July 13, 2004 – The world’s top male professional cyclists once again take to the streets of Lower Manhattan in the 3rd annual BMC Software New York City Cycling Championship, scheduled for Sunday, August 1st, 2004 at 12:30 p.m (EST). The race is part of the five-event Pro Cycling Tour (PCT) featuring the best men and women’s cycling teams in the world, on a 1.2- mile circuit that starts and finishes at the corner of Wall and Water Streets in the financial district.

Last year, Olympic gold medalist Marty Nothstein, riding for Navigators Insurance, won the race with a time of 2:05:42, by outsprinting Victor Rapinski (Saturn) and David Clinger (Prime Alliance). Tyler Hamilton, the American cyclist who heroically captured fourth place in last year’s Tour de France despite a broken collarbone, returned from France in time to serve as the Official Starter of the 2003 race. The inaugural event in 2002 saw Saturn’s Ivan Dominquez outsprint a fast closing peloton in a race that included Lance Armstrong, back from his fourth Tour de France win.

The day’s activities begin at 7:15 a.m. with the Jr. PCT Grand Prix, a 20-mile race for males ages 18 and under. This is the second event in the 2004 Jr. PCT Grand Prix series. That event is followed at 8:30 a.m. by the women’s pro race, a 20-lap, 25-mile competition on the tight dog bone-shaped course.

The third annual Mengoni Grand Prix is scheduled for 10 a.m. with 30 amateur teams of four riders each competing in a 60-minute timed race. These elite amateurs from across the country will be vying for up to $10,000 in prize money. At 11:20 a.m., the BMC Software Bike Messenger Challenge takes place with approximately ten teams of five riders competing in a 5-lap, 10-mile race on the same course as the pros. Pitting Manhattan’s best delivery cyclists against one another, the event features messengers carrying packages using their on-the-job bikes. The day’s activities will culminate with the men’s pro race at 12:30 p.m. The 65.2-mile competition is expected to end around 3 p.m. and will be televised live on WABC-TV beginning at 12 noon. —