Tour de France Veterans Headline Thompson Bucks County Classic
Races offer rare chance to see cycling's stars up close
Doylestown, Pennsylvania - Spectators at the Thompson Bucks County Classic, a stop on the prestigious USA Cycling Pro Road Tour, will have the chance to see veterans of professional cycling's greatest race, the Tour de France, up close and personal on Sunday, Sept. 11.
Past Tour de France riders Chris Horner and Danny Pate of the United States and Janier Acevedo of Colombia are among those expected to compete in the 61-mile men's professional criterium that concludes an exciting day of high speed action in historic Downtown Doylestown.
"Between the packed streets, the house parties along the course and all the top-notch talent, this will be one of the finest days of bicycle racing in the United States," said race director John Eustice. "The Doylestown community annually turns out in force and we expect even bigger crowds this year, especially coming off the excitement of the Olympics."
Horner has competed in the Tour de France seven times and is one of only three Americans to have won a Grand Tour - one of cycling's three-week races - as champion of the Vuelta a España in 2013. Pate has raced the Tour de France four times while competing for some of the world's top-ranked teams, including Team Sky and HTC-Highroad. Acevedo was champion of the UCI America Tour in 2013 and competed in the Tour de France in 2014.
The 14th edition of the Thompson Bucks County Classic will feature five races, live entertainment, VIP tents and an awards ceremony. It is run in conjunction with the annual Doylestown Arts Festival, which offers a selection of 160 juried artists, five stages of live music, two food courts and live demonstrations. Both events are free to the public and free parking is available at the County Parking Garage, County VIP Lot, and Fanny Chapman. The Doylestown Dart shuttle will provide transportation to and from the Garage and Fanny Chapman for convenience.
"The combination of the two events - combined with the Reading 120 the day before - makes this a perfect event for people of all ages," Eustice said. "Fans can see Tour de France riders in a perfect spectator event without having to go all the way to Europe."
Recreational cyclists will get the exciting day rolling with the Cyclosportif, a beautiful and challenging ride through historic Bucks County. Beginning at 8:30 a.m., cyclists can choose from two routes of either 31 or 60 miles. What follows is the amateur men's criterium (60-minutes) at 9:30 a.m., children's races at 10:45 a.m., the "Lenape Scorcher" - a race featuring high wheel bikes that rose to popularity in the late 1800s - then the big show, Doylestown Health Pro Women at 11:45 a.m., followed by the Thompson Pro Men at 1:10 p.m.
The Thompson Criterium of Doylestown will be live streamed. Complete details about the spectacular day of racing can be found on the official website, buckscountyclassic.com.
The race was founded in 2003 by Manhattan-based Championship Cycling, Inc., who own and manage the event. The Thompson Bucks County Classic is presented by The Thompson Organization family of automotive dealers, Lexus, Doylestown Health, Eastburn & Gray, Delaware Valley University and Penn Valley Constructors.
About The Thompson Organization:
In business since 1969, The Thompson Organization includes Thompson Toyota, Scion, Lexus, Maserati and BMW and Thompson Rent A Car, located at Routes 313 and 611 in Doylestown, as well as the Thompson Detail Center located on N. Broad Street in Doylestown, and the Thompson Collision Center located on Route 611 in Plumsteadville. For more information on the Thompson family of automotive dealerships, please visit www.1800Thompson.com.
About Lexus:
Lexus launched in 1989 with a commitment to the Pursuit of Perfection. In its ongoing pursuit of innovation, Lexus is pushing the boundaries of technology and craftsmanship. The exciting new Lexus lineup showcases the brand's commitment to bold and dynamic design, creating a signature look and feel for the luxury brand. The combination of "aggressive elegance" and a more powerful road presence make Lexus vehicles more alluring than ever. Visit www.Lexus.com.
About Doylestown Health:
Doylestown Hospital is the flagship of the Doylestown Health system, a connected system of inpatient, outpatient and community services. Doylestown Hospital is nationally and regionally recognized for high quality and innovation. The Hospital has 232 beds and a Medical Staff of more than 425 physicians offering comprehensive healthcare services from childbirth to end-of-life care. For more information: www.dh.org.
About Eastburn & Gray:
The tradition of excellence at the law firm of Eastburn & Gray, P.C. began over 130 years ago and continues today. With law offices in Doylestown, Bucks County and Blue Bell, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania our experienced attorneys provide high quality legal services throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. As a full service firm, Eastburn & Gray attorneys practice in many diverse areas of the law, enabling us to effectively meet the needs of all clients.
About the USA Cycling Pro Road Tour:
The USA Cycling Pro Road Tour (PRT) showcases the premier domestic road calendar events in the U.S., including criteriums, road races, stage races and omniums. Over six months and spanning from coast to coast, the PRT will include overall individual and team rankings for men and women, crowning PRT Champions following the 26-event calendar. The Pro Road Tour features the nation¹s top Pro-Am road race events, boasts a total prize purse of more than one million dollars and is open to both professional and amateur cyclists.
About Championship Cycling, Inc.:
Championship Cycling creates and implements international bicycle races and the television productions of them. We specialize in UCI and USA Cycling Pro Road Tour races, ones that require the highest levels of technical expertise and experience.
