For Immediate Release
Contact:
Mark Sommers
(202) 251-0454
mark.sommers@capitalcriterium.com
The 2009 Capital Criterium Postponed for Want of Title Sponsor
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 23, 2009) — The hard-hitting recession has claimed this year’s running of the Capital Criterium—Washington’s DC professional cycling race—scheduled for Sunday August 23, 2009.
Race Director Mark Sommers explained that “a few months ago, 2008 race title sponsor ING DIRECT advised us that, like all financial institutions, its discretionary sports sponsorship spending had been severely cut. And while we recently located a promising new title sponsor, that sponsor ultimately concluded that inadequate time was left before the race to leverage and activate it in the manner needed to attain its sponsorship goals. This, of course, is a great disappointment, but obviously bodes well for next year and beyond for this marquee race. However, as things stand right now, unless a new title sponsor immediately steps up, we do not believe the 2009 event can be promoted at the quality levels that both we and the City envision for the long-term success of this downtown DC professional sports event.”
DC Mayor Adrian Fenty added that, “Last year’s race was a tremendous success and we remain committed to bringing this event back to the District next year on grander scale.”
The Capital Criterium course runs along the Presidential Inauguration route on Pennsylvania Avenue (America’s Main Street), mostly recently walked by President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. The course features the iconic US Capitol as its backdrop, providing lap-after-lap views of many world-renown buildings and monuments.
The 2008 ING DIRECT Capital Criterium presented by CycleLife was held on September 21, 2008 and won by Hilton Clarke, depicted below. That day, 15,000+ spectators lined the course to watch an international field of professional riders, including recent Tour de France competitors and 2008 Olympians, race the streets of DC.
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“This first year event had tremendous support from the community and we’re sad to see it go for 2009,” commented USA Cycling National Events Manager Tom Vinson. “With renewed support from the DC Mayor’s Office for 2010, we look forward to a bigger, stronger event next season.”
“This is one of the world’s most attractive race venues,” said Sommers. “No better place exists for any company or organization to advance social or private agendas, seek medical or social research grants and funding, or simply promote public interests and awareness than right in front of the US Capitol.”
The Capital Criterium was part of this year’s final races on the USA Cycling’s National Race Calendar, http://www.usacycling.org/forms/nrc/2009NRCCalendar.pdf, and the fourth of the eight race national USA Crit Series, http://usacrits.com/site/. More information on last year’s race can be found at http://www.capitalcriterium.com.
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The 2009 Capital Criterium Postponed for Want of Title Sponsor
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 23, 2009) — The hard-hitting recession has claimed this year’s running of the Capital Criterium—Washington’s DC professional cycling race—scheduled for Sunday August 23, 2009.
Race Director Mark Sommers explained that “a few months ago, 2008 race title sponsor ING DIRECT advised us that, like all financial institutions, its discretionary sports sponsorship spending had been severely cut. And while we recently located a promising new title sponsor, that sponsor ultimately concluded that inadequate time was left before the race to leverage and activate it in the manner needed to attain its sponsorship goals.
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January 11, 2010 3:07 pm | 
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USA CRITS has been developed to feature these riders and to offer venues, teams and riders the ability to excel in a unique discipline of cycling. Because criteriums are historically run on short laps through city streets, they offer spectators the opportunity to watch Olympians, world and national champions up-close as they ride at top speed for up to two hours. This has made the criterium format the most spectator-friendly form of cycling. When staged according to time-honored traditions, these races often draw more than 30,000 fans per event.
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