cvv posted on March 03, 2009 07:15
Championship Development LLC Announces The Tour of the Red River Gorge Summer Cycling Series – Culminates with 4 Day, 5 Event UCI Junior Invitational Stage Race
March 2nd, 2009 (Frankfort, KY) Championship Development LLC, organizers of the annual Tour of the Red River Gorge have announced the race will expand into a full summer of cycling events in eastern Kentucky culminating in an internationally sanctioned, invitational stage race for the top elite junior racers from around the world.
The summer series, which is comprised of 4 distinct events, kicks off on June 13th with the Cycle the Gorge Rally. Cycle the Gorge is an annual, non-competitive bicycle touring event geared towards recreational cyclists of all ages and abilities. Returning for its fourth year, the event features multiple route options highlighting the natural beauty of the Red River Gorge area as well as featuring parts of the race course. Cyclists will enjoy low traffic roads as they tour through the area before reaching the finish in downtown Stanton, KY. In 2009 proceeds from Cycle the Gorge will be dedicated to supporting the teams of junior athletes racing in the UCI Tour of the Red River Gorge. A Corporate Challenge will launch in April to attract corporate teams from around the Commonwealth to participate in a weekend of healthy activity and to generate additional support for junior racing.
On June 19th racing returns to the Gorge for the fourth Tour of the Red River Gorge Classic - a senior amateur Omnium in Stanton. Amateur racers from around the region will compete in a three day race beginning on Friday evening with a prologue through downtown Stanton. Racing resumes Saturday morning with the shorter of two challenging road races before the big finish on Sunday with the signature stage this race has become famous for - The Battle on the Byway Road Race. The winners in all categories will be crowned based on the best overall performance in all three events.
In July, as the world’s top pros race through the streets of Paris in Le Tour de France, the world’s next generation of top hopefuls will race through the streets of Kentucky. In its first year, the UCI 2.1 Elite Junior Tour of the Red River Gorge kicks off on Tuesday, July 13th morning with a prologue in Irvine followed later in the day with the Irvine, Winchester, Mt. Sterling, Stanton road race. Wednesday the teams will transfer to Winchester for a longer time trial stage. Thursday, the penultimate stage will be the epic Battle on the Byway race through the Red River Gorge where it is likely challengers for the overall win will emerge. The stage race will conclude Friday evening with a twilight criterium in downtown Lexington before the overall winner is determined and the Champions’ Jerseys are awarded.
In addition to the UCI race, Friday evening will also serve to kick off a weekend of junior racing geared at the development of younger racers. Part of the prestigious LAJRS series, featuring junior athletes aged 10-18 from around the region will kick off their own Omnium in the matinee event on Friday the 18th before the UCI juniors take the stage. Saturday and Sunday will feature more junior racing as they return once again to Stanton to race a time trial and road race.
The Summer of Cycling Series is supported by the Kentucky Sports Authority, an agency of the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet.
For more information on participating in Cycle the Gorge, the Tour of the Red River Gorge Classic or the LAJRS Tour of the Red River Gorge visit www.tour-rrg.com.