DANDELION FESTIVAL GRAND PRIX ADDED TO NATIONAL ROAD CALENDAR
Criterium and road race to attract top Canadian cycling teams
(Kemptville, ON– May 24, 2012) The Dandelion Festival and the Municipality of North Grenville are pleased to announce the 2012 edition of the Dandelion Festival Grand Prix Race Weekend.
The Dandelion Festival, which takes place in Kemptville, Ontarioon May 25-27, will feature two cycling events this year. A Pro/Am criterium for men and women on Saturday May 26th, and a Citizens Race as well as a Pro/Am road race on Sunday May 27th.
In partnership with eQuinelle Homes, one ofEastern Ontario’s leading lifestyle community developers, and the Cyclery Ottawa’s premier bike shop, the eQuinelle Grand Prix Criterium will take place in the afternoon and early evening on Saturday May 26th.
Kid races will take place from 3pm to 4pm and then the real action will begin full gas.
We are proud to announce that the Elite men’s and women’s criterium’s are the newest addition to the Canadian National Road Calendar, The best road racers in the country will compete for a cash purse of over $7500.00 in front of close to 3000 festival spectators.
Confirmed teams to date are Ekoï.com/Gaspésien Continental Pro cycling team, Team Spirit/ Cannondale, Real Deal Racing/La Bicicletta, Nine2FivePro.com, Ride with Rendall, Jet Fuel, Octto Cervelo, and the Steven’s elite team to mention a few.
Some ofCanada’s best women’s teams including the Stevens Women’s Pro cycling team and Infinit Nutrition/CyclePower will be present at the start line as well.
For those that are racing, Kemptville’s great espresso bar Geronimo is located on the course for the pre-race fuel up and for those that aren’t, there will be live music, festivities for the kids, and yes a beer tent lining the start finish area for those are out to watch the fast paced action!
Registration is now open for the criterium at www.ontariocyling.org.
Starting at 9am Sunday morning the 27th of May there will be a citizen’s road race near Oxford Mills Ontario. It will feature a beginner’s race, and intermediate race as well as a women’s race, for those who wish to compete on the 17.1-km closed to traffic winding road course.
Then at 12pm, a 102.6km Pro/Am women’s race open to elite women, and a 171-km Pro/Am men’s race open to elite and M1 men’s teams will light up the same traffic-free course competing for over $3000.
There will be a BBQ and refreshments for athletes and spectators as well as a picnic area near the start finish area for those to sit and enjoy the race.
For those teams of 4-8 riders that are interested in competing in the eQuinelle Grand Prix Pro/Am criterium, please contact race director Ryan Phelps at rtphelps@cogeco.ca as we would like to have rosters submitted with brief athlete biographies to help make the race announcing more exciting and informative to the spectators on day of.
Individual athletes may enter on a case by case basis. Information can be found at www.thedandelionfestival.ca and at www.ontariocycling.org.
We would also like to thank the Municipalityof North Grenvilleand the Provinceof Ontariofor their generous support in making this event possible. Accommodations are available at the Universityof Guelph Kemptville Campusresidence , cost is $59/single and $39 per person for a double room, plus taxes. Guests can call the campus office to reserve a room 613-258-8336 ext. 61234.