This blog has moved

This blog is now located at http://triayourcycling.blogspot.com/.
You will be automatically redirected in 30 seconds, or you may click here.

For feed subscribers, please update your feed subscriptions to
http://triayourcycling.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default.

2010 Nature Valley Grand Prix

It's time to mark your calendars for June 11 through June 20, as the Nature Valley Grand Prix will be rolling through the state of Minnesota with fast and furious bicycle racing. Professional and amateur men and women alike will be racing for the coveted leader's jersey, which would secure them a spot amongst past winners like Kristen Armstrong, Rory Sutherland, Ben Jacques-Maynes and Robbie Ventura.

This year's NVGP will have two brand new race routes: the St. Paul Downtown Criterium on June 16th and the Menomenie Road Race on June 19th. New in 2010, the Nature Valley Grand Prix leaves the land of 10,000 lakes to race in scenic Menomonie, Wisconsin.

Bookmark the NVGP website, as well as this blog, for more updates on race courses, participating teams, as well as a calendar of events before, during, and after every race this year!

Women’s Prestige Cycling Series Announces 2010 Events

Minneapolis – The 2010 edition of the Women’s Prestige Cycling Series will feature four national-caliber stage races that promise to showcase the country’s top female cycling talent.

The four events take place in four different states, beginning in March and running through to July:

March 25-28 – Redlands Bicycle Classic (California)
April 28-May 2 – SRAM Tour of the Gila (New Mexico)
June 16-20 – Nature Valley Grand Prix (Minnesota)
July 20-25 – Bend Memorial Clinic Cascade Cycling Classic (Oregon)

The Nature Valley Grand Prix has been a part of every Women’s Prestige Cycling Series. The Redlands Classic is in the line-up for the sixth time in seven years, while this is the second year for the Bend Memorial Clinic Cascade Cycling Classic. New to the calendar is the SRAM Tour of the Gila, which replaces the Joe Martin Stage Race.

SRAM Tour of the Gila promoter Jack Brennan said inclusion in the Women’s Prestige Cycling Series takes his race to a new level in its 24th year.

“We have always felt we have a really great race in place, a great organization and great community support,” Brennan said. “Adding the Women’s Prestige Cycling Series to the equation makes this year’s race all the more competitive.”

Four separate competitions comprise the Series: top overall individual, best young rider, best sprinter and top team. Special jerseys, provided by custom clothing manufacturer Champion System, will identify the leaders in the first three classifications.

Champions of the Women’s Prestige Cycling Series in 2009 were Alison Powers of Team Type 1 (top individual), Tina Pic of Colavita-Sutter Home (best sprinter), Rebecca Much of the Webcor Builders Cycling Team (best young rider) and Team TIBCO, which was the top team.

Nicola Cranmer, manager of the Peanut Butter & Co.TWENTY12 team, said it is important for women to have a series they can call their own. The Women’s Prestige Cycling Series originated from input during cycling summits that Cranmer was a part of that were held in conjunction with the Nature Valley Grand Prix.

“Giana Roberge, who directed our team back then, was one of the founders of the series and a huge supporter of women's racing,” Cranmer said. “With Kristin Armstrong at the helm, the Peanut Butter & Co.TWENTY12 team intends to make an impression on the races we are attending. I am a huge fan of the series. David LaPorte and his staff do a fantastic job.”

For an elite team like the TREADS.COM/DFT squad, the Women’s Prestige Cycling Series provides a target to obtain exposure and legitimacy at the national level, said team owner/director Megan Hottman.

“These four stage races really test a team's ability to work cohesively over the entire season,” Hottman said. “I believe our team's focus on balance will result in great placings in the overall series. We're excited to be a part of it.”

For more information about the Women’s Prestige Cycling Series, visit the official website, www.WomenCyclists.com, or send an e-mail to: wpcs2010@womencyclists.com.

For More Information, Contact:
Sean Weide | Phone: 402.541.2594 | E-Mail: sean@trailheadmarketing.com
Women's Prestige Cycling Series | www.WomenCyclists.com

Nature Valley to Sponsor 2010 Bicycle Festival

Granola bar maker increases commitment to all forms of cycling

Minneapolis-Saint Paul (February 1, 2010) Organizers of the Minnesota Bicycle Festival have announced that Nature Valley is increasing its commitment. After sponsoring the Nature Valley Grand Prix pro stage race for ten years, they will expand their involvement to sponsor the overall festival in 2010. The event, which still includes the Nature Valley Grand Prix, has been renamed the Nature Valley Bicycle Festival and will take place June 11-20, 2010.

“Nature Valley’s growing commitment to cycling stands in sharp contrast to many other sponsors in the sport who are reducing or eliminating their cycling programs,” said Festival Executive Director David LaPorte. “Nature Valley is looking towards the future and recognizes that cycling is one of the most popular activities in the country. While we’re thrilled that their commitment to our event is growing, we’re even more pleased that they are supporting the sport as a whole, which is our mission as well.”

The Nature Valley Bicycle Festival will take place June 11-20, 2010 and will include the Minnesota Fixed Gear Classic and the renowned Nature Valley Grand Prix pro stage race, considered the prime event on the USA Cycling National Racing Calendar.

The Nature Valley Grand Prix professional stage race opens June 16 in Saint Paul with a morning time trial and evening criterium held in Downtown Saint Paul adjacent to Rice Park. The Nature Valley Grand Prix continues with a road race in Cannon Falls on June 17. Stage 4 takes place in Minneapolis on Friday evening June 18 in the city’s dynamic Uptown neighborhood.

On Saturday, June 19, the racers travel east to Menomonie, WI for the Menomonie Road Race, marking the first time that the Nature Valley Grand Prix includes a stage outside of Minnesota. Racers will contest Stage 6, the Stillwater Criterium, on Sunday, June 20, with both men and women cyclists completing the short circuit race, which includes riding up Chilikoot Hill 20 times, a grueling 24-percent-grade hill climb, considered the most difficult in North American cycling.

In addition to professional racing, other activities, including the Fan Zone, stunt riders, musical entertainment and bike and fitness expos will be offered at all stages of the five-day race with the exception of the time trial. The Tour de Kids fun races at each site are free and are open to children age 12 and under.

The Minnesota Fixed Gear Classic will take place at the National Sports Center Velodrome in Blaine the weekend of June 11-13, prior to the Nature Valley Grand Prix. Velodrome track racing is an Olympic sport which features world class cyclists racing at speeds of up to 40 mph. Bikes used in fixed-gear track races have only one gear and do not have brakes, making the races fast and exciting for both spectators and riders.

Now in its 12th year, the Nature Valley Bicycle Festival is a five-day celebration of cycling that includes amateur and professional racing and community events. The Nature Valley Grand Prix has become the premier professional bike race in the U.S., attracting top American racing teams and riders from around the world. Proceeds from the Nature Valley Grand Prix are donated to Children’s Hospital and its Pediatric Hospice program.

The Nature Valley Grand Prix is free and open to the public. It is the only professional sporting event in Minnesota for which no admission ticket is required. The festival is a natural fit for Minnesota and Wisconsin as both states are populated with cycling enthusiasts. Several urban bike trails have opened in the past few years and the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area boasts the most commuter bike trips per capita, an honor it shares with Portland, Oregon. For more information and a detailed schedule of events visit www.naturevalleybicyclefestival.com.



About the Nature Valley Bicycle Festival

The Nature Valley Bicycle Festival is one of the nation’s top celebrations for the bicycle culture, with tens of thousands of cycling enthusiasts, pro athletes and avid recreational riders converging on Minnesota each June. Its professional racing event, the Nature Valley Grand Prix began as a one-day criterium in Saint Paul in 1999. Its schedule and prestige have grown steadily until now, in its 12th year, it is ranked at the top of the USA Cycling National Racing Calendar. The 2010 Nature Valley Grand Prix schedule includes a unique mix of three criteriums (short circuit races), two road races and a time trial as the stages of the race move from downtown Saint Paul, to Cannon Falls, to Minneapolis, to Menomonie, Wisconsin and finally culminates in Stillwater. The Nature Valley Bicycle Festival is a volunteer run event, with all proceeds donated to Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, the festival’s benefiting charity. For more information visit www.naturevalleybicyclefestival.com


About Nature Valley

Nature Valley, the brand that created the granola bar category in 1975, brings variety to healthy, active consumers looking for wholesome and great-tasting snacks. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Nature Valley is part of General Mills, a leading global manufacturer and marketer of consumer foods products. Visit www.NatureValley.com

Nature Valley Pro Ride Is Amateur Cyclists’ Chance of A Lifetime

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Minneapolis (Jan. 12, 2010) – Six races sprinkled throughout the United States will comprise the 2010 Nature Valley Pro Ride, the qualifying events for amateurs to earn a trip to compete against the country’s top men and women professional bicycle racers at the Nature Valley Grand Prix.

The Nature Valley Pro Ride will select the top amateur men and women to become part of a pair of composite Nature Valley Cycling Teams for the 12th annual edition of the premier stage race on the 2010 USA Cycling National Racing Calendar. The 2010 edition of the Nature Valley Grand Prix, held in East Central Minnesota and Western Wisconsin, runs June 16-20.

Rider invitations will be issued following the six stops on this national tour: Hillsboro-Roubaix Road Race (April 10) in Illinois, Rock Hill Spring Bicycle Classic (April 10-11) in South Carolina, Cherry Blossom Cycling Classic (April 23-25) in Oregon, Barrio Logan Grand Prix/Mark Reynolds San Luis Rey Road Cycling Classic (May 1-2) in California, Bear Mountain Spring Classic (May 15) in New York and Mt. Hamilton Road Race/Criterium (May 30-31) in California.

Nature Valley Pro Riders who are invited to compete in the Nature Valley Grand Prix earn free entries to the race, generous travel stipends, team clothing, housing, ground transportation, and staff support for their composite teams. They will also receive pro-level recognition before, during and after the events, including pre-race call-ups and participation in promotional and media appearances.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for an amateur to receive a ‘battlefield promotion’ to compete with the top professionals,” Nature Valley Grand Prix Executive Director David LaPorte said. ”Since its inception 11 years ago, the Nature Valley Grand Prix has emerged as the top women’s bike racing event and one of the top men’s races in the U.S.. The Nature Valley Pro Ride gives top U.S. amateurs a chance race in front of huge crowds, to be noticed by pro team managers and potentially to receive a pro contract.”

The Rock Hill Spring Bicycle Races, Cherry Blossom Cycling Classic, Barrio Logan Grand Prix and Mt. Hamilton Road Race/Memorial Day Criterium are all new to the Nature Valley Pro Ride for 2010.

Hillsboro-Roubaix and the Bear Mountain Spring Classic return from the 2009 Nature Valley Pro Ride calendar, as does the San Luis Rey Road Race, which is partnering with the Barrio Logan Grand Prix to add a qualifying criterium this year.

Rock Hill Spring Races Promoter Kim Deacon said becoming part of the Nature Valley Pro Ride marks a high point in his 30 years of organizing the event.

“The prestige of being invited to affiliate with such a prominent event as the Nature Valley Grand Prix enhances not only our racer draw and participation, but also the recognition and importance of our race in the Southeastern U.S. racing calendar and in our local community,” Deacon said. “We have always prided ourselves for putting on a first-class and tough bicycle race. The recognition we are receiving from the Nature Valley Pro Ride is a nice confirmation of our work."

More details on the qualifying process can be found at:

http://www.NatureValleyProRide.com

Snapshot glances of each event:

Hillsboro-Roubaix Road Race (April 10), Illinois: This challenging road race (87 miles for men, 58 miles for women) rumbles through the brick streets and rural roads about an hour’s drive northeast of St. Louis.

Rock Hill Spring Bicycle Races (April 10-11), South Carolina: The omnium format event combines the Old Town Criterium with the Patriots Trail Road Race (67 miles for men, 30 miles for women) that is run around historic Brattonsville, a “Living History” village near Charlotte, N.C.

Cherry Blossom Cycling Classic (May 15), Oregon: A multi-stage race (four races in three days) set in the Portland area, the Nature Valley Pro Ride invitation will be based on the final overall standings.

Bear Mountain Spring Classic (May 15), New York: Set in Harriman State Park, the second largest state park in New York, this 110-mile road race for men and 48-mile race for women is promoted by the Century Road Club Association, one of the oldest bicycle racing clubs in the nation.

Barrio Logan Grand Prix/Mark Reynolds San Luis Rey Road Cycling Classic (May 1-2), California: The two days of racing in the San Diego area include a 75 minute criterium for the men and a 50 minute criterium for the women, followed by an 88-mile road race for men and a 59-mile road race for women.

Mt. Hamilton Road Race/Memorial Day Criterium (May 30-31), California: One of the longest running bike races in San Jose, Calif., the road race (55 miles for men, 36 miles for women) climbs 4,500 feet in 20 miles over Mt. Hamilton, the highest peak in the Bay area, on a course that is part of the 2010 Tour of California. The criterium is run over a one-mile course in the Morgan Hill Business Park. This will be the amateurs’ last chance to qualify for the 2010 Nature Valley Pro Ride.


About the Nature Valley Grand Prix

The Nature Valley Grand Prix, which takes place in Eastern Minnesota and Western Wisconsin, is the premier stage race on the 2010 USA Cycling National Racing Calendar. The 2010 race will include stops in Saint Paul, Cannon Falls, Minneapolis, Menomonie, and Stillwater. The Nature Valley Grand Prix is a volunteer-run event, with all proceeds donated to Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, the festival’s benefiting charity. More information can be found at: www.NatureValleyGrandPrix.com.


About Nature Valley

Nature Valley, the brand that created the granola bar category in 1975, brings variety to healthy, active consumers looking for wholesome and great-tasting snacks. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Nature Valley is part of General Mills, a leading global manufacturer and marketer of consumer foods products. For more information, visit www.NatureValley.com.

Races Sought For 2010 Nature Valley Pro Ride Calendar

Minneapolis (Oct. 19, 2009) – A national program is offering race promoters the opportunity to send their top amateurs to the 2010 edition of the Nature Valley Grand Prix (Minnesota & Western Wisconsin, June 16-20) to compete against the country’s top men and women professional bicycle racers.

Entering its third year, the “Nature Valley Pro Ride” will select amateur men and women at regional races around the United States to become part of a pair of Nature Valley composite teams for the 12th annual edition of the five-day stage race that begins June 16.

The Nature Valley Grand Prix is the top ranked event on the 2010 USA Cycling National Race Calendar (NRC), attracting tens of thousands of cycling enthusiasts, pro athletes and avid recreational riders to Minnesota.



Nature Valley Pro Riders line up for the Saint Paul Criterium. Members of the Nature Valley Cycling Team were selected at qualifier events held around the country. Team members won trips to the Nature Valley Grand Prix, the top ranked race on the USA Cycling National Racing Calendar. Photo Credit: Stephanie Williams

“This is a chance for a race promoter to raise the participation and visibility of their event at no extra cost,” Nature Valley Grand Prix Race Director David LaPorte said. “As for the riders who are selected, they can look forward to racing in front of huge crowds and being treated like a rock star at our event.”

"I made the commitment to drive the 13 hrs to St. Louis for the Hillsboro-Roubaix road race”, wrote 2009 Nature Valley Pro Rider Chris Winn of Lakewood, Colorado, in his blog. “Long way to go for a bunch of Coloradans for a weekend suffer-fest. The race was the second qualifier event for the Nature Valley Pro Ride, a chance for amateurs to get the complete pro package treatment in a composite team for the Nature Valley [Grand Prix] Stage Race in June."

Amateur racers (Category I men and Category 1,2 women) who qualify at a Nature Valley Pro Ride event receive a “battlefield promotion” that earns them free entry to the race, travel stipends, team clothing, housing, ground transportation, and staff support for their composite team.

Races that become part of the Nature Valley Pro Ride schedule can expect an aggressive marketing and media relations campaign, as well as on-site sampling of Nature Valley Granola Bars and complimentary staffing of the booth by company representatives.

“We’re looking for the top regional races who want to take their game to a higher level,” LaPorte said. “We’ll consider road races, criteriums and stage races, as long as they get strong fields. And our promotional programs will make those fields even stronger.”

To be considered for the 2010 Nature Valley Pro Ride, a race must be permitted through USA Cycling and take place no later than June 13. Preference will be given to races that take place between March and mid-May.

Interested promoters must submit their application by Dec. 15. More details and a downloadable application can be found at www.naturevalleyproride.com.

The 2009 Nature Valley Pro Ride schedule will be announced Jan. 4, 2010.

About the Nature Valley Grand Prix

The Nature Valley Grand Prix began as a one-day criterium in Saint Paul in 1999. Its schedule and prestige have grown steadily until now, in its 12th year, it is ranked at the top of the USA Cycling National Racing Calendar. The 2010 Nature Valley Grand Prix schedule includes a unique mix of three criteriums (short circuit races), two road races and a time trial as the stages of the race move from downtown Saint Paul, to Cannon Falls, to Minneapolis, to Menomonie, and, finally culminates in Stillwater. For more information visit: www.NatureValleyGrandPrix.com

About Nature Valley

Nature Valley, the brand that created the granola bar category in 1975, brings variety to healthy, active consumers looking for wholesome and great-tasting snacks. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Nature Valley is part of General Mills, a leading global manufacturer and marketer of consumer foods products.

About the USA Cycling National Racing Calendar

Entering its 14th season in 2010, the USA Cycling National Racing Calendar (NRC) is an all-inclusive road cycling series sanctioned by USA Cycling. It is designed to provide a ranking system for all elite-level cyclists, both amateur and professional, through participation in the nation’s premier cycling events. For more information on the NRC, visit www.usacycling.org/nrc/ or contact Micah Rice at (719) 434-4283 or mrice@usacycling.org.

New Road Race for 2010 Nature Valley Grand Prix

Switch in Host Communities Add Hills of Wisconsin to Stage 5 Road Race

Minneapolis (Aug. 13, 2009) – In 2010, the Minnesota Bicycle Festival will become the Midwest Bicycle Festival when it adds a Saturday event in the Wisconsin City of Menomonie. Menomonie will host the Stage 5 road race of the Nature Valley Grand Prix, the top ranked stage race on the 2009 USA Cycling National Racing Calendar. Menomonie, in mostly-rural Dunn County, is just across the Wisconsin border, 60 miles East of Saint Paul.

Although geographically close, it’s a world apart when it comes to terrain. Dunn County is known for its bicycle-friendly roads, with rolling hills and long climbs that will change the math of the entire Nature Valley Grand Prix. The Menomonie Road Race replaces the Mankato Road Race, which had 80 miles of flat, open terrain before finishing with four laps of a final circuit that included the brutal Main Street Hill. The rural route in Mankato was only selective when it was windy, but it’s been calm for the past two years. The move to Menomonie guarantees that the Saturday road race will be selective under any weather conditions.

“The Menomonie Road Race will favor climbers and strong all-arounders”, said Midwest Bicycle Festival executive director David LaPorte. “The teams have been asking for more climbing, and we’ve moved across the border to grant them their wish. This will be a course where significant blocks of time can be made up or lost and will set the stage for the final showdown the next day in Stillwater.”

“This is an excellent move for the Nature Valley Grand Prix”, said Team Type 1 General Manager Tom Schuler, a native of Wisconsin. “I know Menomonie well. It’s the perfect location for a classic road race.”

Dunn County is home to many cycling enthusiasts and has made great strides in developing itself as a destination for bicycle tourism. The Greater Menomonie Area Chamber of Commerce has been a leader in that county-wide effort and is the driving force behind the Menomonie Road Race.

“We’re thrilled that the Nature Valley Grand Prix is coming to Menomonie,” said Mark Lewis, avid cyclist and past president of the Chamber of Commerce, who’s heading the local steering committee. “Many Menomonie area residents have been attending the Nature Valley Grand Prix for years and hosting a stage in our home town had been a dream that has finally come true.”

The top women’s stage race in the United States and one of the top men’s races, the Nature Valley Grand Prix’s six stages will include a time trial; three criteriums in the downtowns of Saint Paul, Minneapolis and Stillwater; and road races in Cannon Falls and now, Menomonie.

About the Midwest Bicycle Festival and Nature Valley Grand Prix

The Midwest Bicycle Festival takes place each June, drawing cycling enthusiasts from around the country. Having just completed its 11th annual event on June 10 – 14, 2009, it is one of the nation’s top celebrations of bicycle culture in the country. Its featured event, the Nature Valley Grand Prix, was the premier stage race on the 2009 USA Cycling National Racing Calendar. The 2010 Nature Valley Grand Prix schedule will include stops in Saint Paul, Cannon Falls, Minneapolis, Menomonie, and Stillwater. The Midwest Bicycle Festival is a volunteer-run event, with all proceeds donated to Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, the festival’s benefiting charity. More info at www.MinnBikeFestival.com

About Nature Valley

Nature Valley, the brand that created the granola bar category in 1975, brings great taste to healthy, active consumers looking for wholesome snacks. Nature Valley comes in a variety of delicious bars, Crunchy Granola, Trail Mix Chewy Granola, Chewy Granola with Yogurt Coating and Sweet & Salty Nut Bars. Visit www.NatureValley.com