Grand Finale in Pittsburgh Slated As Part of the Region's 250th Anniversary Celebration
Pittsburgh @ The Dutch Elite-class Global Cycling Team is the first international team invited to participate in the June 2008 American Eagle Outfitters Tour of Pennsylvania, presented by Highmark Healthy High 5. The six-day stage race from June 24 to 29 is the world's richest cycling race for elite international cyclists under age 25, featuring $150,000 in prize money.
Race sponsors and a delegation of business, civic and government leaders from Pittsburgh, Pa., including Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, extended the invitation today at the Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam. Considered to be among the world's best development teams of young cyclists, the Dutch squad now begins the qualifying process to name its team of six riders who will compete in the Tour of Pennsylvania.
The 450-mile Tour of Pennsylvania begins in Philadelphia and ends in Pittsburgh, where the grand finale will be part of Pittsburgh 250, a yearlong celebration of the 250th anniversary of the naming of Pittsburgh.
The UCI and USA Cycling have sanctioned the race, which is expected to draw 10 international and 10 U.S. teams of six riders each, for a field of 120 racers. More than 40 international teams, from countries including Great Britain, Italy, France, Belgium, Holland, Canada and Mexico, have expressed interest in receiving an invitation to compete. The tour is expected to include several cyclists who may participate in the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games and the Tour de France.
“The route's combination of rolling hills, city streets, and steep, mountainous climbs, makes it the ideal setting for a race,” said race organizer David Chauner, Olympic cyclist and president of Pro Cycling Tour, one of the top U.S. race promotion companies in the United States. “It will truly test the abilities of every rider on the tour.”
The Pittsburgh delegation that extended the invitation is in Amsterdam as part of a three-week European tour that is a partnership between the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, which is promoting Southwestern Pennsylvania to European business leaders as part of its 250th anniversary celebration. The delegation’s trip is underwritten by the Laurel Foundation.
The PSO's upcoming Jan. 29 performance in Amsterdam follows the Stedelijk Museum's Andy Warhol exhibition, which closed Jan. 13. The Andy Warhol Museum is located in Pittsburgh, the hometown of the famous pop artist.
“As one of the top communities in the world for cycling, Amsterdam is a natural choice to extend the first international invitation to race in the Tour of PA,” said Mike Langley, chief executive officer of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development. “Amsterdam is also an established cultural center. These same attributes are beginning to converge in Pittsburgh. Compared to all the other cities in Europe that the PSO is visiting on this trip, Amsterdam is the best match for what Pittsburgh is today and where it is heading in the future.
“With the finish line in Pittsburgh, the Tour of PA also provides an excellent look at the Pittsburgh region, which is home to “American's Most Livable City” because of its low cost of living, multiple recreational and cultural opportunities, its many universities and its diverse job opportunities.”
In addition to staging the Tour of Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh 250 is also preparing for the completion of the Great Allegheny Passage Trail, the longest hiking and biking trail in the eastern United States. Once complete in the fall of 2008, the trail will connect Pittsburgh to the U.S. capital in Washington, D.C., one of the most accessible great trail experiences in the world.
About the Tour of Pennsylvania:
Winding through Pennsylvania from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, the race features 20 teams of six riders each (ages 18 to 24) from around the world. It will cover 450 miles over six days from June 24 to 29, 2008. The tour is sanctioned by USA Cycling and will feature future stars of the Olympics and Tour de France. The race offers a cash prize list of $150,000 and will be televised on the Versus cable network, USA's rights holder to major cycling events including the Tour de France. The Tour of Pennsylvania is sponsored by American Eagle Outfitters and Highmark Healthy High 5. For more information, visit www.tourofpa.com
About Pittsburgh 250:
The American Eagle Outfitters Tour of Pennsylvania, presented by Highmark Healthy High 5, is an important part of Pittsburgh 250, the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the naming of the region in 1758. With the support of business, government and civic leaders from across the region, Pittsburgh 250 has set three goals: Improve awareness of southwestern Pennsylvania as a global leader in arts, science and quality of life through an integrated regional marketing effort; support the completion of lasting signature projects that connect the region's past to its future; and improve the region's competitiveness for future generations by encouraging grassroots participation in improving communities, attracting visitors, and living healthier lives.
About Pro Cycling Tour:
Pro Cycling Tour, LLC is the country’s leading cycling marketing and event management company dedicated to the development of quality cycling events and programs in the United States. Based in the Philadelphia area, PCT creates and manages a variety of events and special programs for corporate sponsors, non-profit organizations and municipalities. For more information, contact www.procyclingtour.com.
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