News & Events
November 27, 2006
Presbyterian Hospital Sponsors 2007 Criterium Bicycle Race
CHARLOTTE – The Queen City’s annual professional bicycle race will have a new title sponsor and a new name for 2007, and it has been sanctioned as part of a national criterium championship series, its founder announced today.
Presbyterian Hospital is the new title sponsor of the criterium format competition that is actually two races, one for men and another for women. The race will now be known as the Presbyterian Hospital Invitational Criterium, said Jim Palermo, founder of the competition, who is executive-in-residence at the Charlotte campus of Johnson & Wales University.
Presbyterian Hospital will be the title sponsor of the race for the next three years.
“Carl Armato, the chief executive at Presbyterian Hospital, appreciates our race and the important efforts to fight brain cancer that it supports in the Charlotte region,” Palermo said. “We commend Carl and Presbyterian Hospital for stepping up when we needed them.”
Proceeds from the Presbyterian Hospital Invitational Criterium benefit the Brain Tumor Fund for the Carolinas. All funds stay in the Carolinas, Palermo said, and go toward brain cancer research and patient support programs.
Palermo also announced that the Charlotte race, which will be in its fourth year, has been included on the USA National Racing Calendar and has been designated as part of the USA CRITS Championship Series. It will be among 10 courses designated to determine the best criterium riders in the country, both men and women. That competition culminates in September with the World Criterium Championships in Las Vegas, NV.
Bank of America, which was the title sponsor for the first three races, will continue to support Charlotte’s criterium as a presenting sponsor, said Palermo. “John Berry, the bank’s senior vice president for sponsorships, is a believer in our race and our cause, and we thank him for continued help from Bank of America,” Palermo added.
Palermo said he will seek another co-sponsor for the competition that will take place on Saturday, August 4, on the streets of center city Charlotte.
Palermo praised University Volvo for signing a three-year commitment to support the competition and provide the official pace car. He thanked University Volvo owner Steve McGowan and Michael Spinks, general manager.
“Our good corporate friends have helped us ensure that our race is an annual event,” Palermo said. “Because of them, our race is one of the richest and most prestigious professional cycling events in the United States.”
Total prize money will continue to be $125,000, with $100,000 for the men’s competition and $25,000 for the women.
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For More Information: Ellison Clary, (704) 344-0893, (704) 763-7290
eclary@carolina.rr.com
