March 10, 2004 РFive-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong will race in Vail, Colorado at the first ever PCT Rocky Mountain Classic at Vail, announced David Chauner, president and CEO of Threshold Sports, event producers of the PCT Rocky Mountain Classic at Vail and Pro Cycling Tour (PCT). The PCT Rocky Mountain Classic at Vail will be one of the few races on American soil for Armstrong ̱ and one of the first after his unprecedented attempt at six consecutive Tour de France victories in July.
“We are delighted that Lance will be racing in this inaugural Pro Cycling Tour event in Vail. This is a fantastic opportunity for the Vail community and for cycling fans from around the U.S. to witness one of cycling's greatest champions fresh after his epic Tour de France performance,” said Chauner.
Armstrong and his U.S. Postal Service team will compete against top-rated American and international cycling teams nearly one month after the 2004 Tour de France concludes. The PCT Rocky Mountain Classic at Vail expects to attract thousands of visitors to the Vail Valley for a world-class road cycling festival that will become an annual event for the resort.
The PCT Rocky Mountain Classic at Vail is the newest stop on the Pro Cycling Tour, America's all professional cycling-race series. The festival weekend features the best men's and women's international cycling teams, competing in two days of professional road racing in the Vail Valley, Colorado, named the official resort of the 2004 Pro Cycling Tour. Some 300 professionals from over 20 nations will compete including Tour de France riders and National, World and Olympic Champions.
The PCT Rocky Mountain Classic at Vail will commence on Friday, September 3 with the “Gran Fondo”, a highly challenging 100-mile amateur road race from Denver's Invesco Stadium to Vail. Pro racing starts on Saturday, September 4, with UCI Sanctioned Road Circuit Races for pro men on a challenging course throughout Vail Valley. Sunday, September 5 features Men's and Women's pro circuit races in Vail Village.
Now in its sixth year, the PCT is the nation's only all professional road cycling series featuring world-class athletes, live television coverage and community festival events. The PCT is owned and managed by Threshold Sports LLC and is sanctioned by USA Cycling, the national governing body for cycling in the U.S. Threshold Sports is an event marketing and management firm that focuses on the commercial development of the sport of cycling and organizes elite professional bicycle races in the US. For more information, please visit www.procyclingtour.com.
The Vail Valley Chamber & Tourism Bureau, which represents over 900 businesses in North America's premier year-round resort, is working with local promoter Legacy Sports to produce the event. The VVCTB is dedicated to improving the conditions for business success by attracting visitors to the region. Vail and nearby Beaver Creek are consistently rated among the top ski mountains in the world. In the summer, spectacular biking, hiking and rafting combine with world-class golf courses, spas and fine dining to create the ultimate Rocky Mountain summer vacation destination. For more information, please visit www.visitvailvalley.com.