City of Rochester
News Release
(Monday, May 23, 2016) - Mayor Lovely Warren announced today that the Twilight Criterium bicycle race event will return to Rochester for the second consecutive year this August. This year, the event will include a special event and partnership with Golisano Children's Hospital.
"I am excited that Rochester will once again host the Twilight Criterium," said Mayor Warren. "This world class event will shine an international spotlight on Rochester's growing bicycle-friendly culture, which is becoming increasingly attractive to employers. That will help us attract jobs, which leads to safer streets and better schools. I want to thank Scott Page and his team for all their efforts to bring this event back to Rochester."
Scott Page, the race's organizer, is also the owner of Full Moon Vista Bike and Sport, a business that has been based in the city for 11 years. It is now located in the South Wedge.
"The Rochester Twilight Criterium is extremely fortunate to have community supporters like the City of Rochester, Mayor Lovely Warren, the Golisano Children's Hospital and the Strong National Museum of Play," said Scott Page, Executive Director of the Twilight Criterium. "We expect HUGE crowds this year as we are the only US National professional race on our weekend in August!"
The event will be held on August 13 and is expected to draw 25,000 spectators from the northeast and Canada, and generate $1.2 million in economic impact for the region.
The Rochester Twilight Criterium was first held Downtown in 2004, and grew to be an international success. It ran for five consecutive years, and then returned last year.
For the first time, the event will also include a Gran Fondo to support Golisano Children's Hospital.
A Gran Fondo is a cycling tour that people can do in conjunction with a professional cycling race. The concept is to have people ride their bikes prior to the pro races, return from their 10 or 50 mile adventure, and enjoy a VIP experience in the atrium of the Blue Cross Arena. This includes a custom cycling jersey, a dinner, a 1-lap ride on the criterium course between the Women's and Men's pro races and exclusive VIP viewing of the races in the atrium of the Blue Cross Arena.
"Golisano Children's Hospital is thrilled to be a part of this world class event on the City of Rochester's calendar," said Sean Dobbin, communications coordinator for the University of Rochester Medical Center. "We strive to put patients and families at the center of all of our efforts, and as we move into Phase II of our building plan, it's wonderful to have the support of our city and community."
Criteriums are best explained as a uniquely American-style bike race. Courses are designed on city-center streets and staged on spectator-friendly course loops typically about one mile in length. The racing provides incredible lap-after-lap excitement highlighting the athletes' extraordinary bike-handling skills combined with explosive speed! Spectators can watch the fast-paced action for free at arm's length from fields comprised of top domestic and international pros at multiple places around the course.
The event has been placed on USA Cyclings National Criterium Calendar (the highest level of professional cycling in the US) and will be the only pro criterium in the United States the weekend of August 13th.
For more info, please visit www.rochestercrit.com.
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News Media: For more information, contact Press Officer Jessica Alaimo at 428-7135.