2008 Race Launch Announcement:
Pro Cycling Event Returns to Downtown Evanston

Evanston Northwestern Healthcare Grand Prix of Cycling Wows the North Shore

Evanston, IL — June 20, 2008
Building on last year’s highly successful inaugural race, Evanston, Illinois, will again host one exciting stage of the largest multi-category cycling event in the U.S.: the 17 days-long Point Premium Root Beer International Cycling Classic™. As part of "SuperWeek™" (July 11–27, 2008), Evanston Northwestern Healthcare’s ongoing support enables Evanston to bring the July 20th stage of the race to Chicago’s North Shore. Spectators can get up close to the action to watch racers zipping by at 30+ mph and negotiating tight turns along the course.

"Something great for
downtown Evanston!"
Ray Grady

“We are pleased to be the title sponsor of this stage of the Point Premium Root Beer International Cycling Classic™, the Grand Prix of Cycling,” says Ray Grady, President of Hospitals and Clinics for Evanston Northwestern Healthcare.

“Our mission is to improve and preserve human life and in order to promote that mission we like to focus on healthy lifestyles. Good health is essential to a vibrant and productive economy and community. When we can participate in events like this, it gives us an opportunity to provide information to the members of our community about wellness initiatives in our hospitals and at the same time do something great for downtown Evanston.”

“Last year’s event was gorgeous just to look at! It was the classiest affair you could have in downtown Evanston. People who came were overjoyed with what they saw. They became very enthusiastic as they watched the riders who came from around the world to race,” says Evanston Mayor Lorraine H. Morton. “We can’t say enough to Evanston Northwestern Healthcare for their support. We can’t say enough for those in the cycling industry and to all of you who brought this wonderful event to our hometown.”

"People who came were
overjoyed with what they saw."
Mayor Lorraine Morton

The Evanston race is part of the Point Premium Root Beer International Cycling Classic™ (ICC), which consists of 17 bicycle races in 17 cities (from Blue Island south of Chicago to Central Wisconsin) over 17 days in mid-July, concurrent with the renowned Tour de France.

Celebrating its 40th anniversary, the ICC attracts 165,000 spectators watching 5,500 Olympic medalists, national champions and professional cyclists from across the U.S. and more than 20 foreign countries as they compete for $125,000 in prizes. Some European teams send their athletes who are not riding in the Tour de France (where only nine members of a given team are allowed to participate).

Families, cycling enthusiasts and racers experience Evanston at its best. The race takes place on a one-mile, hour-glass-shaped course through the streets of downtown Evanston. More than 30 restaurants, bars and food vendors are located directly on the course and another 20 are within one block. Many establishments will be offering dining and cocktails al fresco throughout the day while most retail stores will be open for business (some with special promotions).

The full day of racing begins at 9:00 a.m., with pro men’s and women’s races in the late afternoon. During the one-hour intermission at 3:00 p.m., EvMark brings the West Side Winders — a rocking Austin-style alternative country band — to the stage to kick up a live dance party. In a new event added to the intermission (also starting at 3:00 p.m.), kids from three to nine years old can race their own bikes right on the course near Fountain Square in a contest sponsored by Duxler Complete Auto Care.

Paul Swinand, Jeff Holland, Ray Grady, Chris Mailing,
Peter Swinand, Mayor Lorraine H. Morton, Adam Spitulnik

"In its first year, the race became
the largest free public sporting
event on the North Shore."
Chris Mailing

“In its first year, the Evanston Northwestern Healthcare Grand Prix of Cycling became the largest free-to-the-public sporting event on the North Shore with 15,000 to 20,000 spectators cheering and banging the boards along the course. Evanston Northwestern Healthcare’s leadership in sponsoring this event is strengthened by the fact that so many business and community groups have joined in to make it such a success,” says Chris Mailing, director of the Turin Bicycle Society and Director of Operations for the event.

Other supporting organizations are:

• EvMark
• Evanston Chamber of Commerce
• Chicago North Shore Convention and Visitors’ Bureau
• Youth Organizations Umbrella (Y.O.U.)

"This fantastic event is a testament
to the community."
Dan Kelch

Dan Kelch, Chair of Chicago’s North Shore Convention and Visitors Bureau and owner of Lulu’s Dim Sum and Then Some restaurant, is proud as a small business owner to celebrate the Grand Prix of Cycling: “This fantastic event is a testament to the community that Evanston Northwestern Healthcare and all the other organizations support it so enthusiastically. I encourage all local business owners to step up and get involved in this event.”

Businesses that have become supporting sponsors are:

• Whole Foods Market
• Harris Bank
• McGaw YMCA
• Hilton Garden Inn
• The Autobarn Volkswagen
• Comcast
• The North Face
• Rotary International
• Evanston Review
• WXRT radio
• Allegra Print and Imaging
• Turin Bicycle
• The Pony Shop
• Ofischl Tees & Tanks
• Bianchi (bicycles)
• Grotto Communications, Inc.
• SRAM Corp. (bicycle components)
  
  

ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL CYCLING CLASSIC
The Point Premium Root Beer International Cycling Classic™ attracts top riders from across the United States and more than 20 foreign countries to compete in the longest-running multi-day bicycle race in the United States. Many of the world’s best riders have competed at the event including Greg LeMond, Fred Rodriguez and Lance Armstrong. The 40th annual event will take place from July 11-27, 2008, with races throughout Eastern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois. The Classic, also known by the name Superweek™, is produced by Breakaway Event Productions, LLC, and is sanctioned by the United States Cycling Federation. More information about the races is available at www.internationalcycling.com.

ABOUT EVANSTON NORTHWESTERN HEALTHCARE
Located in Chicago’s northern suburbs, Evanston Northwestern Healthcare (ENH) is an integrated healthcare system that includes Evanston, Glenbrook and Highland Park Hospitals, ENH Medical Group (comprising 65 medical offices and facilities), ENH Home Services, ENH Research Institute and ENH Foundation. Through its affiliation with Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, ENH supports extensive medical education and research. ENH is in the top 5.5 percent of all institutions that receive funding from the National Institutes of Health; among multi-specialty independent research hospitals, it ranks 10th in the nation in funding from NIH. ENH is also ranked among the top 50 hospitals in the country by U.S. News & World Report.

Press conference photos by Steve Lemieux-Jordan, Evanston Photographic Studios.