Press Release: Refreshed Brand Identity Created for 2012 Tour of Utah Pro Cycling Event

DATE Jan 27, 2012 · BY Tour of Utah · CATEGORY Press Releases

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH (January 25, 2012) – The Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah, one of four top-rated, international professional cycling stage races in North America, will sport a new look in 2012 for its eighth year of competition. Organizers of the Tour of Utah, set for August 7-12, 2012, unveiled the new brand identity today, in collaboration with marketing partner TWIO Brand.

From the time of its inception in 2004 as a regional stage race, the Tour of Utah has attracted the top names in the world of professional cycling. The Larry H. Miller Group of Companies purchased the event after its third year and formed the Utah Cycling Partnership, which has operated the race ever since. TWIO Brand, based in Salt Lake City, has worked for the past four months developing a new visual and verbal identity for the Tour of Utah, as well as directing brand and event marketing strategies to facilitate local and national efforts.

“In just a few short years, the Tour of Utah has achieved world-class status and has developed into an incomparable spectator experience,” said Steve Miller, president of the Utah Cycling Partnership, which owns the Tour of Utah. “It is as challenging and entertaining as the Grand Tours in Europe. We wanted to embody our claim of ‘America’s Toughest Stage Race’ into a clear and powerful picture with a new logo, and TWIO Brand did just that.”

The new graphic symbol showcases the steep and scenic mountain peaks of the western Rocky Mountains, known in Utah as the Wasatch Front. Leading into the mountains is a paved road, which proves to provide the ultimate test of endurance and strength for the 120-plus professional cyclists.

Together the mountains, the elevation and the scenic roads define “America’s Toughest Stage Race”. The finishing touch of the logo is a bicycle chain ring. This doubles to define the horizon and natural beauty of Utah.

There will be four primary colors used with the new brand this year – sky blue, meadow green, copper and silver. This will be better defined on the Tour’s new web site, planned to launch February 1 by Saxton l Horne of Salt Lake City. The new web site and social media channels will be updated to coincide with the announcement of the 2012 official host cities and venues for the 400-mile stage race.

Press Release: Team Time Trial Highlights Changes for 2012 Tour of Utah; Host Cities Announced

DATE Feb 02, 2012 · BY Tour of Utah · CATEGORY Press Releases

The 2012 event will announce details of each stage in the spring, but promises to uphold its reputation as “America’s Toughest Stage Race” by incorporating epic climbs and stunning scenery along the mountains, buttes and vibrant communities of northern Utah. An estimated 16 domestic and international pro teams, many of them traveling to Utah from the Tour de France, are expected to accept invitations to participate.

“The Tour of Utah continues to grow in stature as a major cycling event in North America. When you get calls from teams around the world to come to Utah, then you know you are doing something right. We thought the timing was right this year to launch a new brand for the event, and you’ll see more changes in the coming months. It takes a great deal of support from all our partners, the State of Utah, civic and county leaders, special venues, sponsors, volunteers and our loyal fans. We value all this support as it keeps Utah at the forefront of professional sports around the calendar,” said Steve Miller, president of the the Tour of Utah.

The overall start on Tuesday, August 7 makes its debut in Ogden. This hub for outdoor enthusiasts will host teams and staff for several days prior to the race start, with the Marriott Ogden serving as the headquarters hotel. It is also the fifth consecutive year that Miller Motorsports Park, Salt Lake City and Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort have hosted stages. Park City will host the Tour for a fourth year, and for the first time the year-round resort town will host the overall finish on Sunday, August 12. The signature climbing route from Park City to Snowbird, known as the “Queen Stage”, moves from the final Sunday of race week to Saturday. It was last held on Saturday in 2009.

Salt Lake City will host finish lines for Stages Three and Four, with plans underway for a large community celebration on Friday, August 10 following the road race. University of Utah Research Park, 320 acres overlooking the Salt Lake Valley, includes 37 buildings with 42 companies and 69 academic departments. Last year’s Tour included a circuit through the University of Utah campus, and Stage One of the 2010 event finished here. Stage Four will begin in the Lehi area of Utah County, which has seen Tours in past years. This stage is still under development.

The Team Time Trial is one of the most unique features of the 2012 Tour of Utah. This is a technical discipline which holds special interest for cycling fans, and is the only race against the clock for teams at a North American UCI stage race this year. This will be held on day two of the event at Miller Motorsports Park, a state-of-the-art road racing facility in Tooele. Each team rides the course together, and all individuals receive the same time (time recorded for fifth rider to cross the line on each team). The TTT will be part of the Giro d’Italia, Vuelta a España and the 2012 Road World Championships this year. The Tour de France last hosted a TTT in 2011. There was a TTT at the 2008 Tour de Georgia, but it has not been part of other UCI stage races in North America since.

"Last year, my goal clearly was to repeat as the overall champion of the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah. It was an unbelievable victory and a great event. It's exciting to watch the Tour of Utah succeed and rise in the ranks as a world-class, UCI race,” said Leipheimer, the two-time champion of the Larry H Miller Tour of Utah.

The Butte, Montana native, who went to high school in Utah, will race this year for the top-rated Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team based in Belgium.

“With all the elevation gains and climbing, I feel that the Tour of Utah is one of the toughest stage races in America today. I am also very excited for the addition of the Team Time Trial, as being the only opportunity in the U.S. this year to see and participate in one. The fans are going to love that. I look forward to hopefully defending my title with my Quick-Step teammates in 2012."

The Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah continues to be free to all spectators, making professional cycling one of the most unique pro sports in the world today. More than 700 volunteers are encouraged to take part in the event over the course of the week. Official information will be posted at www.tourofutah.com, with updates on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Ultimate Challenge Ride Returns during Tour of Utah

DATE Mar 07, 2012 · BY Tour of Utah · CATEGORY Press Releases

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH (March 7, 2012) – Amateur cyclists wanting to experience the same adrenaline-charged climbs and descents that lay waste to the pros will get that chance at THE ULTIMATE CHALLENGE on Saturday, August 11, 2012. This year, the Ultimate Challenge (UC) runs in conjunction with the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah, taking place August 7-12. New for 2012, the amateur event will be held on the same day as Stage Five, the “Queen Stage”, of the Tour of Utah, and three ride options will be available. Registration opens March 7 for all UC ride experiences (www.tourofutah.com).

The Ultimate Challenge is a non-competitive bicycle ride which provides participants with an once-in-a-lifetime experience utilizing one of the mountain stages that gives the Tour of Utah its reputation as “America’s Toughest Stage Race^TM”. Participants will enjoy incomparable scenery, full logistical support and an official finish line at every stop.

The traditional 100-mile route features 9,456 feet of climbing and a summit finish at Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort. Two shorter ride options have been added this year, 35 miles to Midway and 74 miles to Alpine. All UC rides begin between 6:45 - 7:30 a.m. on August 11 at Newpark Town Center in the Kimball Junction section of Park City, Utah.

Ride experiences for the Ultimate Challenge will offer limited registrations:

· -My Ultimate Challenge – limited to 600 riders for any of three distances; $85 registration

· -UC Elite package – limited to 75 riders (USAC license and Cat 3 or above); $150 registration

· -UC Ultra package – limited to 25 riders; $1500 registration (includes hotel accommodations at Newpark Resort, sport massage, gourmet buffet meal, personal concierge service and a special discount for any one of three Max Testa Training coaching plans)

All participants will receive ride support, hydration stops, post-ride lunch, souvenir sport socks from DNACycling, event performance shirt, free oil change certificate from Larry H. Miller Toyota in Murray, Utah (good for any automobile), 1^st Endurance sports nutrition product and souvenir water bottle. A UC short sleeve, full-zip, commemorative jersey is available for $75 from DNACycling.

For the new shorter ride options, participants will benefit with unique viewing opportunities in Midway and Alpine. Both of these communities will have official Sprint Lines for Stage Five of the Tour of Utah and UC riders can see the action up close. There will also be viewing parties under a main tent to watch the pros battle on Stage Five of the Tour via webcast on television monitors.

Call for Volunteers

DATE Mar 20, 2012 · BY Tour of Utah · CATEGORY Press Releases

Volunteers sport 2011 event T-shirts

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH (March 20, 2012) – Local organizing committees and host cities for the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah are looking to fill more than 600 volunteer positions this year for the August 7-12, 2012 professional cycling event. Event organizers opened registration today, accepting applications online at the official web site, www.tourofutah.com/volunteer.

Volunteers play a key role in the success of this world-class sporting event. Early registration is focused on two areas – week-long volunteers and individual stage course marshals. Five of the six stages are road races, and these will require daily personnel to assist with course safety for the athletes and the spectators at either the start or finish host venue. The only exception will be Stage Two, which is a Team Time Trial on a closed course at Miller Motorsports Park; marshals are not needed currently for that day.

For anyone who can commit to a full six or seven days with the Tour of Utah, volunteer positions are available for the entire race.

In 2010, there were 500 individuals from more than 15 states who provided their time and expertise throughout the six days of racing in Utah. Not only do many cycling fans find this to be the best way to get close to the action, it is also the best way to guarantee a commemorative Tour of Utah T-shirt. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, and will require a signed waiver. Requests for other volunteer opportunities will be available later this summer.

The Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah continues to be free to all spectators, making professional cycling one of the most unique pro sports in the world today. More information about the Tour of Utah and its partners can be found by visiting www.tourofutah.com, with updates on Facebook and Twitter.

Five ProTeams Headed to 2012 Tour of Utah

DATE Apr 11, 2012 · BY Tour of Utah · CATEGORY Press Releases

The No. 3 WorldTour team Liquigas-Cannondale returns for a second trip to Tour of Utah. Photo by Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH (April 11, 2012) – The first major, weeklong stage race to challenge the top international cycling teams after this summer’s Tour de France and Olympic Games will be in the United States. Eight professional teams confirmed participation today in the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah, August 7-12, 2012. Five of these squads are UCI ProTeams, including the No.3 ranked team on the UCI WorldTour, Liquigas-Cannondale of Italy.

This announcement confirms the participation of half of the teams which will race at “America’s Toughest Stage Race^TM”. The full field of 16 teams will be confirmed by May.

UCI ProTeams Confirmed: (world rankings as of April 8, 2012)

· Liquigas-Cannondale (ITA), No. 3 on UCI WorldTour

· RadioShack-Nissan-Trek (LUX), No. 6 on UCI WorldTour

· BMC Racing Team (USA), No.7 on UCI WorldTour

· Rabobank Cycling Team (NED), No. 11 on UCI WorldTour

· Garmin-Barracuda (USA), No. 15 on UCI WorldTour

UCI Pro Continental Team (ranking as of March 25, 2012)

· Team Argos-Shimano (NED), No. 8 on UCI Europe Tour Ranking

UCI Continental Teams, America Tour Confirmed (rankings as of March 25, 2012):

· EPM-UNE (COL), No.6 on UCI America Tour

· Competitive Cyclist Racing Team (USA), No. 13 on UCI America Tour

The Tour of Utah was elevated last year by the international governing body of the sport of cycling, Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), to a 2.1-rated stage race. It continues as one of the top four UCI stage races in North America this year. And the Tour of Utah will be the first weeklong UCI stage race for athletes in North America following the Tour de France and the London 2012 Olympic Games.

“We now have international teams requesting invitations to compete in Utah, and this is great for our fans and our sponsors. The level of competition improves each year, making the Tour of Utah a true showcase for international cycling here in the United States,” said Steve Miller, president of the Tour of Utah.

Liquigas-Cannondale (Italy) returns for an eighth year of racing on the UCI WorldTour and returns for a second year to the Tour of Utah. In its 2011 campaign, the Italian team amassed 30 overall victories, including 12 UCI World Tour wins. Team leaders include sprinter Peter Sagan (SVK), and former Grand Tour champions Ivan Basso (ITA) and Vincenzo Nibali (ITA). Young standouts include rising star Elia Viviani of Italy and two Americans, Ted King and Tim Duggan. Duggan finished seventh overall at the 2011 Tour of Utah. Viviani won two stages at the 2011 USA Cycling Pro Challenge and has five wins already in 2012.

Team RadioShack-Nissan Trek (Luxembourg) comes to the peloton after a merger of the RadioShack and Leopard-Trek squads. Although the team will compete in the 2012 Tour of Utah as a combined squad for the first time, RadioShack makes its third appearance. In racing action last year, RadioShack notched 28 wins, while Leopard-Trek garnered more than 25. This year’s roster includes Grand Tour and Classics standouts Andy Schleck (LUX), Fränk Schleck (LUX), Fabian Cancellara (SUI), Andreas Klöden (GER), Chris Horner (USA), and Jens Voigt (GER). In early season 2012 racing, the team took first overall in the team classifications of both the Tour Down Under and Tour of Oman, while Horner claimed second place on G.C. at the seven-day Italian stage race, Tirreno-Adriatico.

BMC Racing Team (U.S.A.) returns in 2012 for its fourth Tour of Utah. The 2011 season was its first as a UCI ProTour squad and the U.S.-registered team chalked up 13 victories. The team’s roster includes 2011 Tour de France champion Cadel Evans (AUS), former world road champions Thor Hushovd and Alessandro Ballan, as well as three-time U.S. national road champion George Hincapie and 2010 U.S. national time trial champion Taylor Phinney. Earlier this year at Paris-Nice, American Tejay van Garderen won the best young rider classification. In 2011, he won the individual time trial at the Tour of Utah. This season marks Hincapie’s 19th year in the pro peloton, and he is expected to ride a record-setting 17th Tour de France in July.

Rabobank Cycling Team (Netherlands) makes its Tour of Utah debut in 2012. The Dutch squad notched 24 victories in 2011, including stage wins at each of the three Grand Tours. The team includes 2011 Spanish National Champion Luis León Sánchez, former World Cyclocross Champion Lars Boom (NED), and up-and-comer Robert Gesink (NED). New to the team for 2012 is sprinter Mark Renshaw (AUS), who came over from the now-defunct HTC-Highroad team. Sanchez started out the early 2012 season with a stage win at Paris-Nice.

Garmin-Barracuda (U.S.A.), racing last year as Garmin-Cervélo, comes to the Tour of Utah with a full squad for a second year. In 2011, the team took 18 UCI WorldTour wins, including the prestigious Team Time Trial and the overall team designation at the 2011 Tour de France. On U.S. soil, Garmin-Barracuda clinched the overall team classification at the USA Pro Cycling Challenge. Athletes from 15 countries make up the squad including Dutch strongman Thomas Dekker and a number of American standouts, including Christian Vande Velde, Tyler Farrar, Tom Danielson and Utah’s own Dave Zabriskie. Danielson and Vande Velde, finished fifth and sixth, respectively, overall at the 2011 Tour of Utah. This year, Zabriskie won the time trial at Tour de Langkawi and Dekker won a stage at Circuit Sarthe.

Team Argos-Shimano (Netherlands), formerly known as Skil-Shimano, also makes a first appearance at the Tour of Utah. This UCI Professional Continental team began the year as PROJECT 1t4i and in late March signed a new title sponsor, Argos North Sea Group (Argos). The team earned a wild card invitation to the 2009 Tour de France. The Dutch squad is led by former HTC-Highroad sprinter John Degenkolb (GER) and fellow German Marcel Kittel. In 2011, Kittel won 17 races, including a stage win at the Vuelta a España. This season Team Argos-Shimano has three stage wins by Kittel at the Tour of Oman and at Three Days of La Panne.

EPM-UNE (Colombia) also makes its Tour of Utah debut in 2012. This all-Colombian, UCI Continental squad finished as the top team on the UCI America Tour last year. The team started 2012 by winning the Vuelta Independencia Nacional and taking the top three in the U23 competition (Eduard Beltran, Isaac Bolivar, and Javier Gomez). In 2011, the team secured the top four spots on G.C. at the Tour do Rio, with Juan Pablo Suarez taking first. At the inaugural USA Pro Cycling Challenge, the team finished third overall in the teams classification. Look for this squad to be a threat on the Tour of Utah climbs.

Another UCI Continental team is the Competitive Cyclist Racing Team (U.S.A.), which returns to Utah for a second year. Racing last year as the RealCyclist.com Professional Cycling Team, this squad finished fifth overall in the men’s standings of the National Racing Calendar. Leading the team is 2009 Tour of Utah champion, Francisco Mancebo (ESP), who wrapped up 2011 as the top individual rider on the National Racing Calendar. He is supported by veteran climber Cesar Grajales (COL), all-rounder Chad Beyer (USA), and first-year pro Mike Olheiser (USA), who has amassed 18 national and world amateur championships.

The 2012 Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah will consist of six stages over six consecutive days, beginning Tuesday, August 7. The overall start and finish for Stage One will be hosted by Ogden, in northern Utah. Stage Two will feature the only Team Time Trial in the United States this year, held at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah. Stage Three is a road race from Ogden to Salt Lake City. Stage Four is a road race from Utah County in central Utah to Salt Lake City. Stage Five, the “Queen Stage” or signature climbing stage of the event, will be contested from Park City to Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort. And the grand finale Stage Six is a road race that will start and end in Park City.

FOX Sports Network Plans 18 Hours of Coverage - 12 Hours Live, All HD

DATE Apr 21, 2012 · BY Tour of Utah · CATEGORY Press Releases

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH (April 21, 2012) – Organizers of the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah took another large step for engaging its national fanbase with the professional cycling stage race. Broadcast partner FOX Sports Network (FSN) will provide a total of 18 hours of national programming this year for the Tour of Utah, including 12 hours of live coverage. All six days of programming will be produced in high definition for the first time for “America’s Toughest Stage Race^TM”, August 7-12, 2012.

This is the second year that FSN has been tapped as the national broadcast partner. FSN affliated regional sports networks reach 85+ million homes across the country. The live coverage of the six-day race is scheduled daily from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time, to coincide with the daily stage finish and award ceremonies. A one-hour highlight program will be televised across the sports network at 11 p.m. local time. Because FSN covers professional baseball with its regional networks, all cycling fans should check local listings to confirm air times.

“Professional cycling is a fast and exciting sport, from the unique Team Time Trial discipline to the epic climbs along the Wasatch Front. We anticipate having seven or eight teams from the Tour de France racing in Utah this year. FOX Sports Network understands how significant this race has become in the world of cycling, and we appreciate their support in showcasing the event every day. Of course we want all race fans to travel to Utah to watch the race unfold in person, but FSN makes it possible for more people to be part of this exciting event,” said Steve Miller, president of the Tour of Utah.

Regional coverage of the Tour of Utah in the Western states will be broadcast by ROOT Sports. ROOT Sports Rocky Mountain region is based in Denver and is the cable home of the Utah Jazz and Colorado Rockies, among a broad roster of sports programming. And the local broadcast affiliate will be KJZZ TV, an independent broadcast television station based in Salt Lake City which serves households across the entire state of Utah, as well as parts of five other western states.

“We’re excited to continue our broadcast partnership with the Tour of Utah, and introduce significant live coverage this year for the passionate cycling fans,” added David Sussin, VP Programming for FOX Sports Media Group.

The eighth edition of the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah will consist of six stages, five days of road racing and one Team Time Trial. Host cities and venues for 2012 are Ogden, Miller Motorsports Park, Salt Lake City, Utah County, Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort and Park City. For a second year, the Tour of Utah has been designated by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the worldwide governing body of cycling, as a 2.1-rated event for the UCI America Tour. The Tour of Utah is sanctioned by both USA Cycling, Inc. and the UCI. It continues to be free for spectators, making professional cycling one of the most unique pro sports in the world today. More than 600 volunteers are encouraged to take part in the event over the course of the week. Official information will be posted at www.tourofutah.com, with updates on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

The Echelon Project Launches For National Bike Month

DATE May 01, 2012 · BY Tour of Utah · CATEGORY Press Releases

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH (May 1, 2012) – A professional sporting event attracts an enormous amount of attention, especially with aspiring young athletes. Organizers of the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah professional cycling race thought it was time to lead by example and team with health-oriented organizations to inspire active lifestyles and good nutrition. Collaborating with local, non-profit organizations across Utah, the Echelon Project will focus on fighting childhood obesity. The first in a series of public events will be held this Saturday, May 5, as part of a focus for National Bike Month.

The Echelon Project team is comprised of the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah, Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah, Utah Department of Health and its Physical Activity, Nutrition & Obesity Program, and Play Well-Play Safe Foundation. Summer Fit Learning and Mike and the Bike will provide content in a new Youth Activity Book that will have a cycling theme and provide educational components for special events throughout the summer. Inspired by the bestselling children’s storybook written by Michael Ward, Mike and The Bike continues to promote active lifestyles for children using cycling as a platform. Each Echelon Project partner will also have an interactive exhibit in the Health & Wellness Expo at the Tour of Utah, August 7-12, 2012.

”Every year fans see these pro cyclists and they make racing a bicycle look so easy. We want these top athletes to be able to serve as role models for children, and adults. The Echelon Project can be a great way for our event to demonstrate how an active lifestyle can be healthy, fun, and productive. And using a bicycle is an exciting vehicle to use for education. We are lucky to have so many great partners helping us launch this program in 2012,” said Steve Miller, president of the Tour of Utah.

Through health and wellness education and special activities and programs, the Echelon Project is focused in 2012 on spreading positive messages about incorporating active lifestyles with good nutrition to lay the foundation for a healthy family, and society. The rising numbers related to unhealthy weight among Americans generated the interest in this cause. According to research findings cited by the Utah Department of Health and Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake:

Across the U.S., 63.1% of adults are overweight or obese and 26.6% are obese (CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System 2008).
More than half of Utah adults are overweight or obese (60.1%, Utah BRFSS 2008).
Over one in five elementary-age Utah children are overweight or obese (21.5%, Utah child height and weight study 2008).
Over one in five high school-age Utah children are overweight or obese (20.4%) and 8.7% are obese (2007 Youth Risk Behavioral Surveillance System).
Only two in 10 children eat a well balanced diet including the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables. (2007 Youth Risk Behavior Survey)

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake announced earlier this year it is launching a five-year plan to ensure that every Club member maintains a healthy weight and has daily access to healthy snacks. They will combine this initiative with nutritional education and healthy lifestyle classes and a variety of physical activity programs. Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake serves four locations (three in Salt Lake and one in Tooele) and is now serving more than 1,500 healthy snacks to children every week. Boys & Girls Clubs of Weber-Davis serves location in Ogden and Roy.

"With the economy making things difficult for the families of the kids we serve, we've seen an increase in demand for our Kids Café and snacks at our Clubs," said LeAnn Saldivar, President and CEO of BGCGSL. "We have more kids who need access to quality food. It is our goal to provide snacks consisting of fresh fruit and produce and other low-sugar, low-fat treats."

The Play Well-Play Safe Foundation is another non-profit organization focused on the pursuit of health and wellness through athletics and sport. Play Well-Play Safe looks to educate and support the community through education, sponsorship and pre-participation assessments and research. The Foundation was founded by five-time Olympic Gold Medalist Dr. Eric Heiden, a Park City resident, and is supported by Billy Demong, an Olympic gold medalist in Nordic Combined skiing, and Dr. Max Testa, Chief Medical Director of BMC Pro Cycling Team.

“Our foundation’s goal is to promote health and wellness through athletics and sports. We are proud to partner with Echelon’s effort to address childhood obesity and understand the important role regular exercise plays in combating this epidemic,” added Dr. Heiden.

The Physical Activity, Nutrition & Obesity Program (PANO) with the Utah Department of Health is committed to "make the healthy choice the easy choice." The vision for PANO is for Utah to be a place where all people can enjoy the best health possible, where all can live and thrive in healthy and safe communities. The agency recognizes that the number of Utah children, adolescents, and adults that are obese is at a record high. The goal of the UDOH PANO Program is to prevent and control obesity and other chronic diseases through healthful eating and physical activity. The Echelon Project is one way that PANO can help influence change within schools and local communities. They will provide a registered Nutritionist at Echelon Project events.

Public events for The Echelon Project will begin this month. Play Well-Play Safe Foundation is holding its Youth Athlete Symposium at Utah Olympic Park on Saturday, May 5 from 8:30 a.m. to Noon. This is the first educational program for Play Well-Play Safe, which is geared toward young, first-time athletes and their first-time coaches. The Echelon Project will be part of this event. To register for this event, send an email to register@playwellplaysafefoundation.com. For additional activities and events for The Echelon Project, visit the web site at http://tourofutah.com/about/our-cause.

CTS Epic Endurance Bucket List and Tour of Utah

DATE May 02, 2012 · BY Tour of Utah · CATEGORY Press Releases

(Colorado Springs, Colo.) – Carmichael Training Systems (CTS) and the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah (TOU) today revealed the details and application information for the 2012 CTS Tour of Utah Race Experience, a new and challenging way for amateur cycling fans to take part in the six-day UCI-sanctioned stage race. This is one of the featured CTS Epic Endurance Bucket List events for this year.

CTS Coaches will lead a team of amateur cyclists as they ride every stage of the Tour of Utah, August 7-12, 2012, with a head-start on the pro peloton. Working as a cohesive unit and with the support of professional mechanics and soigneurs, the CTS Team will attempt to reach the finish line before being caught by the chasing professional peloton. Tour of Utah organizers will provide the CTS Team with VIP Passes to all stage finishes and similar accommodations, meals, and amenities as the pro teams competing in the event. And just like the pros, riders will have professional mechanics on the route with them, and professional massage therapy after each stage.

The Tour of Utah Race Experience is a unique opportunity for amateur cyclists to eat, sleep, and ride like the pros and really experience what it’s like on the inside of a major stage race,” said Chris Carmichael, Founder and CEO of Carmichael Training Systems. “The Tour of Utah has provided an unprecedented level of access to the race for CTS and helped us create a truly unique experience for our team.”

Due to the extreme physical requirements of the CTS TOU Race Experience, riders must apply in order to be accepted onto the 2012 CTS TOU Race Experience Team. Complete details and an application can be found at www.trainright.com/tou-2012. There is no cost for applying. The price for the Tour of Utah Race Experience is $8,500 per person. All meals, accommodations, and ground transportation during the race are included. Airfare is not included. Athletes must be at least 18 years old to participate.

“We’re excited to provide extraordinary access for the Carmichael Training Systems Race Experience at the 2012 Tour of Utah. For a hard-core cycling enthusiast, who really wants to know what it’s like to race, not ride, across 30,000 feet of climbing in one week, this truly

is a bucket list item of a lifetime, ” commented Steve Miller, president of the Tour of Utah. “The Tour of Utah has grown over eight years to become known as ‘America’s Toughest Stage Race’. This year we already have five ProTour Teams committed to racing and just announced live national coverage on FOX Sports Network. It’s going to be another exciting Tour and we’re pleased to bring in a world-class coaching company like CTS to create a one-of-a-kind Tour of Utah experience for a team of amateur athletes.”

The Tour of Utah Race Experience is one of six events on the 2012 CTS Epic Endurance Bucket List: Trans Andes Challenge, Amgen Tour of California, USA Pro Cycling Challenge, Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah, Leadville 100, and La Ruta de los Conquistadores. Chris Carmichael created the Bucket List to offer athletes opportunities to step up to life-changing challenges, and the comprehensive support necessary to maximize their chances of success. More information: http://trainright.com/bucket-list/.