Press Release
NRC SUNNY KING CRITERIUM ANNOUNCES TEAMS FOR 2008
March 15, 2008
ANNISTON, AL - The Sunny King Criterium, a USA Cycling NRC event, has announced the list of Pro Men and Pro Women US teams that will race in the May 3, Anniston, Alabama event. Amateur racers will compete throughout the day, with Pro races taking place in the late evening under the streetlights of downtown.
Historically NASCAR country with the Talladega SuperSpeedway in its back yard, Anniston streets are packed with more than 5000 fans who line the race course. The peloton is welcomed with fans beating the fencing barriers along the finishing straight creating a loud roar as racers compete for over $25,000. Fans also enjoy live TV coverage of the races on the giant JumboTron located near the Finish area, complete with comfortable seating and slow motion replays from 5 cameras along the race course.
The Sunny King Criterium is the headline event for the larger Noble Street Festival, a celebration of cycling, local cuisine, art, and the outdoors in historic downtown Anniston. More than 15 local restaurants serve from tents in the closed downtown streets in the Red Diamond Restaurant Tour, and children enjoy the McWane KidZone activities - complete with the Talladega SuperSpeedway NASCAR Expo and Star Wars characters cruising around the festival. The Mellow Mushroom Mad Dash is a one lap running sprint for cash around the criterium race course and Bike pARTs is an exhibit of original sculpture created from recycled bike parts open to all who wish to enter. Top entrants receive cash awards.
The Quilters of Gee's Bend will headline art activities adjacent to the race course. This exhibition as been presented at more than a dozen major museums, including Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, and has been featured in media outlets, such as Newsweek, NPR, CBS News Sunday Morning, House and Garden, and Oprah's O Magazine to name a few.
The Sunny King Criteirum and surrounding festival has been designated a "Top 10 Event" in the State of Alabama by the Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Travel and has been featured in numerous magazines and publications. The event is produced by the Northeast Alabama Bicycle Club and benefits Relay for Life, an American Cancer Society fund-raiser, by donating racer entry fees to this cause. $30,000 has been donated over the past three years. Visit www.sunnykingcriterium.com.
Pro Men Teams
Bissell Pro Cycling Team
Colavita Olive Oil/Sutter Home Pro Cycling Team
DLP Racing
Health Net Pro Cycling Team
Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team
Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast Pro Cycling Team
Rite Aid Pro Cycling Team
Rock Racing
Successfulliving
TIME Pro Cycling
Team Type 1
Toyota United Pro Cycling Team
Pro Women Teams
Aaron's Womens Pro Cycling>
Cheerwine Pro Cycling
Colavita Olive Oil/Suttter Home/Cooking Light Pro Cycling
Udderly Smooth Pro Cycling
ValueAct Capital Cycling Team