PRESS RELEASE – Tour of Utah route unveiled

By Press Release

TOUR OF UTAH ANNOUNCES RACE ROUTE FOR 2005 STAGE RACELEHI, UT – The Tour of Utah has announced the race route forthe 2005 stage race, hosted by Thanksgiving Point.Scheduled for May 26 – 30, 2005, the Tour of Utah is a five-day, six-stageevent, taking professional and amateur cyclists along a course spanningthe Salt Lake and Utah Valleys.  While covering almost 500 kilometers,cyclists will be riding as far west as Tooele, Utah, as far south as Santaquin,Utah, and climbing to an altitude of nearly 9,000 feet.  Althoughthe first two stages are reserved only for professional categories, amateurcategories will still cover over three hundred kilometers and participatein the grueling “Nebo” climb.After a successful opening year in 2004, the Tour of Utah has addedtwo new stages for professional categories and doubled corporate sponsorship. With a cash purse of nearly $24,000, a capped field will be competing inone of the premier cycling events in the western United States.Stage One:  Downtown Provo Criterium (ProfessionalCategories Only)
Provo, UT – Thursday, May 26, 2005
The Tour of Utah competition begins in historic downtown Provo alongthe business-lined Center Street corridor.  The downtown Provo citystreets, blocked off for this stage, will be lined with spectators as theycelebrate the final day of the Utah County Bike Week festivities at theUtah Transit Authorities Bike Bonanza.Stage Two:  Einstein Bros. Road Race (ProfessionalCategories Only)
Lehi, UT – Friday, May 27, 2005
The second addition to the Tour of Utah in 2005, the West Desert RoadRace will test the professional categories by covering over 170 kilometersacross the desert terrain of newly founded Eagle Mountain, Utah. This stageis expected to favor the sprinters.
 Stage Three:  Suncrest Road Race (All Categories)
Lehi, UT – Saturday, May 28, 2005 (AM)
The first of two climbs, the Suncrest Ridge climb begins in Lehi, UTat the Thanksgiving Point Electric Park.  After circling historicLehi city, cyclists get their first taste of the famous Rocky Mountainsby ascending a relatively short 6 kilometer climb that will test even thestrongest cyclists with an average grade of over 10 percent!Stage three will also have a citizen category, led out by two-time Olympianand Tour de France veteran, Frankie Andreu. 
Stage Four:  Nextel Criterium (All Categories)
Lehi, UT – Saturday, May 28, 2005 (PM)
The second stage on Saturday, and fourth overall, is hosted in Lehi,Utah at the Thanksgiving Point venue.  Circling a spectator-linedcriterium circuit, cyclists will race through Electric Park as sprintingfavorites compete for time and cash bonuses and finish in front of crowdsof spectators attending the Thanksgiving Point Cycling Festival.Stage Five:  Marriott Road Race (All Categories)
Payson – Sunday, May 29, 2005
Sponsored by Marriot hotels, the longest and most grueling stage ofthe Tour of Utah, the Nebo Mountain road race starts with a 40 Kilometerloop around West Mountain before crossing through Payson city to beginthe Nebo Mountain climb.  Although not as steep as the Suncrest Ridgeclimb, this stage over twice the distance and finishes atop Mount Neboat an altitude of nearly 9,000 feet above sea level. Athletes will coverbetween 40 and 90 miles, depending on their ability level.Stage Six: Field Stone Time Trial (All Categories)
Monday, May 30, 2005
The final stage of the Tour of Utah is the West Desert Time Trial,a 12-mile course for amateurs and 21-mile course for professionals, sprinterswill use this stage to pick up time and cash bonuses.You can find out more information about the Tour of Utah event and reviewcourse maps by visiting the official race website at www.tourofutah.com.Register early and receive discounted registration fees while securingyour position in this capped field by logging on to www.sportsbaseonline.com.Promotions and Sponsorship Contact:  Jason Preston, (801) 400-6130
Marketing Contact:  Stephen Roberts, (801) 318-9176
Operational Contact:  Scott Preston, (801) 400-6129