Chevron Manhattan Beach GP this Sunday, Rock Racing Sponsors
6/23/08 -The 47th Annual Chevron Manhattan Beach Grand Prix will be held on Sunday, June 29, 2008, race officials have announced. Record crowds are anticipated to support over 1,000 racers battling for $26,500 in prize money and the coveted winners' jerseys. Racing action begins at 7 a.m. at Live Oak Park, just steps from the ocean in Manhattan Beach.
Joining Chevron for this year’s race as a presenting sponsor is Rock Racing. Known for its notable roster including two former world champions, two Olympic gold medalists, four Tour de France stage winners and eight current and former national champions, the 2008 Rock Racing team will bring a new flair to the Chevron Manhattan Beach Grand Prix. The team is led by Tyler Hamilton, Oscar Sevilla, Fred Rodriguez, Víctor Hugo Peña, Santiago Botero, and last year’s Manhattan Beach Grand Prix winner Rahsaan Bahati.
“We are excited about the addition of Rock Racing as the presenting sponsor of the Grand Prix and are proud that this race has achieved global prominence on the professional racing circuit,” said Rod Spackman, of Chevron, the event’s title sponsor for the past 17 years.
Other elite cyclists in the field will include Ivan Dominguez, Dominique Rollin, Henk Vogels and Ivan Stevic with Toyota-United Cycling, and Rory Sutherland with Health-Net.
"Rahsaan Bahati’s victory last year was a great moment for Rock Racing and we are proud to come back this year as a presenting sponsor,” said Team Owner Michael Ball. “The Manhattan Beach Grand Prix has been a fixture on the U.S. domestic racing scene for almost a half-century and we want to ensure the tradition continues for many more years to come.”
Thousands of cycling fans will join the festivities and witness the two main events: the Women’s Pro Race beginning at 11:15 a.m. and the Men’s Pro Race at 1:10 p.m. The Community Races will begin at 3:00 p.m. and will offer children between the ages of two and 14 the opportunity to hop on their bicycles, or tricycles, and compete for various medals. Each participating child will receive an official race number, t-shirt and medal.
“We can expect an action-packed day of world-class racing,” said Spackman. “The Chevron Manhattan Beach Grand Prix has helped cultivate a new generation of cycling enthusiast in Southern California. Professional bicycle racing is exploding in popularity, and we are honored that the South Bay and this event continue to serve as its base of support. We’re looking forward to one of the most competitive fields this race has ever seen.”
In its history, the Grand Prix has hosted some of the world’s top cyclists, including several U.S. Olympic and World Champions as well as Tour de France competitors. The race’s attraction is due to its reputation as a challenging and technical criterion. Shaped like a slightly bent “paperclip,” the course features two long straight-aways and two sweeping 180-degree turns. Riders face a headwind on the downward slope, which hinders breakaways. Team tactics are a must and setting up for the final turn is essential to win the event.
Chevron has invited several local dignitaries, including Assemblyman Ted Lieu (District 53), to help kick-off the day’s festivities.
IBN Sports is webcasting the women’s and men’s pro races for fans who cannot attend in person. Please visit IBNSports.com to access the online streaming video. For more information on the 47th Annual Chevron Manhattan Beach Grand Prix, please visit www.mbgp.com.
About the Chevron Manhattan Beach Grand Prix
The 1.4-mile course circles clockwise around Live Oak Park, up Valley Drive and down Ardmore, from 15th Street to Pacific Avenue. Race fans will line the streets to cheer on the riders as their endurance is worn away with each uphill climb. The Chevron Manhattan Beach Grand Prix is one of the premiere competitions on the USA Cycling (USAC) National Race Calendar.
Manhattan Beach cyclist Ted Ernst founded the event in 1962 and it has now become one of America’s oldest bike races. He was also a founding member of the South Bay Wheelmen which, along with the Lions Club of Manhattan Beach, organizes and provides dozens of volunteers for the race. Ernst, the Wheelmen and Lion’s Club members remain a driving force behind the event.
The 2008 Manhattan Beach Grand Prix will mark Chevron’s 17th year as title sponsor, continuing the company’s commitment to community service. Proceeds from the race will support Lion’s Club programs for children and the elderly, including scholarships for local Mira Costa High School Students.
“The Chevron Manhattan Beach Grand Prix makes a significant impact on the Lion’s Club every year,” said Bob Jones, who represents the Lion’s Club and serves as the Grand Prix’s operations director. “We encourage people to come out and support this event, and experience the thrill of world-class cycling. It’s for a great cause and watching live racing is as exciting as it gets.”
About Rock Racing
Rock Racing is an eclectic team of powerful, world-class athletes who are redefining professional cycling through incredible teamwork and a flamboyant flair never before seen in the pro peloton. Created in 2007 and sponsored by Rock & Republic CEO and Creative Director Michael Ball, the team rapidly became a fan favorite through its thrilling racing action, cunning tactics and winning tradition. It also redefined the look of the pro cycling team uniform with jerseys and shorts that seemingly changed from race to race. In 2008, Rock Racing hits the road with a singular vision: to be the No. 1 cycling team in the United States. The team competes in UCI and USA Cycling-sanctioned races on both the road and track, and some of its members will be representing the United States at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Additionally, Rock Racing sponsors successful women’s and junior racing teams that are making headlines on a local level and paving the way for a bright future for the sport.
