By Heather Plucinski, Development Director, Challenge Alaska
Evergreen, CO, January 18, 2007
U.S. Handcycling announced today, a nationwide calendar of integrated cycling races, clinics, and rides featuring athletes with disabilities. The U.S. Handcycling Series aims to put athletes with and without disabilities competing and riding together at a variety of different cycling events all around the country.
"The series is an extension of our mission to put athletes of all abilities on the road, cycling together." said U.S. Handcycling President, Elizabeth Edmands. The calendar features traditional events promoted by U.S. Handcycling, and some new additions, thanks to a marketing effort to network handcycling programs around the country. "We put the word out to cycling promoters and disability sports programs that we were looking for local organizers to include athletes with disabilities within existing, prominent cycling events....and the response was very positive." says Executive Director, Ian Lawless. "The scope of the series reaches more communities and regions across the country, and includes a wide range of activities in addition to the races." said Lawless.
New events include the Redlands Classic in southern California, the Fitchburg Longsjo classic in Massachusetts, and the CSC Invitational in Arlington, VA....some of the most prestigious cycling events in America. According to Lawless, "These event promoters came to us, and that's a very good sign that handcycling is making an impact within the cycling community, which is a winning scenario for everyone involved. Many of our events are on the [USA Cycling] National Racing Calendar [NRC] and that's exactly what we were aiming for when we started this program back in 1998!"
The 2007 calendar isn't just about elite racing however, and includes a slate of events that cater to athletes of all ages and abilities. "Cycling is ideal for people with disabilities to maintain health, improve fitness, and increase morale. It is very important that events we promote offer a path toward that goal, so we will be marketing more rides and tours, as well as racing categories catering to new riders." says Edmands. Indeed, Lawless touts the many programs offered by U.S. Handcycling’s association members, such as Blaze Sports programs in Alaska and elsewhere, in addition to events that cater to the adventurous athletes such as the new Off-Road Handcycling Championships in Crested Butte, long tours like Ride the Rockies and Bicycle Tour of Colorado, and U.S. Handcycling's 267-mile flagship event, Sadler's Ultra Challenge in Alaska.
As in previous years, U.S. Handcycling will continue collaborations with its partners, including Challenge Alaska, as well as U.S. Paralympics with whom the organization will manage the World Championship Team selection trials [for all disability groups] in Denver this June. In addition, new partners such as the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) will bring-in new athletes by recruiting disabled veterans for targeted events like the CSC Invitational.
Following the Paralympic Games in Beijing, 2008, the IPC will be turning over management of disabled cycling to the UCI: the International Governing Body for [able-bodied] cycling. As a result, USA Cycling will manage disability cycling (including handcycling) beginning in January, 2009. "2007 will be a big year for us for a number of reasons, including identifying the contenders for the team headed to Beijing in 2008, as well as initiating the transition towards worldwide integrated cycling in 2009." says Lawless. "Thus far, USA Cycling has been very open-minded about working with us and we expect that trend to continue as we work towards the future!"
For details on the U.S. Handcycling Series, contact information, etc. please visit U.S. Handcycling's new website at: http://www.ushandcycling.org or call 303.459.4159.
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