“One of the primary reasons we founded the Exergy Tour is to help gain notoriety and exposure for the advancement of women’s professional cycling." ~ James Carkulis, CEO, Exergy Development Group
Boise, ID (PRWEB) April 04, 2012
Competitors in the 2012 Exergy Tour international ladies pro cycling race, taking place in Idaho May 24 – 28, will be racing for $100,000 in prize money, what is believed to be the largest payout for a five-day race in the history of ladies pro cycling, and an amount that is comparable to payouts for the men.
“One of the primary reasons we founded the Exergy Tour is to help gain notoriety and exposure for the advancement of women’s professional cycling and to encourage media, corporate sponsors, governing bodies, spectators and fans to recognize the value of women’s competitive athletics,” said James Carkulis, CEO of Exergy Development Group, title sponsor of the race. “Offering a significant payout for this race elevates the excitement to a level equal in stature to men’s pro cycling. Our hope is for the Exergy Tour to bring opportunities for both marketing and the media to open up more possibilities for women’s cycling in the USA and abroad.”
In a year to celebrate greater opportunity for women in sport with the 40th anniversary of Title IX in June, the Exergy Tour last week named the National Association for Girls and Women in Sport (NAGWS) as the official charitable partner for the 2012 race. The non-profit NAGWS develops and delivers equitable and quality sport opportunities for girls and women through research, advocacy, leadership development, educational strategies, and programming that promotes social justice and change. One focus area for NAGWS is providing educational resources related to Title IX, which is best known for its impact on women’s athletics.
A total of 17 of the top ladies pro cycling teams from nine countries around the world are scheduled to compete in the inaugural race. Countries represented by these teams include Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Taiwan, Ukraine and the United States.
“With a field comprised of several former, current and future National, World and Olympic Champions, we expect the competition level to rival the classic European races and to set a new standard for the highest level of ladies professional bike racing in North America,” said Heather Hill, Marketing, Communications and Events director. “The Exergy Tour will also be an opportunity for many young, up and coming riders to work with their teammates and prove themselves against the best in the world.”
The Exergy Tour is one of the last races to provide international ranking points crucial to qualifying for the upcoming Olympic Games in London. It is sanctioned by USA Cycling and is the only ladies race in North America in 2012 with a 2.1 designation by the International Cycling Union (UCI).
“Thanks to the support of Exergy we now have, for the first time in many years, a world-class, UCI women’s stage race in the U.S.,” said USA Cycling President & CEO Steve Johnson. “This event will provide our top American women, who are among the best in the world, with the opportunity to showcase their talent and race on home soil.”
Volunteer registration is open for the Exergy Tour, and sponsorship opportunities are available. An estimated 1,000 volunteers will assist the 5-day Tour in various functions and positions.
For more information, or to register to volunteer, please visit http://www.ExergyTour.com.
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About the Exergy Tour
The Exergy Tour will take place over the Memorial Day weekend in five Idaho cities – Boise, Nampa, Kuna, Garden Valley/Crouch and Idaho City. Between 10 and 15 of the top ladies pro cycling teams from around the world are expected to participate in the inaugural race, which was founded by Boise-based Exergy Development Group. The race will be one of the last races to provide international ranking points crucial to qualifying for the upcoming Olympic Games in London. It is sanctioned by USA Cycling and is the only ladies race in North America in 2012 with a 2.1 designation by the International Cycling Union (UCI). St. Luke’s Sports Medicine is the Official Medical Provider for the 2012 Exergy Tour. The National Association of Girls and Women in Sport is the Official Charitable Partner of the 2012 Exergy Tour. For more information, contact Heather Hill, 208-559-1203 or heather.hill@exergytour.com.
About Exergy Development Group
Exergy Development Group is one of the major independent renewable energy developers in the USA. Exergy's focus is on deploying commercially successful, socially beneficial and environmentally responsible renewable energy projects. A vertically integrated company, Exergy moves its projects from conception through construction and commercial operation. Exergy believes that sustainable economic prosperity is inextricably tied to the well-being of our communities and natural environment. In support of that philosophy, Exergy founded the Exergy Tour ladies pro cycling race, designed to showcase the power of women’s professional cycling, engage communities, and provide a vehicle to teach young girls about the benefits gained through sports.
For more information, http://www.exergydevelopment.com
About the USA Cycling National Racing Calendar (NRC)
The National Racing Calendar (NRC) is the premier season-long domestic road cycling series sanctioned and owned by USA Cycling. With an overall ranking system that determines the best individual male and female cyclists, as well as the best teams in the U.S., the NRC features the nation’s top Pro-Am road race events, and is open to both professional and amateur cyclists. For more information on the NRC, visit usacycling.org/nrc. 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.
