Sponsorship issues puts NRC races in jeopardy; 1 race canceled

Posted on 21. Jan, 2009 by in news

Due to the current economic situation, Priority Health announced that it had to suspend its sponsorship of  three cycling races in 2009: the Tour de Leelanau and the Priority Health Cycling Classics in both Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor. Following this news,  the local press  stated that the 2009 Priority Health Grand Cycling Classic in Grand Rapids, Michigan, had been canceled. No news about the other two races in jeopardy but it doesn’t look good.

Tough blow for cycling and for women’s cycling especially as these three races were on the Women’s USA Cycling National Race Calendar and if canceled, would bring the numbers of events down to 24 from an original total of 27.

Also, the dates for the Tour de Toona in the 2009 NRC calendar were changed from 7 days to 3 days but no official news is available to explain these changes.

(updated) 2009 USA Cycling National Racing Calendar
Date Cat Men/
Women 		Race, Location
14-16 15 Feb 2.4 W Amgen Tour of    California Women’s Stage Race, California
26-29 Mar 2.2 M/W Redlands Bicycle   Classic, Redlands CA
26 Apr 1.5 M/W Dana Point Grand Prix of Cycling, Dana Point CA
29 Apr–3 May 2.3 M/W Tour of the Gila,Silver City, NM
2 May 1.4 M/W Sunny King Criterium,  Anniston, AL
3 May 1.4 M/W Nalley Historic Roswell Criterium, Roswell GA
7-10 May 2.2 M/W Joe Martin Stage Race, Fayetteville AR
11-17 May 2.1 M/W (*) Oregon Pro Cycling Classic, Portland OR
16 May 1.4 M/W Bank of America  Wilmington Grand Prix, Wilmington DE
17 May 1.4 M Kelly Cup,  Baltimore MD
24 May ??
 1.1 W (*) Tour de Leelanau,  Leelanau MI
25 May 1.4 M/W Tour of Somerville, Somerville NJ
29-31 May 2.6.2 M/W Tulsa Tough, Tulsa OK
30 May 1.2 M/W CSC Invitational, Arlington VA
7 Jun 1.1 W (*) Liberty Classic     (Women), Philadelphia PA
10-14 Jun 2.1 M/W Nature Valley   Grand Prix, Minnesota
21 Jun 1.5 M Tour de Winghaven,   St Louis MO
28 Jun 1.3 M/W Manhattan Beach Grand Prix, Manhattan Beach CA
2-5 Jul 2.3 M/W Fitchburg Longsjo Classic, Fitchburg MA
13-19 17-19 Jul 2.4 M/W The International Tour de Toona, Pennsylvania
18 Jul 1.3 M Boise Twilight Criterium, Boise ID
22-26 Jul 2.3 M/W Cascade Cycling  Classic, Bend OR
26 Jul 1.4 M Chicago Criterium,    Chicago IL
31 Jul-2 Aug 2.2 M Tour of Elk Grove,  Elk Grove Village IL
8 Aug 1.1 M/W Presbyterian Hospital Invitational, Charlotte NC
9 Aug 1.4 M/W Hanes Park Classic, Winston Salem NC
18-23 Aug 2.4 M Tour of Utah, Utah
22 Aug 1.5 M/W Marion Classic Riverwalk Criterium, Marion IN
23 Aug 1.4 M ING Direct Capital   Criterium Powered by Cyclelife, Washington DC
30 Aug 1.2 M/W Chris Thater Memorial, Binghamton NY
5 Sep 1.5 M/W San Francisco Twilight    Criterium, San Francisco CA
7 Sep 1.3 M/W US 100K Classic, Atlanta GA
12 Sep 1.5 W Priority Health Grand Cycling Classic p/b Spectrum Health, Grand Rapids MI
13 Sep ??
 1.5 W Priority Health Ann Arbor Cycling Classic p/b Saint Joseph Mercy Medical System, Ann Arbor MI

*: Women’s races are also on the UCI International Calendar
Italics: Races in jeopardy

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2 Responses to “Sponsorship issues puts NRC races in jeopardy; 1 race canceled”

  1. norcalcyclingnews.com

    21. Jan, 2009

    USA Cycling … killing cycling promotion in the US, one poor choice at a time.

  2. Anonymous

    21. Jan, 2009

    i also think that the oregon race has been reduced and moved… boo