September 14,2011
520-745-2033
Melanie Rineer, Publicity Director sponsorship@perimeterbicycling.com
Perimeter Bicycling Association of America, Inc. www.perimeterbicycling.com
– News Release –
2011 El Tour Honors Rahsaan Bahati –
World-Class Cyclist and Champion of the Kids
TUCSON, Ariz. – Richard J. DeBernardis, President and CEO of Perimeter Bicycling, announced today that The University of Arizona Medical Center 29th El Tour de Tucson presented by CenturyLink is dedicated to Rahsaan Bahati – 2008 US Pro Criterium Champion, seven-time national cycling champion and founder of the Bahati Foundation.
Rahsaan, a pro cyclist since 2001, does work through his non-profit foundation (www.bahatifoundation.org) to inspire and empower underprivileged inner-city youth to rise above their circumstance through the sport of cycling. The world-class cyclist and champion of youth is the epitome of this year’s event theme, “El Tour…all about giving.” Rahsaan will be honored at the Dedication Dinner on Thursday, November 17th at the Tucson Scottish Rite building. (For more information and a photo of Rahsaan or an invitation to the Dedication Dinner, visitwww.perimeterbicycling.com)
DeBernardis also announced a new start/finish location – on 6th Ave. south of Broadway Blvd., across from Children’s Museum Tucson. In addition, DeBernardis announced a new start location for the Intuit 60-Mile El Tour – at Fort Lowell and Swan Rd. next to McMahon’s Prime Steakhouse. Cyclists, on the return, will travel south on Silverbell Rd., east on Speedway Blvd., south on W. Frontage Rd., east on 22nd St. and north on 6th Ave. to the finish line.
The University of Arizona Medical Center is the title sponsor for this year’s El Tour. The University of Arizona Medical Center – University Campus (formerly UMC) and South Campus (formerly UPH Hospital) are the primary teaching hospitals for the University of Arizona College of Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing and Public Health. These hospitals, as well as affiliated clinics, a physician group practice and several health plans, are all part of The University of Arizona Health Network. With more than 6,000 employees, The University of Arizona Health Network is one of the region’s largest employers. Its mission: Advancing health and wellness through education, research and patient care.
CenturyLink is the presenting sponsor for this year’s event – only the second presenting sponsor ever in El Tour’s history.
El Tour cyclists will raise funds for Tu Nidito Children and Family Services, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, American Parkinson Disease Association, Water For People, Ben’s Bells Project, Diamond Children’s Medical Center, Humane Society of Southern Arizona, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Team Lizzie Bell, Rotary International Polio Plus, AZ Friends of Foster Children, Beads of Courage, Blue Marble Institute, Casa de los Ninos, League of American Bicyclists, Lions Club International, my Team Triumph, Project L.I.F.E., Susan G. Komen for the Cure and The Haven.
The 60-day El Tour “season” opens with the Diamond Ventures 14th Annual El Tour Adventure 10K & 5K Run/Walk along the Rillitoon Saturday, September 17th – beginning and ending at St. Gregory College Preparatory School.
El Tour Super Week, itself, includes a 3-day El Tour Bike, Fitness & Health EXPO, a Michelob ULTRA Beer Garden, Innovation Park/Ventana Medical Systems/Grubb & Ellis Orientation Meetings, the Rusing & Lopez El Tour Dedication Dinner and an 8-day LeMond Fitness Indoor El Tour program.
Ride day begins with the 109-mile Main Event followed by the 79-Mile El Tour, Intuit 60-Mile El Tour, sanofi aventis 40-Mile El Tour and Diamond Children’s El Tour Fun Rides. Kids activities, music, a beer garden, food, massages and an on-going Grand Cycling Awards Ceremony round out the day’s festivities.
The event is also supported by 92.9 The Mountain, Arizona Daily Star, Charles Schwab, Citi, City of Tucson, Clif Bar, El Paso Natural Gas, Evaero, Inc., GEICO, Golden Eagle Distributors, Greater Arizona Bicycling Association, GU, KGUN 9, KHS Bikes, Madden Media, McDonald’s, MTCVB, Metro Restaurants, Pactimo, Pima County, Pizza Hut, Rio West, Rosemont Copper, Royal Automotive Group, TriSports.com, Tucson Orthopaedic Institute, Velo, Volk Co., Walgreens, Wallace Research Foundation, WCJ Pilgrim Wire, Wells Fargo Bank and Zuckerman Community Outreach Foundation.
The University of Arizona Medical Center 29th El Tour de Tucson presented by CenturyLink will be held Saturday, November 19th. El Tour is expected to engage some 9,000 cyclists, 2,900 volunteers and 29,000 spectators and to bring in approximately $50 - $70 million to the Tucson area during the course of the year including $18 - $30 million on ride weekend alone.
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