2008 USA Cycling Professional Championships
Full Weekend of Events, Concerts and Racing at the Greenville Hospital USA Professional Cycling Championships... Event Schedule.

Over 125 of the nation’s best professional cyclists will race on the streets of Greenville, S.C. in two weeks for two national titles. Along with the thrills and spills of the Individual Time Trial and the Road Race at the 2008 Greenville Hospital System USA Cycling Professional Championships, thousands of spectators will have a larger number of other entertainment options for the Labor Day weekend dual championship.

2007 - Levi Leipheimer on the final circuit en route to victory.
Photo © 2008 Action Images

“Greenville has been a great host for this prestigious event for the past two years, and residents and out-of-town guests alike will be treated to an expanded variety of events for the entire Labor Day weekend,” said Chris Aronhalt, managing partner of Medalist Sports, the agency licensed to operate the Greenville Hospital System USA Cycling Professional Championships. “The new Saturday evening ‘Greenville Rocks’ concert will continue the strong tradition of the many free, outdoor street festivals held in the Greenville community. And we are thrilled to have two recreational events with the Palmetto Peloton Project to raise awareness and money for the fight against cancer. All of the weekend activities are a great way to show off Greenville and the Upstate, especially to welcome visitors and cycling teams from all over the country.”

Record crowds of 85,000 spectators watched the Championships last year in Greenville. And a record $86,000 was raised for cancer research in 2007 with the Stars and Stripes Challenge cycling event for amateurs. Listed below are events for August 30 and 31, with details for both the professional races and spectator activities. Additional information can be found at the official website, www.usacyclingchampionships.com

Saturday, August 30
8:00 a.m. - Stars and Stripes Challenge 5K Run at CU-ICAR
8:15 a.m. – One-Mile Fun Run/Walk at CU-ICAR
10:30 a.m. - Hospitality opens
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. - Individual Time Trial Championship at CU-ICAR
6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. - Greenville Rocks concert presented by Rock Racing and Rock 101FM at the Peace Center Amphitheatre with music by StoneEcho

Sunday, August 31
7:30 a.m. - Stars & Stripes Challenge fundraising bicycle ride
10:00 a.m. - BI-LO Family Fun Ride in Falls Park
11:00 a.m. - Health & Wellness Expo and Hospitality open
11:00 a.m. - BI-LO Family Activity Zone presented by POWERade in Falls Park
Noon – Hospitality opens
1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. - Road Race Championship in downtown Greenville
1:45 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. - POWERade Kid's Bicycle Races, downtown Greenville

2007 David Zabriskie (CSC) en route to his second US Pro TT title
Photo © Kurt Jambretz/Action Images

USA Cycling Professional Individual Time Trial Championship
An exciting new course awaits over 50 elite competitors and thousands of spectators for the 2008 USA Cycling Professional Individual Time Trial Championship. Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) will host the ITT, beginning at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 30. The Championship course is a large circuit of 6.9 miles in length. All competitors, racing against the clock, will make three laps for a total of 20.7 miles.

Dave Zabriskie (Salt Lake City, UT) is the two-time defending champion. The start/finish line is located near the intersection of Millennium Boulevard and Research Drive, with easy access to the AutoPark. Admission to the event is free for all spectators along the route. Reserved viewing areas and covered seating are available with VIP Hospitality Tickets.

USA Cycling Professional Road Race Championship
The 2008 USA Cycling Professional Road Race Championship is a one-day road race which began in 1985. It returns to Greenville for a third consecutive year with Greenville resident and ProTour rider George Hincapie trying to recapture the Stars and Stripes jersey, won last year by former teammate Levi Leipheimer (Santa Rosa, CA).

The 115-mile race will begin at 1 p.m. at its new start/finish line in West End section of downtown Greenville, at South Main & Camperdown streets. The rolling course will challenge all pro cyclists with four climbs over Paris Mountain during the race. Spectators in downtown Greenville will enjoy seeing the race pass a total of 10 times - three start circuits, four long laps (22 miles each lap) and three finish circuits. The road race is a free event, and hospitality tickets are available.

During the Road Race, there are many activities planned to keep fans of all ages occupied as the racers speed out of town for the longer 35-45 minute laps. A Health & Wellness Expo will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The new BI-LO Family Activity Zone presented by POWERade will open at 11 a.m. in Falls Park, with free activities for families and children. Young cyclists, ages 3-12, have until 1 p.m. for their parents or guardians to complete registration forms for the afternoon POWERade Kid's Bicycle Races. The races are complimentary and will be held on a short section of the pro course downtown. And cycling fans all along the race route will be judged for the Best Tailgate Party on Sunday, with the grand prize winner receiving a $500 BI-LO Gift Card.

Stars and Stripes Challenge Events
Two Stars and Stripes Challenge events, hosted by local non-profit organization Palmetto Peloton Project (P3), will allow amateur athletes an opportunity to run/walk or cycle on the courses of the 2008 Greenville Hospital System USA Professional Cycling Championships. Net proceeds this year from the Stars and Stripes Challenge 5K Run and 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk will benefit the Greenville Hospital System Oncology Research Institute and Activate Upstate. Net proceeds from the Stars and Stripes Challenge bicycle ride will benefit The Lance Armstrong Foundation and Greenville Hospital System Oncology Research Institute.

The Stars and Stripes 5K Run and 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk will be held on Saturday, August 30 on the campus of Clemson University – International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR). The 5K will begin at 8:00 a.m. and the 1-Mile Run/Walk will begin at 8:15 a.m. he entry fee prior to August 15 for the Stars and Stripes Challenge 5K and One-Mile Fun Run/Walk is $15 for adults and $10 for children (12 & Under). After August 15, the cost is an additional $5 per person. All registered participants will receive a T-shirt.

The 3rd Annual Stars and Stripes Challenge bicycle ride will be held on Sunday, August 31 from 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 Noon on the same course as the USA Cycling Professional Road Race Championship. The main event is a 22-mile cycling route that climbs Paris Mountain. The start/finish will be staged at South Main & Camperdown streets in the West End section of downtown Greenville. A short option, the BI-LO Family Fun Ride, will be staged in Falls Park at 10:00 a.m. and is free for all families. The entry fee for the Sunday Stars and Stripes Challenge bicycle ride is $50 in advance for each adult. For participants who raise an additional $50 or more for cancer research, they will be rewarded with special merchandise, such as a performance wicking shirt or custom jersey.

Greenville Rocks
Saturday night following the ITT will feature a free outdoor concert for fans at the picturesque Peace Center outdoor amphitheatre (the DowBrands Amphitheatre). From 6-10 p.m., there will be two live performances by South Carolina-based band, StoneEcho. Greenville Rocks is presented by Rock Racing, one of the elite cycling teams at the championships, and Rock 101FM, a media partner for the event.

Health & Wellness Expo
Sunday, from 11am to 6 p.m., all exhibits and activities in the Health & Wellness Expo will be free for race fans! The Expo is located at the intersection of Main and Broad Streets, along S. Main Street, as well as near the start/finish of the Road Race at Camperdown and Main streets. Adjacent to the Expo in beautiful Falls Park will be the BI-LO Family Activity Zone presented by POWERade. From 11am to 1 p.m. parents are encouraged to register their children, ages 3-12, for the free POWERade Kid's Bicycle Races! See many interactive exhibits in the Expo all afternoon, from Greenville Hospital System, Rock Racing, Litespeed, Sutter Home Winery, Bissell, Piedmont Natural Gas, Hincapie Sportswear and many more!

Hospitality Pavilions
Tickets are now available to the Hospitality Pavilions for both events of the Greenville Hospital System USA Cycling Professional Championships. Tickets offer added convenience and VIP treatment with the following:
- experience the race live on closed-circuit television
- reserved area near finish lines
- complimentary food and beverages
- access to Autograph Alley

For the USA Cycling Professional Individual Time Trial Championship on Saturday, August 30, the VIP Hospitality Pavilion will be located at the start/finish line at CU-ICAR. The pavilion will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and ticket holders will be able to watch the entire event on closed-circuit television. Tickets are $75 each, or two for $135, for the Individual Time Trial.

For Sunday’s USA Cycling Professional Road Race Championship, the VIP Hospitality Pavilion will be located at the start/finish in the West End. The pavilion will be open from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Like the Saturday event, ticket holders will see race action broadcast on closed-circuit television during the race and witness an unobstructed view of the finish line. Tickets are $100 each, or $185 for two, for the Road Race which is presented by Greenville Hospital System. For more information, call Medalist Sports at 770-631-1239.

Volunteers Needed - Get Close to the Action
Close to 400 volunteers are needed for the GHS USA Cycling Professional Championships. One of the primary positions requested for both days is for course marshals. All volunteers receive an event T-shirt, Subway box lunch and a one-of-a-kind experience with a professional sporting event. Descriptions of volunteer positions and the volunteer applications are available online, www.usacyclingchampionships.com

About Greenville Hospital System - Established nearly a century ago, Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center (GHS) is a not-for-profit academic health organization committed to medical excellence through research, education, clinical expertise and technological advancement. GHS is accredited by the Joint Commission of Accreditation of Hospital Organizations (JCAHO). With five campuses and 1,268 licensed beds, it is one of the largest not-for-profit healthcare providers in South Carolina. GHS provides comprehensive healthcare through its flagship tertiary referral and education center (Greenville Memorial Hospital), two acute-care and one long-term care hospitals, short-stay surgical hospital, integrated children’s and women’s hospitals, nationally-recognized cottage-concept nursing home, outpatient facilities, wellness centers, community outreach programs and extensive medical education program that includes 11 residency/fellowship programs. GHS currently offers more than 570 clinical trials, including several first-in-nation cancer-treatment trials. To learn more, go to www.ghs.org.

About Medalist Sports - Medalist Sports is a full-service international sports marketing company. Medalist Sports specializes in the planning, promotion and management of multi-day, multi-jurisdiction sports and special events. The Medalist Sports team has experience in all facets of the successful management and promotion of world-class sporting and cycling events in the United States, England, Australia and China. Clients and event experience include the Tour DuPont, Tour de Georgia presented by AT&T, Amgen Tour of California, Tour of Missouri, USA Cycling, Inc. and the Lance Armstrong Foundation’s LIVESTRONG Challenge Series. Medalist Sports’ headquarters are located south of metro Atlanta at P.O. Box 415, Tyrone, GA 30290. The company website is www.medalistsports.com

About Palmetto Peloton Project - The Palmetto Peloton Project (P3), based in Greenville, S.C., exists to promote the advancement of cancer research and advocacy efforts locally, regionally and nationally through fundraising events. Through support from local businesses and enthusiastic cyclists, the Palmetto Peloton Project has raised over $250,000 for cancer research and advocacy since its inception in 2005. In 2007 as part of the Greenville Hospital System USA Cycling Professional Championships, P3 will host the “Stars and Stripes Challenge”, recreational cycling and running events to support local cancer research. For more information, visit www.palmettopelotonproject.org

About USA Cycling - Recognized by the United States Olympic Committee and the Union Cycliste Internationale, USA Cycling is the official governing body for all disciplines of competitive cycling in the United States, including road, track, mountain bike, BMX and cyclo-cross. As a membership-based organization and sanctioning body, USA Cycling consists of 64,000+ members, including 57,000 competitive cyclists, 1,500 coaches, 4,000 student-athletes, 2,200 officials, 350 professional cyclists, and 200 certified mechanics. USA Cycling also sanctions 2,500 competitive and non-competitive organized cycling events throughout the United States annually, as well as 1,800 clubs and teams.

Associations of USA Cycling include the United States Cycling Federation (road, track & cyclo-cross), the National Off-Road Bicycle Association (mountain bike), the BMX Association, the National Collegiate Cycling Association and the United States Professional Racing Organization. USA Cycling is also responsible for the identification, development, support and promotion of American cyclists through various athletic initiatives and programs including the USA Cycling National Development Team, the USA Cycling Women’s National Team, the USA Cycling Junior Development Team, Talent Identification and Regional Development Camps, domestic and international race calendars, direct athlete funding and support programs, and educational camps and seminars.

USA Cycling also fields and supports U.S. National Teams for various international events, including the Olympic Games, World Championships, Pan American Games, Continental Championship and World Cups across all levels and disciplines of competitive cycling. USA cycling further supports grass roots and locally-based initiatives through its 32 Local Associations and comprehensive network of licensed and certified coaches and officials. Additionally, USA Cycling conducts National Championship events for amateur and professional cyclists, awarding more than 600 national titles annually to men and women in junior, U23, masters, elite, professional and paralympic categories throughout the various disciplines of competitive cycling. To learn more about USA Cycling, visit www.usacycling.org For media-related or general inquiries, please contact USA Cycling Director of Communications, Andy Lee at 719-866-4867 or alee@usacycling.org.

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