We Mean Business! BMC Software Grand Prix of Cycling kicks off with Lance Armstrong Event on April 8; $250,000 Bonus available for winner of all four races
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Mar. 20, 2000) - The BMC Software Cycling Grand Prix, a series of lucrative professional road races, will begin its second season beginning on Sat., Apr. 8 in Austin, Texas, USA Cycling announced Monday.
For the first time in the sport, a $250,000 bonus will be awarded if any male or female cyclist wins all four BMC Software races.
The BMC Software Grand Prix is designed to foster growth in professional cycling and showcase the progressive values and service of BMC Software and USA Cycling, the national governing body for the sport of cycling.
1999 Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong will make his lone domestic appearance at the BMC Software Downtown Criterium in Austin, but is not scheduled to compete in the event due to training preparation for the Tour de France and Olympic Games. The Downtown Criterium was created to raise awareness about cancer and its survivors. Armstrong was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1996, and returned to competitive cycling in 1998.
"We are proud that Lance Armstrong will be hosting the BMC Software Grand Prix in his hometown on April 8," said Philip Milburn, USA Cycling Chief Operating Officer. "Professional cycling is currently enjoying a renaissance due large part to an American team victory in the Tour de France and new American events such as the BMC Software Grand Prix."
This year, the cities of Austin, Houston (May 14), San Jose, Calif. (June 24) and Boston (Sept. 17) will serve as the locations for the BMC Software Grand Prix. USA Cycling, title sponsor BMC Software and top pro cyclists mean business this season. All four events will be part of the second season of the Saturn USPRO Tour, which links exciting professional road racing into the definitive professional points series in the United States.
Nearly $200,000 in prize money will be awarded at the four BMC Software Grand Prix events, including a $50,000 prize purse at Houston, San Jose and Boston races.
"BMC Software is pleased to again with USA Cycling to bring the BMC Software Cycling Grand Prix to the sport of professional cycling. We feel that the series is the crown jewel event in the sport and the potential to take home a bonus of $250,000 will attract the best riders from around the world while increasing exposure of cycling throughout the country," said Wayne Morris, BMC Software vice president of corporate marketing. "BMC Software is proud of its nearly 20-year heritage in providing high quality solutions to our customers while caring for our employees and the communities in which we are major employers. Under the leadership of the USA Cycling organization, we are confident that the series of events associated with the BMC Software Cycling Grand Prix will bring a new level of excitement to cycling enthusiasts."
In 1999, the BMC Software Grand Prix consisted of two events - the BMC Software Downtown Criterium in Austin on May 28 (part of the Ride for the Roses Weekend to benefit the Lance Armstrong Foundation) and the BMC Software Cycling International in Houston (September 12). The Houston event also served as the finals for the Saturn USPRO Tour.
In Houston, the women's pro event will be expanded from the criterium in 1999 to a full road race in 2000. The San Jose event will be a criterium through the downtown streets of San Jose, and the Boston event will be a circuit race in downtown Boston on the second day of the Olympic Games. It will be an exciting opportunity for spectators to witness an Olympic style event in their backyard. The San Jose and Boston races will also feature a variety of community events.
The four event cities are where BMC Software has a significant corporate presence and communities where cycling is an active lifestyle. The Houston, San Jose and Boston event weekends will feature a variety of community events including fun rides to the downtown race venues.
In addition, the Houston and Boston events will be televised on ESPN2. The broadcast dates will be announced at a later date.
BMC Software is the leading provider of management solutions that enhance the availability, performance and recovery of companies' business-critical applications. This application service assurance (TM) strategy combines superior products with BMC Software Professional Services and outstanding customer support to assure the e-business applications companies and their customers rely on most, stay up and running around the clock. For more than 19 years, the world's leading companies have relied on BMC Software.
BMC Software is among the world's largest independent software vendors, a Forbes 500 company and is a member of the S&P 500, with calendar year 1999 revenues exceeding $1.6 billion. The company is headquartered in Houston, Texas, with offices worldwide. For more information, visit BMC Software's web site at www.bmc.com, or please call 800-841-2031 or 713-918-8800.
In addition, American Power Conversion Corporation has become a sponsor of the BMC Software Grand Prix as the official power protection of BMC Grand Prix. APCC is a global leader in the designing, manufacturing and marketing of power protection equipment, including surge suppressors, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), power conditioning equipment and related software for computer and computer-related equipment.
2000 BMC SOFTWARE GRAND PRIX SCHEDULE
April 8 - BMC Software Downtown Criterium - Austin, Texas
May 14 - BMC Software Tour of Houston - Houston
June 24 - BMC Software Tour of San Jose - San Jose, Calif.
Sept. 17 - BMC Software Tour of Boston - Boston |
