BEANPOT CLASSIC,RECORD NUMBERS OF COMPETITORS TO SET COLLEGIATE CYCLING HISTORY
Friday, April 08, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BOSTON AREA COLLEGES FORGE UNION TO HOST 2005 BEANPOT CLASSIC,
RECORD NUMBERS OF COMPETITORS TO SET COLLEGIATE CYCLING HISTORY

Boston, MA (April 9-10, 2005) – The incredible promotional juggernaut of Boston
College, Boston University, Brandeis, Harvard, MIT, Northeastern, Tufts, and
Wentworth has joined forces to host the 2005 Boston Beanpot Cycling Classic
collegiate race weekend. The three-race "classic" event features a Team Time
Trial, Criterium, and Road Race in and around the greater Boston area. The
weekend looks to set new attendance records for a Collegiate Cycling event with
over 400 competitors from 80 of the finest Northeastern United States colleges
and universities.

"The Boston Beanpot sets the standard of excellence for how a collegiate
bike race should be. With almost 100 people involved with the promotion of
the weekend, everyone should have a fantastic time – it really will be a
special weekend of intense racing," said ECCC Conference Director Mark
Abramson. USA Cycling’s Collegiate director, Steve McCauley, echoed Abramson’s
comments, "The Beanpot has become the biggest and best Collegiate race in the
country, and all of us at USA Cycling are amazed at how successful this event
has become. It demonstrates the expansive potential of Collegiate Cycling in
the United States."

Saturday’s events include the challenging Dunkin’ Donuts Team Time Trial
held on the beautiful country roads of Grafton, Massachusetts. The 7.6-mile
course features fast, smooth pavement and gently rolling terrain to test the
best 4-person teams against the clock. This new event for the Beanpot weekend
is a perfect addition to the weekend due to the generous support of the Town
of Grafton, with a fast start/finish area in the town center.

The afternoon race is the epic Grafton Hills Road Race with a new sendoff
point in Grafton Center. Used for the 1996 Eastern Championships, Grafton has
also hosted stages of the Tour de Trump and Tour Dupont. The hilly circuit
will test the legs and strategy of all collegiate riders in the longest race
so far this season. With a tough 1/2 mile finishing climb new for 2005, this
event that should see fast paced, tactical riding throughout the day on the
13 mile course.

Sunday’s event is the Tufts Campus Criterium in Somerville, MA, one of
the toughest six-corner courses in the Northeast. While friends and family
are flying in from around the country to watch the action from the sidelines,
racers will be navigating no less than six 90-degree corners, a fast and
steep climb before the long finishing stretch. With the A Women and A Men
racing 35 and 45 laps, respectively, some of the best racers in the country
will be tested as they corner as many as 300 times and sprint for up to six
intermediate team sprints during their events. New race sponsor Zipcar, an
innovative car sharing service, will be setting pace in front of the fast
racing action.

The weekend is supported by Dunkin’ Donuts, Zipcar, Wheelworks, Anna’s Taqueria,
Qdoba Mexican Grill, Redbones BBQ, Pathway Ambulance and all of the supporting
schools.

The Eastern Collegiate Cycling Conference (ECCC) includes colleges in Delaware,
New England, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. As they compete from early
March through April, ECCC teams vie for the top of the season-long team points
standings, Collegiate Nationals qualification team spots, and the Ivy League
trophy. The inexpensive races feature team-oriented bicycle racing for all
abilities with team pride, glory, and honor as the only prize list.

The full 2005 ECCC schedule and results can be found at www.eccc-info.com.

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CONTACT INFORMATION
Mark Abramson
ECCC Conference Director
(617) 475-2270
[email protected]

photos by Jonathan McElvery, Jack Milton, and BikeReg.com