ALMS
This year's Tour de Road America is scheduled for 6:15 p.m. CDT on Saturday, August 19 at the 4.048-mile track. The event raised $20 000 last year
Courtesy of the American Le Mans Series
The annual Tour de Road America is gearing up for yet another ride to benefit the Lance Armstrong Foundation. As in years past, the ride allows American Le Mans Series drivers and teams to join race fans, families, cyclists, cancer survivors to pedal Road America's beautiful 4.048-mile permanent road circuit in support of the Armstrong Foundation's cancer survivorship programs.
Participants in the fundraiser can sign up to ride distances of up to 40 miles on the track by making a donation to the Lance Armstrong Foundation. This year's ride is scheduled for 6:15 p.m. CDT on Saturday, August 19. Several stars from the American Le Mans Series participated last year and plan to be back again this year.
"Last year was a lot of fun for the drivers. We're all very competitive and it almost turned into a race!" said Corvette Racing's Oliver Gavin. "I wasn't sure how many laps I could complete. When you're driving at Road America, it seems like a relatively flat circuit, but when you're pedaling you realize just how many hills there are!
"Bicycling for the Lance Armstrong Foundation was a fantastic experience," Gavin added. "Lance is a fantastic athlete and a great ambassador, and the event benefits a very worthy cause."
Patrick Long, driver of the Petersen Motorsports/White Lightning Racing Porsche 911 GT3 RSR in the GT2 class, is excited to be participating again in 2006, "I think the Lance Armstrong Foundation is a great charity to support. Last year was fun to be out there with a lot of my peers. Having the fans and the drivers and everyone out there on the race track at the same time is a cool idea. This has to be one of the best ways to support a great cause that I have ever been a part of."
George Bruggenthies, president of Road America, is enthusiastic about the event, "We're proud to host and support the Lance Armstrong Foundation and the Tour de Road America, which is now in its third year here. The fans and the racing teams really enjoy biking the track, with the added bonus that it's all for a great cause. And families enjoy riding with their kids on the track because there are no cars or traffic to worry about."
Volunteers for the Lance Armstrong Foundation organize the event and are on track to exceed the 400 cyclists and $20,000 raised in 2005.
Registration for the Tour de Road America is open at americanlemans.com or pelotonride.org. Pre-registered participants will receive a T-shirt, and Cytomax Sport Energy Drink. A reception is scheduled before and after the event with various other fundraising activities being held throughout the race weekend. on-site registration is scheduled for August 18-19 at the LAF booth near the 4-Mile Merchant.
For further information on the Tour de Road America, please visit pelotonride.org or call (517) 337-0489.