Ride the Breakaway Challenge with the Breakaway-UBS Elite Masters Racing Team

Elite masters cycling team challenges California cyclists to ‘ride and raise’
 for charity during the Amgen Tour of California  

2/19/11 – For the 3rd consecutive year, members of the Breakaway-UBS Elite Masters Racing Team (formerly Amgen-UBS) will be riding stages of the Amgen Tour of California to help promote awareness and raise funds for the Breakaway from Cancer® initiative. Breakaway from Cancer® is a complimentary component to Amgen's sponsorship of the Amgen Tour of California to increase awareness of the important resources available to cancer patients, from prevention to education, and patient care to advocacy and support.
 
To support this cause, the Breakaway-UBS squad is reaching out to other California cyclists to ‘share a stage’ while getting in some great miles during the tour.  As in the past, riders will begin the stage route prior to the official stage to ensure arrival at the finishing city in advance of the race. This year, participating riders will also enjoy a VIP finish line hospitality suite serving food and beverage while providing live TV feed of the approaching race. Rolling support is provided for each ride by Mazda team support vehicles. The Breakaway-UBS team members will also be aboard team issued Specialized bikes during the week’s 800 plus miles.

 
Cyclists ride the same stages as the Amgen Tour of California riders during the
Breakaway Challenge and help raise money for the Breakaway from Cancer® initiative.
Photo by Arlene Corona

"This is a great way for California's cycling community to get in some quality training while supporting Breakaway from Cancer, an important component to the Amgen Tour of California", says Malcolm Hill, member of Breakaway-UBS. "Our racing team is part of the larger Amgen Cycling Club whose mission includes raising funds for our sponsor charities. We are challenging riders to become part of the highest profile cycling event in the U.S. by participating in one or more of our stage awareness rides."
 
Riders select which stage(s) they wish to participate. “The stage rides are not a race but we encourage participation limited to stronger riders to help keep the group together”, says Hill.  All funds raised go directly to the Breakaway partners”.  A list of riders and teams participating in the Breakaway from Cancer awareness rides for each stage will be announced prior to the Amgen Tour of California. Also note: this event is an officially supported event by AEG and the Amgen Tour of California.
 
More information on the Breakaway Challenge, please visit bfc-ubs.org/breakaway.