April 20, 2012 – (Kemptville, ON) – 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, Ontario on May 25-27, will feature two cycling events this year.

A Pro/Am men’s and women’s Criterium on Saturday, May 26th and a Citizen CCVB men’s Race as well as a Pro/Am Road race on Sunday, May 27th. In partnership with eQuinelle Homes one of Eastern 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.

Kids races will take place from three until 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.

We have confirmations from the 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 of Canada’s best womens teams including the Stevens Womens Pro cycling team, Infinit Nutrition/CyclePower  will be there 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 HERE.

Starting at 9am Sunday morning the 27th of May there will be a citizens road race near Oxford Mills Ontario. It will feature a beginners race, and intermediate race and a women’s race, for those who wish to compete on the 17.1km closed to traffic  winding road course. Yes Ontario athletes you read correctly there is No Yellow Line Rule!

Then at 12pm a 102.6km Pro/Am women’s race open to elite women, and a 171km Pro/Am men’s race open to elite and M1 men’s teams will light up the same traffic free course competing for over $3000.00 cash. Teams with greater than 4 riders in the afternoon races will be able to take advantage of having their team cars entered in the race caravan that will follow the peloton.  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 HERE.

We would also like to thank the Municipality of North Grenville and the Province of Ontario for their generous support in making this event possible. Accommodations are available at the University of Guelph Kemptville Campus residence ,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.  Hope to see you at the Race!