06/14/09

2009 Sponsored Events

Update:  Soto Classic once again a huge success!!!!!!!!!!

Four juniors earn automatic nominations for 2009 road worlds

Colorado Springs, Colo. (June 1, 2009) -- Four junior cyclists secured automatic nominations over the weekend to represent the U.S. at the 2009 UCI Road and Time Trial World Championships: Nathan Brown (Covington, Tenn./Hot Tubes Development Cycling Team), Lawson Craddock (Houston, Texas/Northwest Cycling), Kendall Ryan (Ventura, Calif./VRC NOW-MS Society), and Coryn Rivera (Tustin, Calif./Proman Hit Squad).

Hosted by Tristar Cycling Team, the May 30-31 Soto Classic in Nashville, Tenn. served as the 2009 UCI Junior Road and Time Trial World Championship U.S. trials, awarding a nomination to the male and female winners of the 17-18 road race and time trial events.

Nathan Brown and Kendall Ryan earned their bids with victories in their respective road races. The junior men covered a total of 76.75 miles with Brown completing three laps of the course ahead of second-place finisher Kevin Gottlieb (Alexandria, Va./Squadra Coppi). In the 55.31 mile women’s contest, Ryan formed a sizable gap on the rest of the field, and despite strong chasing efforts from Rivera and Jessica Prinner (South Elgin, Ill./Athletes by Design), soloed over the line for the automatic nomination.

Craddock and Rivera scored their bids by posting the fastest times in the men's and women's 17-18 time trials. Craddock pedaled the 11.11-mile men's course in 24:08 compared to the 24:26 posted by his nearest threat Charlie Avis (Palo Alto, Calif./Team Specialized Racing). Rivera clocked a 16.19 over 6.36 miles to best runner-up Jessica Prinner by about a second.

The 2009 UCI Junior Road and Time Trial World Championships are slated for August 7-15 in Moscow, Russia. USA Cycling plans to announce the official roster on July 20th.

Source :USACycling.org Accessed June 3rd, 2009

FOURTH ANNUAL EDGAR SOTO CYCLING CLASSIC RETURNS TO NASHVILLE AS THE USA CYCLING ORGANIZATION’S JUNIOR WORLD’S QUALIFIER

 NASHVILLE – Hundreds of amateur junior bicycle racers will pedal into Nashville May 30 and 31 for the fourth annual Edgar Soto Memorial Cycling Classic (ESMCC),  presented by TriStar Cycling and Gran Fondo Cycles of Nashville.

The junior category comprises any athlete from 10 to 18 years old who has a USA Cycling license to compete.  Races are grouped generally in three age groups, 10-14, 15- 16, and 17-18.  There are both boys’ and girls’ divisions and races.

 

This year’s classic will feature two events – a Time Trial and a Road Race.  The importance of this year’s race as a World Qualifier will mean that some of the nation’s best junior athletes in the 17-to-18 category will travel to Nashville to compete.  The winners of the Time Trial and Road Race will be given the opportunity to compete in Moscow, Russia, representing the United States.

“TriStar Cycling Team is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that promotes junior cycling as part of our mission, so we felt strongly that a juniors-only race was something that supported that mission while also providing a unique event,” stated Dwayne Toombs, president of TriStar Cycling.  “We looked around the country, and there appears to be only one race that is dedicated solely to juniors, without other race categories included.  Juniors are the future of the sport we love, so we wanted to give them a race focused on their athletic skills exclusively.”

The classic is named in honor of Edgar Soto, a cyclist who was killed while riding his bike in the Nashville area in 2003. The event is dedicated to promoting greater awareness about sharing the road and making it safer for cyclists and pedestrians. Mayor Karl Dean officially declared Saturday, June 14, 2008, ‘Share the Road: Make Nashville a Bicycle-Safe-Zone Day’ for last year’s race.

 Only athletes that are in the 17-to-18 category may compete in the world’s championship.

“It is quite possible that some of the athletes who will compete this May in the ESMCC

will someday be in the pro peloton racing in the grand tours like the Tour de France,” said James Soto, son of Edgar Soto.  “The athletes who place highly in these two races can compete at some of the highest levels in cycling in any national or international event.”

The Marriott Cool Springs is the official race hotel and is offering a special promotion rate to racers and their families.  A link to make reservations is available on the event’s Web site, www.sotoclassic.com

Sponsorship and volunteer opportunities are still available, and organizers are now accepting prize donations. For more information, please e-mail event organizers at nlytle@bellsouth.net or visit www.sotoclassic.com for the latest information.

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EDITOR’S NOTE

Photography from last year’s event is available at: http://www.pbase.com/jelevy/soto08.

Photographs are courtesy of Jay Levy and should be credited to him.

A high-resolution logo, designed by Industrial Strength Marketing, is available upon request.