BOISE, ID (BRAIN)—A new five-day women's stage race planned for Idaho next May is expected to become one of the most important races on the international calendar and is reminiscent of Idaho's previous top-level women's race, the Ore-Ida Women's Challenge (1984-2002).
The Exergy Tour's title sponsor is a Boise-based renewable energy company that become deeply involved in U.S. cycling in the last two years. The company sponsors a men's pro team (Team Exergy) and a women's development/pro team (Team Exergy-TWENTY12) that includes Boise's Kristin Armstrong, a former world champion and Olympic gold medalist. Exergy also stepped in as a sponsor of the U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross series this year and sponsors several other events.
The Exergy Tour will be held May 24-28.
“The Exergy Tour shall showcase the power and excitement of women's professional cycling and its growing influence globally, while working at all levels to engage our communities in teaching young girls the benefits that individual and team sports competition can bring throughout their lives,” said James Carkulis, Exergy Development Group's CEO.
The Exergy Tour will be the only UCI category 2.1 women's event in the U.S. and one of the last races to provide qualifying points for the 2012 Olympic Games.
Organizers said they want to expand the race a seven-stage event over eight days.
The race is being produced by Medalist Sports, which also manages the Amgen Tour of California, USA Pro Cycling Challenge in Colorado and the Tour of Utah.
More information: www.exergytour.com
