City of Pittsburg: Pittsburg Twilight Criterium to bring professional cycling's elite riders to NorCal

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From: City of Pittsburg <webmaster@ci.pittsburg.ca.us>
Date: Thu, May 5, 2011 at 7:42 AM
Subject: City of Pittsburg: Pittsburg Twilight Criterium to bring professional cycling's elite riders to NorCal

Pittsburg Twilight Criterium to bring professional cycling's elite riders to NorCal

Posted Date: 5/5/2011

PITTCRIT.COM	May the 4th be with you
May 7 Pittsburg Twilight Criterium to bring professional cycling's elite riders to NorCal Race directors for the inaugural Pittsburg Twilight Criterium unveiled today their confirmed field of riders for the May 7 event, showcasing some of the top cyclists in the sport, including members of the 2012 Olympic training team and several past National Champions. Project Sport, organizers of the "Pitt Crit," are crediting a minimum $12,000 prize list, including $10,000 in cash winnings being split across the men's and women's pros, as a major incentive drawing such competitive racers. The event will offer the largest purse of any women's race in Northern California. The race becomes Project Sport's fourth cycling event in the area, adding to the annual San Rafael Twilight Criterium, and the one-time San Francisco Twilight Criterium and Sacramento Grand Prix races. The company also produces the US Half Marathon series in San Francisco. Organizers believe they are benefiting as well from the reputation of their other events. "We always aim to put on a big show," said race director and Project Sport president Ryan Dawkins. "We bring in DJs and professional race announcers, and add European-style podium presentations. We add little perks like free coffee, dollar beers and riders' names on their race numbers. We aim to make them feel like the elite professional athletes that they are." Competitors in Saturdays contest include: "Fast" Freddie Rodriquez, one of the all-time leading US cyclists, with three USPRO championships and a Giro d'Italia stage win. Coryn Rivera, the most decorated junior cyclist in America, with 32 US National Championships, and a member of the Peanut Butter & Co TWENTY12 Olympic development team. Justin Williams, an Under-23 Criterium National Championship winner and former member of Lance Armstrong's Trek-LIVESTRONG development team, now under the wing of four-time US National Champion Rahsaan Bahati at Major Motion Cycling. Olivia Dillon, the Irish national Road Race Champion and a three-time Irish National Time Trial Champion; also a member of the PB&Co TWENTY12 team. Roman Kilun, a team sprint winner of the 2010 US National Track Championships, individual runner up in the 2009 US National Track Championships, and winner of the Sprint Competition in the 2008 Tour de Nez. The Pittsburg Twilight is being organized in partnership with the Pittsburg Arts and Community Foundation (http://www.pittsburgfoundation.org) and the Los Medanos Community Healthcare District (www.lmchd.org), aiming to draw on the excitement of pro cycling and the urban pageantry of the criterium format to create a showcase attraction in the city's rapidly growing Old Town neighborhood. The event will present six professional & elite amateur races ranging from the Elite 4 and Masters categories to Women's and Men's Pro. In addition to the main event races, the afternoon and evening will include fun, free events for families featuring a kid's bike race, a family fun walk, outdoor activities, and FitFest 2011 - a family fitness, health and wellness festival. "We've spent almost a year building this with Project Sport, and couldn't be more excited for what's about to come to Pittsburg," said Ali Endress, of the Pittsburg Arts and Community Foundation. "We watched their criterium races in both San Rafael and Sacramento, and saw what huge assets they were in those communities. They provide a great presentation to the fans, bring a ton excitement to the community, bring foot traffic to business districts, and send a valuable message of fitness and health." "We're excited to be working with Pittsburg," said Dawkins. "Our riders love competing in Northern California - many of them live here - and Pittsburg is one of those communities that is tailor-made for hosting an event like this. Old Town is so vibrant. It will be great for the competitors and spectators alike." To follow developments with the Pittsburg Twilight Criterium, fans and media should visit the Pitt Crit Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pittcrit. About Project Sport, LLC Project Sport, LLC, is a San Francisco-based sports marketing company whose mission is to provide competitive and recreational fitness events for the enjoyment of participants of all ages and skill levels. Currently, Project Sport produces the San Rafael Twilight Criterium, the Pittsburg Twilight Criterium, the Challenged Athletes Foundation's Rock on the Green, and San Francisco's US Half Marathon Series.
Will race for beer and coffee... Cash-only prizes for all categories and $10,000 for the Men's & Women's Pro - split down the middle - $5K / $5K.