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April 15, 2003
New York, NY
For Immediate Release:
Inaugural Tour of Connecticut Pro Bike Race Takes Off in New Haven
Inspired by the world-famous Tour De France, the inaugural edition of the Tour of Connecticut, a three-day professional bicycle race will take off with exciting races around New Haven’s famed Green on Friday, May 16th at 7:00 PM.
The Tour of Connecticut pro riders will chase a Yellow Jersey designating Overall Race Leader; the Best Sprinter’s Green Jersey, the Belimo Air Controls-Polka Dot Jersey for Best Hill Climber, and the Saturn Teamwork Challenge.
"After the great success of the Housatonic Valley Classic race and the growing popularity of cycling in America from 4 time Tour De France champion Lance Armstrong, we’ve decided to bring a Tour De France style race to Connecticut", explained Tour of Connecticut Race Director John Eustice of event organizer Sparta Cycling.
Eustice talked about the unique format of Stage One in New Haven, saying, "This race will be run on a spectacular, half-mile circuit around the Green in New Haven. We’ve come up with a great format for the pro men, who will be split into two heats, with each heat competing over a 25-mile distance around the Green. The winner of the fastest heat will then be awarded the first Yellow Jersey of the Tour of Connecticut and the winner of the second heat will be awarded the Green Sprinters Jersey. We believe that’s the best way to deliver exciting bike racing to New Haven."
The first-ever Tour of Connecticut, a 3 day pro bike race begins with a fast
and furious sprinters event around New Haven’s famed Green on Friday,
May 16th. On Saturday, May 17th the Tour of Connecticut moves Northwest
to Waterbury for a tough city circuit race, before the final Stage 3 of the Tour of Connecticut, the renowned Housatonic Valley Classic on Sunday, May 18th.
Sunday May 18th will see world class women bike racers in action with the
2nd annual Saturn Women’s Classic, a point-to-point race from New Milford to Danbury, that will finishing one hour ahead of the men’s final stage of the Tour of Connecticut.
All three stages of the 2003 Tour of Connecticut offer a family-oriented expo area, with attractions from Saturn, Timex, other event sponsors and food vendors.
The Tour of Connecticut has evolved from the foundation of the Housatonic Valley Classic, an event that the Housatonic Valley Tourism District has sponsored since 2001 to brand their region as a recreational destination. The great success of the Housatonic Valley Classic, after only two years of existence, has clearly encouraged other Connecticut regions such as New Haven and Waterbury to join in the Tour of CT concept.
Top American teams as the Saturn Cycling Team have expressed major support for the first-ever Tour of Connecticut.
"We’re delighted that the Housatonic area has embraced cycling." said Giana Roberge of the Saturn Cycling Team. "This inaugural Tour of Connecticut is a key event for the Saturn Cycling Team and we certainly will bring our top riders to compete in the beautiful and challenging terrain across Connecticut."
Media Information: The 2003 Tour of Connecticut race will be televised state-wide on WCTX-UPN of New Haven, nationally on OLN, and WLAD-AM 80 of Danbury will provide live radio coverage on the final stage day of racing in the Housatonic Valley.
Sponsor Information:
The 2003 Tour of Connecticut is presented by Saturn, Connecticut’s Housatonic Valley Tourism and News Channel 8 WTNH & WCTX. Returning sponsors from the 2002 Housatonic Valley Classic to the 2003 Tour Of Connecticut: Saturn, Connecticut’s Housatonic Valley Tourism and News Channel 8 WTNH & WCTX, Belimo Air Controls USA, OLN-TV, Union Savings Bank, Bethel Cycle, Savings Bank of Danbury, WLAD, The News-Times, Etta Mae’s Antiques, Le Chateau, Mavic, Thule Car Rack Systems, and Cannondale.
New sponsors for the 2003 Tour of Connecticut: Waterbury Region Convention and Visitors Bureau, New Haven Convention and Visitors Bureau, Connecticut Lottery, Fiordifrutta, and Pan Ducale
Sparta Cycling, Inc. is one of America’s top cycling event producers that creates world-class cycling events based on strong community involvement. Sparta properties include the Tour of Connecticut, the Housatonic Valley Classic, Saturn Women’s Classic and Univest Grand Prix.
April 14, 2003 New York, NY
For Immediate Release:
Housatonic Valley Classic will be Key Race of Inaugural Tour of Connecticut
The Classic will Determine Final Yellow Jersey of Tour
With the speed and color of a day at the Tour De France, the Housatonic Valley
Classic will crown the inaugural edition of the Tour of Connecticut on Sunday, May 18th. Sunday will also see world class women pro cyclists in action with the 2rd edition of the Saturn Women’s Classic, a gruelling point-to-point race from New Milford to Danbury, that will finish one hour ahead of the men’s final stage of the Tour of Connecticut.
Starting in Danbury, the men’s 120-mile European style event will race through the 10 towns of the Housatonic Valley region of Connecticut on one of the most beautiful and challenging race courses in North America, before returning to Danbury for the finish.
The Housatonic Valley Classic and the Tour of Connecticut owe much to the inspiration to the Tour de France. The pro men will chase the Yellow Jersey of Tour of Connecticut’s Overall Race Leader, the Belimo Air Controls-Polka Dot Jersey for Best Hill Climber, the Saturn Teamwork Challenge and the Best Sprinter’s Green Jersey. "We’ve created the Tour of Connecticut to bring a taste of the Tour de France to the state", said Eustice, a two-time US Pro Cycling champion who’s been a television commentator on nine Tours de France.
The first-ever Tour of Connecticut, a 3 day pro bike race begins with a short sprinters event around New Haven’s famed Green on Friday, May 16th. On Saturday, May 17th the Tour of Connecticut moves to Waterbury for a tough 60-mile circuit race, and finishes in the Housatonic Valley with the Classic on Sunday, May 18th.
All three stages of the 2003 Tour of Connecticut offer a family-oriented expo area, with attractions from Saturn, Timex, other event sponsors and food vendors.
The Tour of Connecticut has developed from the foundation of the Housatonic Valley Classic, an event that has been sponsored since 2001 by the Housatonic Valley Tourism District as a means of branding their region as a recreational destination. The great success of the Classic, after only two years of existence, encouraged other Connecticut regions to join in the Tour of CT concept.
Top American teams have expressed major support for the first-ever Tour of Connecticut.
"We’re delighted that the Housatonic area has embraced cycling." said Giana Roberge of the Saturn Cycling Team. "The Tour of Connecticut is a key event for the Saturn Cycling Team and we will bring our top riders to compete in the beautiful and challenging terrain across Connecticut."
Media Information:
The 2003 Tour of Connecticut race will be televised statewide on WCTX - UPN of New Haven, nationally on OLN, and WLAD AM80 of Danbury will provide live radio coverage of Sunday’s races.
Sponsor Information:
The 2003 Tour of Connecticut is presented by Saturn, Connecticut’s Housatonic Valley Tourism and News Channel 8 WTNH & WCTX. Returning sponsors from the 2002 Housatonic Valley Classic to the 2003 Tour of Connecticut include:
Saturn, Connecticut’s Housatonic Valley Tourism Belimo Air Controls USA, OLN-TV, Union Savings Bank, Bethel Cycle, Savings Bank of Danbury, WLAD, The News-Times, Etta Mae’s Antiques, Le Chateau, Mavic, Thule Car Rack Systems, and Cannondale.
Welcome to new sponsors for the 2003 Tour of Connecticut: News Channel 8 WTNH & WCTX, Waterbury Region Convention and Visitors Bureau, New Haven Convention and Visitors Bureau, Connecticut Lottery, Fiordifrutta, and Pan Ducale
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The event is produced by Sparta Cycling. |
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April 15, 2003
New York, NY
For Immediate Release:
Waterbury Welcomes Inaugural Tour of Connecticut Pro Bike Race
Professional bicycle racing brings its spectacle of color and speed to the hilly streets of Waterbury, CT, on Saturday, May 17th, when the city hosts Stage 2 of the inaugural edition of the Tour of Connecticut. Saturn, Connecticut’s Housatonic Valley Tourism and News Channel 8 WTNH & WCTX present the 3-day bicycle road race for professional men.
Waterbury’s Stage 2 race begins at 12:00 noon on Saturday, May 17th on
a figure-eight course around Waterbury’s beautiful city parks. From the
start at Waterbury’s Green, racers wind their way up and around Fulton Park before descending down and back around the Green for the finish.
The cyclists will confront the 4.1-mile course with its steep 1.1-mile hill climb 15 times for a total of 100 kilometers (62 miles) in one of the most difficult road races on the U.S. racing calendar. "This tough stage in Waterbury could determines who will win the overall Tour of Connecticut," stated Brian Walton, Director of the Snow Valley amateur team and an Olympic Silver Medallist in Cycling.
The first-ever Tour of Connecticut, a 3 day pro bike race begins with a fast
and furious sprinters event around New Haven’s famed Green on Friday,
May 16th. On Saturday, May 17th the Tour of Connecticut moves Northwest
to Waterbury for a tough city circuit race, before the final Stage 3 of the Tour of Connecticut, the renowned Housatonic Valley Classic on Sunday, May 18th.
All three stages of the 2003 Tour of Connecticut offer a family-oriented expo area, with attractions from Saturn, Timex, other event sponsors and food vendors.
Sunday will see world class women bike racers in action with the 3rd annual Saturn Women’s Classic, a point-to-point race from New Milford to Danbury, that will finish one hour ahead of the men’s final stage of the Tour of Connecticut.
Inspiration from the Tour de France will be apparent in the men’s race as the pro riders chase the Yellow Jersey of Tour of Connecticut Overall Race Leader, the Belimo Air Controls- Polka Dot Jersey for the top hill climber, Saturn Teamwork Challenge and Best Sprinter’s Green Jersey.
"We’ve created the Tour of Connecticut to bring a taste of the Tour de France to the state", said Eustice, a two-time US Pro Cycling champion who’s been a television commentator on nine Tours de France.
The Tour of Connecticut has evolved from the foundation of the Housatonic Valley Classic, an event that the Housatonic Valley Tourism District has sponsored since 2001 to brand their region as a recreational destination. The great success of the Housatonic Valley Classic, after only two years of existence, has clearly encouraged other Connecticut regions such as New Haven and Waterbury to join in the Tour of CT concept.
"We are very excited to be part of this year's Tour of Connecticut," said Jim Whitney, Executive Director of the Waterbury Region Convention & Visitors Bureau. "It is an exciting opportunity for us to showcase our region, as well as develop an exciting annual tourism event."
Top American teams the Saturn Cycling Team have expressed major support for the first-ever Tour of Connecticut.
"We’re delighted that the Housatonic area has embraced cycling the first Tour of Connecticut will be a tough test for all the riders," said Giana Roberge of the Saturn Cycling Team. "The Tour of Connecticut is a key event for the Saturn Cycling Team and we will bring our top riders to compete in the beautiful and challenging terrain across Connecticut.
Media Information: The 2003 Tour of Connecticut race will be televised statewide on WCTX-UPN of New Haven, nationally on OLN, and WLAD-AM 80 of Danbury will provide live radio coverage on the final stage day of racing in the Housatonic Valley.
Sponsor Information:
The 2003 Tour of Connecticut is presented by Saturn, Connecticut’s Housatonic Valley Tourism and News Channel 8 WTNH & WCTX. Returning sponsors from the 2002 Housatonic Valley Classic to the 2003 Tour Of Connecticut: Saturn, Connecticut’s Housatonic Valley Tourism and News Channel 8 WTNH & WCTX, Belimo Air Controls USA, OLN-TV, Union Savings Bank, Bethel Cycle, Savings Bank of Danbury, WLAD, The News-Times, Etta Mae’s Antiques, Le Chateau, Mavic, Thule Car Rack Systems, and Cannondale.
New sponsors for the 2003 Tour Of Connecticut: Waterbury Region Convention and Visitors Bureau, New Haven Convention and Visitors Bureau, Connecticut Lottery, Fiordifrutta, and Pan Ducale
Sparta Cycling, Inc. is one of America’s top cycling event producers. Sparta creates world-class cycling events based on strong community involvement. Sparta properties include the Tour of Connecticut, the Housatonic Valley Classic, Saturn Women’s Classic and Univest Grand Prix. |
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