ING Direct Capital Criterium

Top Tour de France Finisher Christian Vande Velde to Headline Start List of Inaugural Race in Washington DC Washington, DC [September 13, 2008] – The race organizer of the ING DIRECT Capital Criterium powered by CycleLife, scheduled for Sunday September 21 in downtown Washington DC, announced today that among the riders to compete for the $50,000+ purse will be Garmin Chipotle rider Christian Vande Velde, fifth place overall finisher in this year’s Tour de France (America’s top placed finisher). The field competing for the big money purse, which will also feature $5,000 worth of ING DIRECT Orange Saving account primes, is a star-studded cast representing America’s most decorated teams and riders. In addition to Vande Velde’s Garmin Chipotle team, teams Toyota, Colavita, Kelly Benefits, Toshiba, Healthnet Maxis, Jittery Joe’s, Symmeterics, Time, Successful Living, Calyon Pro, Rite Aid, and more will send riders to race the streets of the District of Columbia. The course’s start/finish line sits directly on Pennsylvania Avenue, NW (at 12th Street)–America’s grandest avenue, perhaps best known around the world as the Presidential inauguration route from the US Capitol to the White House, which will be used this January by the 44th President of the United States. “While this race occurs late on the race calendar just before InterBike and was officially announced only recently, we are extremely pleased with the team and rider commitments thus far. There was a lot of informal ground work laid before the announcement,” said Race Director Mark Sommers. “The top-tier field racing the inaugural running of this event is proof positive that a marquee cycling event in the US Capital was long over due. Of course, the hefty prize money doesn’t hurt either.” The race course’s prime real estate was not lost on District of Columbia Mayor Adrian Fenty, who added, “We want to use this bike race to create mainstream public awareness of the significant health benefits of cycling and its obvious green, non-polluting form of traveling.” Garmin Chipotle directeur sportif Jonathan Vaughters commented, “We’re sending some big names to the race, as this event has great legacy potential. You’ve got the US Capitol in the background for the finish, the course is challenging, and there is over $50K in prize money. Having a cycling ambassador like Mayor Fenty involved is great for the sport. I can’t think of a better place to stage a downtown criterium than the Nation’s Capital.” The event promoter plans to release the start list next week prior to the race. Information on the event can be obtained from www.capitalcriterium.com