New Women’s Triathlon Series Announced;
Trek Bicycle Signs as Title Sponsor

New York, NY —November 13, 2008— Trek Bicycle has signed on as title sponsor of a new women’s triathlon Series.

The Trek Women’s Triathlon Series is targeting 12 cities for 2009 with more than 25,000 entrants anticipated. The Series is aimed at breaking down barriers for women athletes by providing a fun, supportive and non-intimidating atmosphere for aspiring and experienced athletes alike.

The Series Director, Maggie Sullivan, was the Director of the Danskin Women’s Triathlon Series from 1992-2008. Sullivan has played an integral role in the building of events that have caused participation by women in the sport of triathlon to soar over the past 17 years. Together with a seasoned group of triathlon veterans, including Hall of Fame triathlete Sally Edwards, Sullivan will lead a team of talented event promotion specialists to bring life-changing experiences to women and girls across the USA. “I am very excited to launch this new Series. I am confident that we, in partnership with the team at Trek, will deliver the remarkable life changing experiences that have been experienced by so many women across the country who have participated in triathlon races,” said Sullivan.

"I've dedicated my life to encouraging women to become more physically active and to use triathlons as a means to achieve their life goals,” said Edwards, CEO of HeartZones USA and best-selling author of 22 books on triathlon and fitness training. “I am so proud to be joining this new Series, which will enable me to take these efforts to a whole new level.” Edwards will serve as the Spokeswoman for the Trek Women’s Triathlon Series. She was formerly the Spokeswoman for the Danskin Women’s Triathlon Series.

Built around the sprint distance race format (1/2-mile swim, 12-mile bike, and 3-mile run), Trek Women’s Triathlons are planned for a dozen markets across the country, with events slated for California, Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, New York Metro, North Carolina, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. Selected cities within the Series will also include "youth focused" triathlons. The first Trek Women’s Triathlon will debut in Florida in 2009.

A final 2009 schedule is expected to be announced by December 31, 2008.

For further information on the Trek Women's Triathlon Series, and/or to be added to the '09 Series mailing list, go to www.trekwomenstriathlonseries.com or call 877-221-9665 (toll free).

The Trek Women’s Triathlon Series is a property of The Xxtra Mile, LLC a New York-based company focused on promoting active lifestyles for women and girls.
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TREK Women’s Triathlon Series
Orlando Race Sunday September 6, 2009
Chicago Race Sunday July 12, 2009
Austin Race Sunday May 17, 2009
Registration Now Open!

Calling All Women Age 14+ Looking for a Life-Changing Experience!

The new TREK Women’s Triathlon Series is running in 10 cities in 2009. The Series is aimed at breaking down barriers for women athletes and is the ONLY women’s triathlon Series CREATED BY WOMEN, RUN BY WOMEN, FOR WOMEN.


Visit http://www.trekwomenstriathlonseries.com, select the race, and one of our 7 official race categories including Age Group, Mixed Age Group, Athena, Women in Uniform, Physically Challenged, Elite and Relay Team.


The entrance fee for the TREK WTS is $75.00, as the Series is respectful of the current economic climate. Also 7% (the current national unemployment rate) of each race market’s capacity will be given a complimentary entry to the Trek WTS upon evidence of unemployment. (All participants must pay $10.00 for USAT one day insurance.)

Additional: Join Hall of Fame triathlete Sally Edwards, Spokeswoman/Chief Inspiration Officer for the Trek Women’s Triathlon Series in this life-changing triathlon where every participant is a winner! Series Director Maggie Sullivan has been a major force in building participation opportunities within the sport of triathlon for women for over 19 years.

Team Survivor: The TREK Women’s Triathlon Series is an exclusive partner with team Survivor, a non-profit organization which directly supports those with a past or present cancer diagnosis. TREK WTS participants know, at the starting line, that they are personally and directly helping the woman standing next to them who has or is battling cancer.

Sponsors: TREK Women’s Triathlon Series is a property of The Xxtra Mile, LLC., a women's and girls' active lifestyle company based in New York City. Its properties currently include the TREK Women's Triathlon Series, Team Future™, a mentoring and training program for women and girls, and BRAIDS™, a think tank for women's and girls' active lifestyle initiatives. Other TREK WTS sponsors include Mass Mutual, BIC, and Jelly Belly.

For more information about the TREK Women’s Series Triathlon, please visit http://www.trekwomenstriathlonseries.com or contact:

The nation’s top cycling authority made an unprecedented move Wednesday when it awarded Bend a second major bike-racing championship.

USA Cycling has named Bend the host city for the 2009 and 2010 Junior, U23 & Elite Road National Championships. Dates for this year’s event are July 28-Aug. 2.

Six weeks ago Bend was selected by USA Cycling to host the Cyclocross National Championships, also a two-year deal. The 2009 cyclocross championships are scheduled for Dec. 10-13.

After combing the record books, USA Cycling officials stated in a news release that this is the first time in recent history that two of its national championships will be held in the same city in the same year. Walla Walla, Wash., and a group of three Seattle suburbs also bid to host the road championships.

“Bend is a top destination for both recreational and competitive cycling, and USA Cycling is excited to be bringing another national championship race to Oregon,” said Steve Johnson, CEO for USA Cycling, in a news release. “Bend’s long tradition of communitywide support and passion for cycling convinced us to award them two national championships in the same year.”

According to organizers, road nationals typically attract approximately 1,000 racers as well as 2,000 additional visitors, including family members, support staff, media and racing officials. Doug LaPlaca, president and CEO of Visit Bend who helped to bring the event to Bend, said he expects that the combined cyclocross and road national championships will generate $3.5 million in revenue for the community each year.

“We’re ecstatic … we’re thrilled,” LaPlaca said Wednesday. “Even during normal economic times, landing two national championship races in the same year would be incredible news. Considering the economic climate that surrounds us, winning these bids is even more important.”

Veteran race director Chad Sperry, who also runs the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic in Hood River, the Tour of Utah and Central Oregon’s Cascade Cycling Classic, will serve as race director for the six-day road championships in Bend.

The Junior, U23 & Elite Road National Championships crown national champions in three road cycling disciplines: criterium, time trial and road racing. Eligible to compete are elite-level men and women ages 23 and older, elite-level men and women ages 19 to 22, and boys and girls in four junior age divisions (10-12, 13-14, 15-16, 17-18).

Yet to be announced are race courses for the time trial, criterium and road race events, though Sperry said that start and finish lines would be no farther than a 15-minute drive from downtown Bend.

The road championships will begin just two days following the conclusion of the Cascade Cycling Classic, a high-profile stop on USA Cycling’s National Racing Calendar, and organizers project that many competitors and spectators will remain in Central Oregon for both events.

Bend cyclist Chrissy Ruiter, third-place finisher in the elite women’s time trial at last year’s road championships in Anaheim, Calif., said she believes running the Classic and the road nationals back to back will draw more participants — particularly those who may be operating on a tight travel budget.

“It’s actually great for women’s cycling,” said Ruiter, who races for the ValueAct Professional Women’s Cycling Team. “I think it’ll be great timing. If the time trial is on a Wednesday or Thursday, that would be enough time to be ready to go again. It’ll be super attractive for all the teams.”

Ruiter noted that competing at the road national championship was already on her 2009 racing schedule, but she added: “I would focus on this event more knowing that it’s here (in Bend).”

Sperry said Wednesday’s announcement confirms that Bend has emerged as the bike-racing capital of the U.S.

“It put the icing on the cake,” Sperry said. “There’s no other city out there that has the cycling draw and interest and clout. I’m really excited about the event, but also about showcasing the community itself.

“I call Bend the new Boulder (Colo.),” the race director continued. “For this decade, it’s the new hotbed for competitive cyclists ... for living and for racing and for training.”

Heather Clark can be reached at bulletinheather@gmail.com.