gregg
04-04-2005, 11:10 AM
Amateur and Family Events Round Out Day of Sporting Entertainment
April 4, 2005
For Immediate Release
Morgan Hill, Calif.-Specialized Bicycles, one of the pioneering companies of the Mountain Bike, is expanding the growth and accessibility of cycling in the Bay area with the revival of a once-famous bicycle racing event in the company's hometown. The Specialized Morgan Hill Grand Prix is expected to attract over 1,000 spectators and 400 entrants on Sunday, April 10, 2005, to witness a feast of top national and international cyclists competing on an exhilarating 1.2 mile downtown circuit.
The San Francisco Bay area continues to be a national hotbed for cycling, and with the "Lance Factor," the sport is currently enjoying a huge wave of popularity. Indeed, the area is beginning to resemble Italian cycling hotspots, with hundreds of small groups of cyclists on any given weekend to be seen out riding or assembling at the roadside. It should be no surprise, then, that the pro racing scene is flourishing in the Bay area, with five of the nation's 20 pro teams based here.
For the pro cyclists, the Specialized Morgan Hill Grand Prix represents an opportunity to earn extra cash on a top level criterium course close to home. Two of the nation's strongest pro teams, the Webcor Builders team and the Kodak Easyshare Gallery-Sierra Nevada team have already committed full squads, and in keeping with established practice, more than 100 entries are expected on race day. "For pro riders who live off their race earnings, it is great that companies like Specialized and Webcor are backing new events like the Morgan Hill GP. This really means a lot to the local pro racers." said Ted Huang, rider and general manager of the Webcor Builders team.
Yet the Specialized Morgan Hill Grand Prix is about much more than pro road racing. More than 300 amateur cyclists are expected too, in a race program that is designed to be a day's sporting entertainment for all the family. "It is about participating and spectating. There aren't a whole lot of sports that create an opportunity to race yourself, watch your kids race, and then watch the pros race, all on the same course and within the space of a few hours," says competition director Tom Simpson. Apart from the adult races, a 400 yard dash is planned for children in three age divisions: 4-6, 7-8 and 9-10 years. All participants in the kids races will receive a medal from Shimano, and a water bottle and T-shirt from Specialized.
Some of the world's leading mountain bike racers will line up for the Fat Boy Crit, a shortened version of the road race that is ridden on mountain bikes with slick tires 1.25" wide. The British and Australian champions, Liam Killeen and Sid Taberlay of the Specialized factory sponsored mountain bike team will compete against some of the top names from the USA.
In case anybody is unsure about how to interpret the race action, entertainment and race information is provided by a host of race commentators whose mission is "activate and animate." Bay Area cycling journalist Bruce Hildenbrand and cycling insider Chad Patterson, of Lake Tahoe, will alternate time on "The Hill," relaying the course's live action via radio to Richard Fries, the event's anchorman on the main stage. Referred to variously as the "dean of U.S. race talk" and the "bard of the bicrophone," Fries is a nationally recognized cycling personality who has done numerous play-by-play commentaries on tv..
Fries expects the action to be most intense leading up to the bottleneck Webcor bridge. "Webcor just resurfaced it, which is great, because some of the world's best will be competing," Fries concludes: "I just can't wait until it's one lap to go and the crowd is yelling at the top of their lungs as the riders charge elbow to elbow, at 40 miles per hour down the finishing straight. It's magical to be a part of that."
Who: 300-500 Pro and Amateur Road and Mountain Bike Cyclists AND kids!
What: Morgan Hill Grand Prix
When: April 10, 2005 - 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Where: Downtown Morgan Hill, CA
Information: Event Hotline (650) 302-6310 or www.morganhillgrandprix.com
About Specialized Bicycles:
Specialized Bicycles, founded in Morgan Hill, CA in 1974, designed and manufactured the first production mountain bike, which now resides in the Smithsonian Institute. Specialized is a company of devout cyclists obsessed with creating cutting edge, functional and technically advanced products that provide a performance benefit for the cycling enthusiast. Specialized products are available exclusively through Specialized dealers, or on the Web at www.specialized.com.
About Webcor Builders:
Webcor Builders is ranked as the largest contractor in San Francisco and consistently listed among the ENR Top 400 General Contractors in the country. Webcor Builders is headquartered in San Mateo with offices in San Francisco, Hayward, Los Angeles, San Diego and Anaheim. Thirty-three years of working for such clients as Starwood Lodging, Lucas Films, Oracle Corporation, The California Academy of Sciences and Electronic Arts has secured its position as a builder for high profile, large-scale projects. With over 850 employees, Webcor currently has over $1.3 billion of contracts in place. On the cycling side, Webcor Builders has been an ever-growing supporter of the sport over the past 6 years. The 2005 season marks the third year that Webcor is fielding a team in the UCI professional arena. Visit www.webcor.com for more information.
Media Contact:
Charisse Lambert
Tel: (415) 359-0730
clambert@o2sm.com
April 4, 2005
For Immediate Release
Morgan Hill, Calif.-Specialized Bicycles, one of the pioneering companies of the Mountain Bike, is expanding the growth and accessibility of cycling in the Bay area with the revival of a once-famous bicycle racing event in the company's hometown. The Specialized Morgan Hill Grand Prix is expected to attract over 1,000 spectators and 400 entrants on Sunday, April 10, 2005, to witness a feast of top national and international cyclists competing on an exhilarating 1.2 mile downtown circuit.
The San Francisco Bay area continues to be a national hotbed for cycling, and with the "Lance Factor," the sport is currently enjoying a huge wave of popularity. Indeed, the area is beginning to resemble Italian cycling hotspots, with hundreds of small groups of cyclists on any given weekend to be seen out riding or assembling at the roadside. It should be no surprise, then, that the pro racing scene is flourishing in the Bay area, with five of the nation's 20 pro teams based here.
For the pro cyclists, the Specialized Morgan Hill Grand Prix represents an opportunity to earn extra cash on a top level criterium course close to home. Two of the nation's strongest pro teams, the Webcor Builders team and the Kodak Easyshare Gallery-Sierra Nevada team have already committed full squads, and in keeping with established practice, more than 100 entries are expected on race day. "For pro riders who live off their race earnings, it is great that companies like Specialized and Webcor are backing new events like the Morgan Hill GP. This really means a lot to the local pro racers." said Ted Huang, rider and general manager of the Webcor Builders team.
Yet the Specialized Morgan Hill Grand Prix is about much more than pro road racing. More than 300 amateur cyclists are expected too, in a race program that is designed to be a day's sporting entertainment for all the family. "It is about participating and spectating. There aren't a whole lot of sports that create an opportunity to race yourself, watch your kids race, and then watch the pros race, all on the same course and within the space of a few hours," says competition director Tom Simpson. Apart from the adult races, a 400 yard dash is planned for children in three age divisions: 4-6, 7-8 and 9-10 years. All participants in the kids races will receive a medal from Shimano, and a water bottle and T-shirt from Specialized.
Some of the world's leading mountain bike racers will line up for the Fat Boy Crit, a shortened version of the road race that is ridden on mountain bikes with slick tires 1.25" wide. The British and Australian champions, Liam Killeen and Sid Taberlay of the Specialized factory sponsored mountain bike team will compete against some of the top names from the USA.
In case anybody is unsure about how to interpret the race action, entertainment and race information is provided by a host of race commentators whose mission is "activate and animate." Bay Area cycling journalist Bruce Hildenbrand and cycling insider Chad Patterson, of Lake Tahoe, will alternate time on "The Hill," relaying the course's live action via radio to Richard Fries, the event's anchorman on the main stage. Referred to variously as the "dean of U.S. race talk" and the "bard of the bicrophone," Fries is a nationally recognized cycling personality who has done numerous play-by-play commentaries on tv..
Fries expects the action to be most intense leading up to the bottleneck Webcor bridge. "Webcor just resurfaced it, which is great, because some of the world's best will be competing," Fries concludes: "I just can't wait until it's one lap to go and the crowd is yelling at the top of their lungs as the riders charge elbow to elbow, at 40 miles per hour down the finishing straight. It's magical to be a part of that."
Who: 300-500 Pro and Amateur Road and Mountain Bike Cyclists AND kids!
What: Morgan Hill Grand Prix
When: April 10, 2005 - 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Where: Downtown Morgan Hill, CA
Information: Event Hotline (650) 302-6310 or www.morganhillgrandprix.com
About Specialized Bicycles:
Specialized Bicycles, founded in Morgan Hill, CA in 1974, designed and manufactured the first production mountain bike, which now resides in the Smithsonian Institute. Specialized is a company of devout cyclists obsessed with creating cutting edge, functional and technically advanced products that provide a performance benefit for the cycling enthusiast. Specialized products are available exclusively through Specialized dealers, or on the Web at www.specialized.com.
About Webcor Builders:
Webcor Builders is ranked as the largest contractor in San Francisco and consistently listed among the ENR Top 400 General Contractors in the country. Webcor Builders is headquartered in San Mateo with offices in San Francisco, Hayward, Los Angeles, San Diego and Anaheim. Thirty-three years of working for such clients as Starwood Lodging, Lucas Films, Oracle Corporation, The California Academy of Sciences and Electronic Arts has secured its position as a builder for high profile, large-scale projects. With over 850 employees, Webcor currently has over $1.3 billion of contracts in place. On the cycling side, Webcor Builders has been an ever-growing supporter of the sport over the past 6 years. The 2005 season marks the third year that Webcor is fielding a team in the UCI professional arena. Visit www.webcor.com for more information.
Media Contact:
Charisse Lambert
Tel: (415) 359-0730
clambert@o2sm.com