Hyde Park Blast & Tour de Grandview Partner to Create Midwest’s Biggest Cycling Weekend
Combined Purse of More Than $10,000 for Pro Cat 1 & 2
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio's two premier professional cycling events will team up in 2009 to create the biggest weekend of bike races in the Midwest.
Cincinnati's Hyde Park Blast and Columbus' Tour de Grandview Cycling Classic will join forces for a two-day cycling celebration on Saturday, June 27, and Sunday, June 28, that is expected to attract top professional cyclists from the U.S. and around the world.
The event, sanctioned by USA Cycling, will feature both men and women cyclists in multiple professional categories, as well as top amateur competitors. The Hyde Park Blast in Cincinnati's Hyde Park neighborhood will host Saturday's races, while Columbus suburb Grandview Heights will provide the venue for Sunday's Tour de Grandview. Both are part of USA Cycling's Ohio Cup Series.
A $13,000 prize will be awarded to the top-finishing individuals in each day's professional races, as well as bonus prizes for individuals and teams who post the best results over the two days of racing.
"The Hyde Park Blast is a unique cycling event – one of a few in the country that's held under the lights," said Hyde Park Blast organizer Greg Tankersley. "By joining forces with the Tour de Grandview, we will attract some of the world's top riders to Ohio, and allow them to compete in two top-tier events while they're here."
"By linking the state's two best cycling events in one weekend, we're making both events better and keeping riders, teams and fans from having to choose between the two," said Tour de Grandview organizer Julie Whitley. "It's more bang for everyone's buck."
Both events will have activities for spectators and cyclists alike. The Blast, celebrating its eighth year, will have a 4-Mile RRCA Championship run/walk race, a Blast for Kids, and a large evening post-race party with live music and food from restaurants on Hyde Park Square. Among the events scheduled for this year's Tour de Grandview are a Kids' Sprints competition and street party on Saturday, with food, drinks, live entertainment and children's activities, and professional cycling races on Sunday.
Event registration for the Hyde Park Blast is available at www.hpblast.com. Riders can register for the Tour de Grandview at www.tourdegrandview.com. More information about each event, as well as sponsorship and volunteer opportunities, is available by contacting Greg Tankersley (the Blast) at gregory.tankersley@voith.com and Julie Whitley (Tour de Grandview) at whitleyj@columbus.rr.com.
Founded in 2001 by Hyde Park residents and friends Chad Sims and Cheryl Koopman, the Hyde Park Blast is a day-long event that draws more than 8,000 people to Hyde Park Square to have fun, be active and raise money for a good cause – the fight against cancer. Registration and more information are available at www.hpblast.com.
The Tour de Grandview Cycling Classic attracts an international field of more than 300 professional cyclists to central Ohio each year, as well as hundreds of cycling enthusiasts and spectators. Celebrating its 17th year in 2009, the Tour is organized by the nonprofit Grandview Community Association with the support of the City of Grandview Heights, local volunteers and sponsoring businesses. More information is available at www.tourdegrandview.com.