Team Presentation, Sprint to the Finish in Cedar City Begin Weeklong Rolling Festival for Tour of Utah

SALT LAKE CITY – Spectators attending the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah will find a series of community celebrations at each of the 13 host venues for race week, Aug. 1-7, 2016. The family-friendly festivities will be held adjacent to the start line and finish line each day, providing opportunities for athlete autographs and photographs as well as a variety of activities for children and family members.

Spectator admission is free for all seven days of racing at the Tour of Utah, making professional road cycling one of the most unique sports in the world. The official venues hosting events are (in order of event date) Cedar City, Zion Canyon Village, Escalante, Torrey, Richfield, Payson, IM Flash (Lehi), Kearns, Antelope Island State Park, Bountiful, Snowbasin Resort, Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort and Park City. A complete listing of race starts and festival activities can be found on individual stage pages at the Tour’s web site, http://ift.tt/1FidahA.

Cedar City leads off the series of events with the popular Tour of Utah Team Presentation presented by America First Credit Union on Saturday, July 30, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Cycling fans are invited to meet and greet all the professional cyclists who will be competing in this year’s Tour of Utah. Each team will be introduced on an event stage and top riders will be interviewed by announcer Dave Towle.  Spectators are encouraged to bring blankets or chairs to enjoy the casual setting at the Aston Family Greenshow Commons Stage at the home of the Utah Shakespeare Festival on the campus of Southern Utah University (200 W. University Boulevard). Photographs and autographs are encouraged for fans of all ages. Reserved seating with complimentary beverages and food are part of a special Team Presentation Experience Package, which can be purchased online for $125 per person.

For a great opportunity to interact with the athletes during race week, fans are encouraged to attend stage start venues. Every day, one hour before each stage begins, the Papa John’s Rider Sign-In and Autograph Alley will provide complimentary public access for signatures and photographs of the world’s top cyclists. All athletes will parade along a special walkway, Autograph Alley, where fans will have access to mingle with the professional athletes. Then race announcers will interview athletes from the Sign-In stage.

Stage finish areas feature the Harmons Healthy Living Expo. Each interactive festival area serves as a gateway to the finish line every day. The Harmons Healthy Living Expo delivers an array of interactive exhibits, official Tour merchandise, concessions, and live entertainment, including jumbo television screens to watch the race unfold as it heads to the finish. Admission is free to the Expo, which will be located adjacent to the finish line for all seven stages.

The University of Utah Health Care Sprint to the Finish is a children’s, recreational bicycle race, hosted at six venues this year. Children ages five to 12 have the opportunity to race their own bicycles on part of the same course used by the pros. It is free to participate, once a parent or guardian has signed a waiver at the University of Utah Health Care tent in the Expo. Children must bring their own bicycles and helmets. All participants will receive a prize and a chance to win a free bicycle.

Other highlights for festival activities during race week:

Monday, Aug. 1 

• Zion Canyon Village (start) – Stay to watch live coverage of the race on the Zion Canyon Village Theatre screen
• Cedar City (finish) – Community Pancake Breakfast (8-10 a.m.), family-fun contests with prizes and giveaways, chalk art gallery, a climbing wall for teens/adults, U.S. National Guard’s Paladin Howitzer and the Kids Sprint to the Finish (10 a.m.).

Tuesday, Aug. 2

• Escalante (start) – The night before the race start, fans will enjoy a live band, Dutch oven cooking, a variety of games for children and a free movie. On race day, Escalante will provide music played by DJ, a kids race with the mayor, face painting, splash pad and a neighborhood cookout.
• Torrey (finish) – Sprint to the Finish (1 p.m.), as well as a full schedule of activities at the Torrey Big Apple Stage with bicycle safety checks, a fitness station to check your heart rate, free snacks to promote healthy eating, sidewalk chalk and crafts for the kids and lots of giveaways.

Wednesday, Aug. 3

• Richfield (start) – Morning festivities at Richfield City Park and 100 East.
• Payson (finish) – Festivities will be at Memorial Park. Sprint to the Finish (1 p.m.), bike valet, a Slackline Show, face painters, chalk-art garden, balloon artist, music performances and lots of food.

Thursday, Aug. 4

• IM Flash (start) – Activities begin at 10 a.m. and will include BMX demonstrations, live music by Alex Boye, a DJ, climbing wall, midway games for the entire family, skydivers and several food trucks.
• Kearns (finish) – Sprint to the Finish (1 p.m.), performance by Kearns H.S. Marching Band 11:45 a.m.-12:10 p.m. followed by entertainment by KHS Madrigals, Utah Hispanic Alliance and Polynesian Performing Group, chalk art competition, and four food trucks.

Friday, Aug. 5

• Antelope Island State Park (start) – The night before (Aug. 4 from 4-8 p.m.) fans can enjoy live music, food and children’s activities. On race day, the park will open at 6 a.m. with free admission for Tour of Utah fans, and free T-shirts to children, which can be signed by the athletes.
• Farmington (county seat) – A Street Party will be at the corner of State Street and Main Street from 12:30-3 p.m. There will be food trucks, face painting, kids activities, chalk art and giveaway to cheer the peloton as it speeds to Bountiful.
• Bountiful (finish) – Festivities begin with live music on the First South Street stage, an obstacle course for children and adults on 2nd South soccer field, and Arts Dance Festival at 4th North park. Enjoy pictures with Jane Joy and her large bicycle, Sprint to the Finish (1 p.m.), Bicycle Rodeo for children, and Food Court selections from Texas Roadhouse, Vito’s, Pizza Pie Cafe, Tacos El Morro, Donut Kabobs, Cold Stone Creamery, and FiiZ Drinks.

Saturday, Aug. 6

• Snowbasin Resort (start) – Come early to cheer on the amateurs as they take off at 6:30 a.m. for The Ultimate Challenge presented by University of Utah Health Care.
• Snowbird (finish) – In addition to the Expo, all activities at Snowbird are available (admission fees apply) for the Mountain Coaster, Alpine Slide, Mountain Flyer, Vertical Drop, Bungee Trampoline, Climbing Wall, Kid’s Inflatables and more.

Sunday, Aug. 7

• Park City (start/finish) – The Harmons Healthy Living Expo has a new location on the east side of Main Street, and the entire west side of the street will be open for race viewing. In addition to Sprint to the Finish (1 p.m.), there will be a fashion show at the finish line (12:30 p.m.) and chalk provided to decorate the street.

The Tour of Utah is the first internationally-sanctioned cycling competition in North America following the Tour de France. More information about the Tour of Utah and the host venues can be found by visiting www.tourofutah.com, as well as social channels Facebook (tourofutah), Twitter (tourofutah, #TOU16), Instagram (thetourofutah) and YouTube (tourofutah).

The post Team Presentation, Sprint to the Finish in Cedar City Begin Weeklong Rolling Festival for Tour of Utah appeared first on Endurance Sportswire.

from Endurance Sportswire http://ift.tt/29ST1BK
via IFTTT