2010 Hyde Park Blast Named to 2010 USA Crits Schedule
Registration Opens March 1st
(Cincinnati, OH) March 1, 2010 – The 9th Annual Hyde Park Blast Criterium races in Cincinnati, Ohio will join eleven cities across the United States as the 3rd event on the 2010 USA CRITS Schedule. The races that form the USA CRITS series have the ideals that have made criteriumracing an American legacy: challenging courses that showcase arts and entertainment districts; a large and growing base of spectators; broad community support; and strong marketing opportunities for sponsors.
"We are thrilled that the Hyde Park Blast criterium races are included in the 2010 USA CRITS series," said Greg Tankersley, coordinator of the criterium races for the Blast. "The Blast cycling races have grown dramatically and draw cyclists from around the world and the U.S. as well as spectators from throughout Cincinnati. 2009 was a banner year for the Blast and we're planning for an even bigger and better 2010."
The USA CRITS Series was developed to feature amateur and professional cyclists and offer venues, teams and riders the ability to excel in a unique discipline of cycling. Because criteriums are historically run on short laps through city streets, they offer spectators the opportunity to watch Olympians, world and national champions up-close as they ride at top speed for up to two hours. This has made the criterium format the most spectator-friendly form of cycling. When staged according to time-honored traditions, these races often draw more than 30,000 fans per event.
Several teams and riders from around the United States have committed to the USA CRITS series: Men's teams: Team Mountain Khakis (Wyoming), Team Jamis/Sutter Home (California), Bahati Foundation (California), Kelly Benefit Strategies (Minnesota), Team Type 1 (Georgia), Richmond Pro Cycling (Virginia), CRCA / Foundation , Team Hotel San Jose (Texas), Panther/RGF Cycling (Ohio), Panther/Competitive Cyclist and Texas Roadhouse (Kentucky). Women’s teams: Vanderkitten (California) and Team Type 1 (Georgia).
The 2009 Hyde Park Blast Criterium races tripled the field with more than 300 cyclists participating. Riders from teams around the globe participated in the race and cyclists from ten different states rode in the most competitive bicycle race to hit Cincinnati in over ten years with large crowds drawn to the action.
The Blast is one of Cincinnati's largest neighborhood events and will include a 4-mile morning run/walk, kids race, criterium races and Block Party with music by the Rusty Griswold’s in the evening. More information is available at www.hpblast.org.
Proceeds from the 2010 Hyde Park Blast will be given to The Wellness Community and CancerFree Kids.
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The 2010 USA Crits Series will feature: Athens Twilight (Athens, Ga.), Giro d' Grafton (Grafton, Wisc.), Hyde Park Blast (Cincinnati, Ohio), Austin Downtown Criterium (Austin, Txas), Iron HIll Twilight Criterium(West Chester, Penn.), Capital Criterium (Washington, D.C.), Boise Twilight Criterium (Boise, Idaho), Presbyterian Hospital Criterium (Charlotte, N.C.), Chris Thater Memorial (Binghamton, N.Y.), TX Tough (Dallas, Texas) and USA CRITS Finals (Las Vegas, Nev.). www.usacrits.com