(Altoona, PA) The International Tour de ‘Toona will continue to be the continental US anchor leg of an international multi-race series, race and government officials announced today. Tour de ‘Toona 2005 is scheduled for July 24-31 in various venues in Blair, Bedford and Cambria counties.
Local race and civic officials today announced The International Tour de ‘Toona’s continued affiliation with The Prestige Tour. The Prestige is a four-race series for women’s teams that will include three U.S. races and a series finale in Bermuda. The Tour de ‘Toona is the U.S. anchor of the series, as the final U.S. event before the climax at the CDP Bermuda Grand Prix in late September.
“The International Tour de’Toona is elated to continue our participation in this series, not only for its appeal to participants, but also because it will increase its $4 million impact on the local economy,” noted Race Promoter Rick Geist. “Along with our rating as the top stage race in the US for both men and women, this continued affiliation will help attract the top riders and teams, and their fans. That can only mean even more tourist dollars will be attracted to the region, and will help cement the Tour’s place as Blair County’s top, on-going tourist dollar attracter.”
The Prestige Tour will also increase positive recognition of Altoona and Blair County regionally, nationally and internationally, explained Geist. That, he said, will also boost the economic impact of the local race as well as its ability to showcase Altoona and Blair County.
“The quality of the teams involved in The Prestige series is absolutely the finest in women’s cycling,” Geist noted. “Each has their own following of enthusiasts who travel to see them race. For local spectators, it’s a chance to see world-class athletes of a caliber they would normally see only on broadcast network television or international cable sports networks, up close and personal. In addition, The International Tour de ‘Toona’s participation means cycling enthusiasts – who as a group enjoy higher incomes and professional achievement and attainment – will have another indicator that Altoona and Blair County is a progressive community with a great quality of life.”
“This is a great example of how events that directly generate tourism attraction can boost the local economy,” Blair County Commissioner John Eichelberger said last year when the Tour’s affiliation with the Prestige series was first announced. “It is a demonstrable success story that is evident throughout Blair County every year. When events or attractions consistently exhibit this kind of accomplishment that shows off Blair County and Blair Countians in such a very favorable way, across the nation and around the world, they deserve support of every possible kind from every group that claims to support tourism as a booster of our economy.”
This year’s edition of The International Tour de ‘Toona is made possible by the efforts and contributions of dozens of cash sponsors and more than 1,000 community volunteers. Updated information is posted as it becomes available at http://www.tourdetoona.com.
2005 Women’s Prestige Cycling Series
Organizers of the Women’s Prestige Cycling Series have released the 2005 Series calendar. After a successful first year in 2004, the calendar will remain the same in 2005:
Mar 31 – Ap 3 PoolGel Redlands Bicycle Classic
June 8 – 12 Nature Valley Grand Prix
July 25 – 31 International Tour de ‘Toona
Sept 22 – 25 CD&P Bermuda Grand Prix
The CD&P Bermuda Grand Prix will again be a prize for the teams. The top ten teams following the International Tour de Toona will receive housing and a generous travel subsidy to attend this very popular event.
The Series’ individual title will be up for grabs in 2005. Lyne Bessette, who won in 2004, appears to be out of the picture, due to a 2005 program that includes mountain bike racing and racing for a number of different road teams. Runner up Katrina Grove has retired from the sport, leaving third-place finisher Susan Palmer-Komar (Colavita/Cooking Light) as the highest placed rider returning to the Series. However, only 30 points separated third through sixth in 2004, which should make for a much tighter race in 2005.
