Rhode Island's Cox Charities Classic on NRC calendar

The seventh annual Cox Charities Cycling Classic has been set for Saturday, June 28, in Providence, RI. Recognized as one of the premier cycling events in the country, the Cox Charities Cycling Classic will attract nearly 300 of the top cyclists in the country and thousands of spectators to downtown Providence.

The race has been added to USA Cycling’s 2008 National Racing Calendar (NRC), a collection of the 28 most prestigious professional cycling events in the United States.

“USA Cycling’s recognition of the Cox Charities Cycling Classic speaks volumes of the level of race we have developed over the years,” said Gary Dalton, Cox Communications vice president of business operations and Cox Charities Cycling Classic race director. “As an NRC event, we are assured of the highest quality field ever to race in Providence, with racers from all of the top U.S. professional teams. We are thrilled to host the nation’s top cyclists in the great city of Providence for what promises to be the best year for us yet.”

New for 2008, the race course has moved to the city’s riverfront. Racers will compete on a one-mile, criterium course starting and finishing on South Main Street in front of the Licht Judicial Complex. With a distance of 50 miles, the pro racers will endure 50 trips up the steep climb of College Hill on Waterman Street, followed by a hair-raising descent down Thomas Street and across the Providence River on Steeple Street. From there, the cyclists will speed south along the river on Memorial Boulevard/Dyer Street before crossing the river once again on Pine Street to South Water Street, and back to South Main via Planet Street.

“We are very excited about this new race course,” said Joel Brown, president of race promotions company Pavé Productions. “Spectators will be afforded many exciting vantage points to watch the action, with extended views of along each side of the river and South Main Street. And the repeated climbs of College Hill and high-speed descents back down to the
riverfront are sure to become legendary features of the course, and favorite viewing spots for the fans.”

The schedule of events is as follows:

• 2:00 p.m. – Masters 35+/45+
• 3:15 p.m. – Amateur Category 2/3
• 5 p.m. – Pro/Amateur Category 1

“USA Cycling is very pleased to include the Cox Charities Cycling Classic on the 2008 National Racing Calendar,” said Tom Vinson, USA Cycling’s national events manager. “As the demand to be a part of the NRC continues to grow and the Calendar becomes more exclusive, the Cox
Charities Classic is clearly one of the top, one-day Pro-Am events in the nation.”

Proceeds from Cox Communications’ signature event will benefit Cox Charities New England. In partnership with the United Way of Rhode Island, Cox Charities New England has provided more than $2.4 million in grants and in-kind support to local non-profits that support children and education since in 2001.