distance cyclists as the Tour de France is to road racers, RAAM is about 78 years younger than "Le Tour" and relatively speaking is still in its formative years. One of the most significant recent changes to the organization of the world's greatest ultra-cycling challenge was the addition of the Corporate Challenge, which emerged in 2002, making it a realistic prospect for weekend warrior teams to relay across the country in a team of eight. And now in 2005, RAAM is introducing the 24-hour version, a new category for amateur riders called the 24-Hour RAAM Corporate & Team Challenge. This is a team race from the start in San Diego to Flagstaff, Arizona, giving new riders a sampling of the excitement that is RAAM.
"This race has continuously grown in new directions for the past three years," says Race Director Jim Pitre. "Each year the plan is refined and that is reflected in the people that turn out in support. It seems that the interest and enthusiasm for the Insight Race Across America continues to gain strength among both cyclists and the general public." Riders from 12 different countries will travel 3,047 miles and 14 states before crossing the finish line in Atlantic City.
START
June 19th (solo); June 21st (team)
MEDIA COVERAGE
The 2004 RAAM received two hours national broadcast on NBC Sports, and live coverage on NBC local television. 105 newspapers and 48 local television stations covered the 2004 event
About Insight
Insight North America Inc. ("Insight")is a leading provider of IT products and services to businesses, government and educational institutions in the United States and Canada. Insight's offerings span the entire IT lifecycle with more than 200,000 name-brand hardware, software and peripherals -- the largest selection in the industry -- along with a full line of services tailored to support the changing and unique needs of technology buyers. Insight is a wholly owned subsidiary of Insight Enterprises Inc. (Nasdaq:NSIT), ranked No. 537 on Fortune Magazine's 2004 "Fortune 1000" list. For additional information, call 480-902-1001 or visit www.insight.com
About Insight Race Across America
The Insight Race Across America has run every year since 1982, and since 2003 has followed its current route from San Diego, California to Atlantic City, New Jersey. Outside Magazine has called it "The World's Toughest Race", and others have described it as "The Tour de France done the American way". Top individual racers pedal roughly 350 miles per day, burning 9,000+ calories and sleeping just 90 minutes. Two-person and four-person relays comprising men and women race non-stop, covering over 500 miles per day. The race's senior management and ownership is in the hands of Race Director Jim Pitre, current co-holder of the 2-person 55+ Teamrecord, and Head Official Lon Haldeman, 2 time solo winner in 1982 and 1983. For further background and race history, please visit www.raceacrossamerica.org
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February 23, 2005
TEMPE, Arizona- Organizers for the Insight Race Across America (RAAM) are preparing for the biggest event to date as the 2005 start approaches on June 19. Following the buzz behind last month's NBC Sports telecast of the 2004 race, participant interest in RAAM is at an all-time high and expected to continue soaring. On February 23, 2005, 114 riders had signed up for the solo and team categories in the ultra-distance cycling event, already surpassing last year's record 99 entries.
While history tells us that the Insight Race Across America (RAAM) is the same to ultra-distance cyclists as the Tour de France is to road racers, RAAM is about 78 years younger than "Le Tour" and relatively speaking is still in its formative years. One of the most significant recent changes to the organization of the world's greatest ultra-cycling challenge was the addition of the Corporate Challenge, which emerged in 2002, making it a realistic prospect for weekend warrior teams to relay across the country in a team of eight. And now in 2005, RAAM is introducing the 24-hour version, a new category for amateur riders called the 24-Hour RAAM Corporate & Team Challenge. This is a team race from the start in San Diego to Flagstaff, Arizona, giving new riders a sampling of the excitement that is RAAM.
"This race has continuously grown in new directions for the past three years," says Race Director Jim Pitre. "Each year the plan is refined and that is reflected in the people that turn out in support. It seems that the interest and enthusiasm for the Insight Race Across America continues to gain strength among both cyclists and the general public." Riders from 12 different countries will travel 3,047 miles and 14 states before crossing the finish line in Atlantic City.
START
June 19th (solo); June 21st (team)
MEDIA COVERAGE
The 2004 RAAM received two hours national broadcast on NBC Sports, and live coverage on NBC local television. 105 newspapers and 48 local television stations covered the 2004 event
About Insight
Insight North America Inc. ("Insight")is a leading provider of IT products and services to businesses, government and educational institutions in the United States and Canada. Insight's offerings span the entire IT lifecycle with more than 200,000 name-brand hardware, software and peripherals -- the largest selection in the industry -- along with a full line of services tailored to support the changing and unique needs of technology buyers. Insight is a wholly owned subsidiary of Insight Enterprises Inc. (Nasdaq:NSIT), ranked No. 537 on Fortune Magazine's 2004 "Fortune 1000" list. For additional information, call 480-902-1001 or visit www.insight.com
About Insight Race Across America
The Insight Race Across America has run every year since 1982, and since 2003 has followed its current route from San Diego, California to Atlantic City, New Jersey. Outside Magazine has called it "The World's Toughest Race", and others have described it as "The Tour de France done the American way". Top individual racers pedal roughly 350 miles per day, burning 9,000+ calories and sleeping just 90 minutes. Two-person and four-person relays comprising men and women race non-stop, covering over 500 miles per day. The race's senior management and ownership is in the hands of Race Director Jim Pitre, current co-holder of the 2-person 55+ Teamrecord, and Head Official Lon Haldeman, 2 time solo winner in 1982 and 1983. For further background and race history, please visit www.raceacrossamerica.org
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