May 16 , 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:
John Eustice / Sparta Cycling
(917) 699-4566
jde@spartacycling.com

TEAMS ANNOUNCED FOR TOUR OF CONNECTICUT
2004 Winner Mark McCormack on Form

Waterbury, Connecticut- May 16, 2005- Defending Tour of Connecticut winner Mark McCormack of the Colavita Olive Oil/Sutter Home racing team, fresh off of a pair of victories in cycling-mad Belgium, leads an international field of challengers to his title. Ten professional and eleven amateur eight-man racing teams will contest this year's three-day event with stages in New Haven, Waterbury and Litchfield Hills/Torrington, May 20-22.

Colavita Olive Oil/Sutter Home brings international flair to aid McCormack's defense with Italian amateur star Davide Frattini, looking to make his professional name on the American Continent, and a pair of Argentine sprinters, "JJ" Haedo and Gustavo Artacho.

2003 Tour of Connecticut winner David Clinger, now sporting a full-face Maori warrior tattoo that has raised much controversy in the racing world, has returned to the US racing scene after a tough year in Europe. He is the co-leader is of the Webcor Builders Cycling Team alongside T-Mobile International winner Charles Dionne, second overall at the Tour CT last year. Webcor Builders, smarting from its non-selection to April's Tour of Georgia, is coming to the Tour CT looking for a big result.

Another powerhouse squad to watch is the New Jersey-based Navigators Insurance Cycling Team, which has always performed superbly at the Tour CT. Russian sprinter Vassily Davidenko, twice winner of the Housatonic Valley Classic stage, Jeff Louder winner of last year's grueling Waterbury stage and new professional Shawn Milne, third overall and Best Amateur in 04, promise to ignite the race. Of note as well from the Navigators, the only "Professional Continental Team" from the United States in the new UCI classification system, is Colombian climber Cesar Grajales, looking for redemption after a sub-par Tour of Georgia.

Fiordifrutta Cycling Team with white-hot amateur star Mike Dietrich leads the amateur side of the battle. Cannondale bicycle designers and team members Chris Peck and Curt Davis have moved to the other side of the barriers and now direct the team.

2002 US Professional Champion and Tour de France veteran Chann McRae has returned to the amateur ranks to captain the Weston, CT-based TARGETRAINING team. This new team is made up of experienced international riders, and is fast tracking towards pro status in 2006.

Team TIAA-CREF, a developmental racing program for young professionals, is the brainchild of Tour de France star Jonathon Vaughters. The young pros are returning from a successful European campaign and are led by 23-year old Will Frischkorn.

Massachusetts native Tim Johnson captains the "Bean Team", Jittery Joe's/Kalahari, making its first-ever Connecticut appearance. 27-year old Johnson is still searching for the power that had made him one of the brightest young prospects from the US.

The Tour of Connecticut is a three-day professional bicycle road race for men.
Stage One is a 40-mile race in New Haven around the famed Green. Start time is 6:00 pm.

Stage Two is a grueling 62-mile race on a four-mile circuit within the city limits of Waterbury. It has been called the hardest race in North America. Start time is 12:00 pm

Stage Three covers 137-miles through the hills and valleys of Litchfield Hills with the start and finish in Torrington. A recreational ride for weekend warriors and children's races are part of the day's family activities. Start time is 11:20 am with children's races and the final laps of the men's race beginning at 3:00 pm.

The Tour of Connecticut is a sanctioned by USA Cycling, the official governing body of the sport and is a stop on their prestigious NRC (National Racing Calendar) series. For more information go to www.usacycling.org

The race will be nationally televised on OLN and locally on WCTX - UPN.

The Tour of Connecticut is presented by the Northwest Connecticut Convention and Visitors Bureau, and is additionally supported by Yale University, Williams Trading LLC, TIAA-CREF, Land Rover of Milford and Guilford, Fiordifrutta, Pan Ducale, Festina Timepieces, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Greater New Haven Convention and Visitors Bureau, Bicycling Magazine, Hatch Communications, O and G Industries, The New Haven Register, Connecticut Lottery, The City of Waterbury, and the City of Torrington.

Sparta Cycling of New York City produces the Tour of Connecticut.

For more information please go to: www.tourofct.com

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