Nissan Becomes Co-Title Sponsor of RADIOSHACK NISSAN TREK Professional Cycling Team
Nissan North America announced an agreement with LEOPARD s.a. and CSE Pro Cycling, LLC to become co-title sponsor of the professional cycling team that will be racing globally as part of the World Tour.
RADIOSHACK NISSAN TREK consists of 30 professional riders from around the world, including Andy and Frank Schleck, Fabian Cancellara, Andreas Kloden, plus Americans Chris Horner, Matthew Busche and Ben King. The team will compete in an extensive schedule of professional cycling races worldwide in 2012, including the Tour de France, the Tour of California and the USA Pro Cycling Challenge in Colorado.
“We built a solid foundation for Nissan through our cycling partnership with the team the past two seasons and are ready to take it to the next level now as one of the title sponsors of RADIOSHACK NISSAN TREK,” said Brian Carolin, senior vice president, Nissan North America. “Our promotional activities tied to major cycling events such as the Tour of California and the Tour de France allows us to connect with millions of fans around the world. We plan to use these events to launch many exciting products here in the United States and around the globe in 2012.” Read more
Bike Week 2010 With Gocycle
Team Green Britain’s Bike Week is underway and is showing the nation that cycling is not only good for the environment, your health and your wallet, but is a lot of fun, too. Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, a commuter or a fair weather cyclist, the Gocycle electric bicycle is the easiest way to enjoy the ride.
To watch Gocycle talk about the nation falling back in love with cycling, please visit YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIz21uL6hi4).
Gocycle is the first ever two-wheeler with a frame and wheels moulded from magnesium alloy, making it not only super light but extremely tough – perfect for urban cyclists who ride several times a week. It seems there are plenty of those: statistics show that we’re currently experiencing a 17-year high in the number of cyclists on the roads, with 42% of those being commuters. With commuting and congestion charges still prohibitively high for some, cycling is a great way to save money.
With electric power at the touch of a button, Gocycle is not only great for anyone who doesn’t want to arrive at the office hot and sweaty, but is also perfect for beginner cyclists who are gradually building up their stamina. Read more
Il Giro d’Italia, streamed Live on the iPhone across the Akamai HD Network
Cycling enthusiasts can view the event live on their iPhone as well as online via Akamai HD for Adobe Flash from May 8th – 30th
Akamai Technologies announced that the 93rd edition of Il Giro d’Italia – a leading cycle race in Italy and one of the most popular in the world – is being streamed globally, live across the Akamai HD Network. The Akamai HD Network will enable viewers to follow Il Giro d’Italia live to their iPhone as well as on the La Gazzetta dello Sport website, the leading daily sport newspaper in Italy and organizer of “Il Giro d’Italia”.
In order to offer race fans the chance to view Il Giro d’Italia from anywhere in the world while offering a top quality online experience with no waiting times or interruptions, La Gazzetta dello Sport is relying on the Akamai HD Network to support its live streaming. . The race will be broadcasted live daily from approximately 8 am – 11 am Eastern Standard Time. The Akamai HD Network is designed to support live high quality video delivery to the iPhone through adaptive bitrate streaming – a feature that automatically adapts to a user’s fluctuating Internet conditions to enable smooth playback and improved viewing experiences. As such, all of the 120,000 iPhone users who have already downloaded the GazzettadelloSport.it application will have access to the live event on the go. Read more
Bicyclists will pedal 850 Miles across Texas in the Rise Across Texas Challenge
Sixteen bicyclists will set off from the Texas-Louisiana border and pedal 850 miles, traveling for two weeks toward their destination of far West Texas in the Rise Across Texas Challenge.
Beginning at the Louisiana border in Orange, the Rise Across Texas Challenge cyclists will bike an average of 65 miles a day for 15 days, finishing in Presidio. Tour stops include Kountze, Montgomery, Brenham, Bastrop, Austin, Wimberley, Kerrville, Leakey, Brackettville, Del Rio, Sanderson, Marathon, and Marfa. The cyclists will finish their journey on March 19.
Motivated by the physical challenge and the desire to see Texas from the seat of a bike, the cyclists are driven even more by the mission of the ride: to raise funds for the nonprofit Rise Schools of Texas.
Steve Hicks, owner and executive chairman of Capstar Partners in Austin, conceived of the Rise Across Texas Challenge as a philanthropic way to celebrate his 60th birthday in February 2010. The Rise Schools of Texas, the beneficiary of the Challenge, provide early childhood education services to children with special needs as well as their typically developing peers. Rise Schools of Texas are located in Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas, and Houston.
Lance Armstrong is the honorary captain of the Rise Across Texas Challenge and Mack Brown and Gene Stallings are honorary coaches.
Funds raised will support the important therapeutic and educational services offered at the Rise Schools, including physical, occupational, speech, and music therapies.
Event sponsors include DMX, Harden Healthcare, LIVESTRONG, Mellow Johnny’s, Pedal Hard and TEXAS MONTHLY. Trek Travel is the official bike tour operator.
For more information on the Rise Across Texas Challenge, visit riseacrosstexas.org.
30th Anniversary Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon
Random Lottery To Open December 1, 2009
The Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon will celebrate its 30th year as one of the premier triathlons in the world on Sunday, May 2, 2010. For 30 years, this legendary race has attracted professional and amateur athletes from around the world with its challenging course including the infamous swim from Alcatraz Island to the shore, the hilly bike ride and grueling run through San Francisco. The world’s leading sports, entertainment and media company IMG Worldwide once again promises a stellar race ideal for athletes and spectators alike.
“The Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon is my favorite race,” said Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon Three-Time Winner and Professional Triathlete Andy Potts. “IMG puts on a first class race that attracts top athletes from around the world and takes place on a truly unique course only made possible in a great city like San Francisco. I look forward to participating in the 30th Annual Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon and being a part of its ongoing history.”
Similar to the world-renowned Kona Ironman race, the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon is one of the hardest triathlons to get into and one of only a few triathlons to be nationally televised. Interested participants can qualify to participate by placing in one of the Escape TO Alcatraz Triathlon Series races: Triathlon de Gerardmer France, September 5, 2009; The Triathlon at Pacific Grove, September 11-13, 2009; Jarden Westchester Triathlon, September 29, 2009; San Diego Triathlon, March 20-21, 2010; and GateWay to the Bay, April 10-11, 2010, or by entering the random lottery beginning on December 1, 2009. Due to the race’s extreme popularity, the lottery fills up quickly, with thousands of hopeful participants attempting to secure one of the few coveted spots. Additionally, top men and women from the previous Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon automatically qualify for the race.
“From the London Triathlon – the world’s largest, to the brand new Abu Dhabi International Triathlon, The Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon is one of nearly a dozen renowned triathlons owned and produced by IMG,” said IMG’s Senior Vice President James Leitz. “IMG is dedicated to the sport of Triathlon and developing world class experiences for athletes around the world.”
Featuring a 1.5 mile swim from Alcatraz Island to the shore, an 18-mile bike and an 8-mile run through San Francisco, this race is considered one of the most difficult triathlons in the world. More than 2,000 amateur and professional athletes from dozens of countries will attempt to conquer the icy cold swim from Alcatraz Island to the shore, the hilly bike ride and grueling run through San Francisco for the 30th Annual Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon.
The 30th Anniversary Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon will take place on Sunday, May 2, 2010, at 8 a.m., in San Francisco. The public is invited to watch the race and attend the free two-day Fitness Festival & Expo Saturday and Sunday. (Please note, the date has changed from May 30, to May 2, 2010, due to a Doyle Drive construction project and Memorial Day Weekend traffic congestion.) The Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon is owned and produced by IMG Worldwide with race direction provided, in part, by Premier Event Management.
www.escapefromalcatraztriathlon.com
Source: IMG Worldwide