COLAVITA/SUTTER HOME MEN’S CYCLING TEAM PRESENTED BY COOKING LIGHT SELECTED FOR INAUGURAL TOUR OF IRELAND
Former Irish National Champion David McCann and Canadian National Criterium Champion Charles Dionne to Lead Squad

August 7, 2007 (Wauwatosa, WI) The Colavita/Sutter Home Men’s Cycling Team presented by Cooking Light is one of three North American teams invited to race in the inaugural Tour of Ireland, scheduled for August 22-26, 2007.  Director Sportif Tom Schuler made the announcement.  The Colavita/Sutter Home roster will include Belfast native and former Irish National Champion David McCann, Canadian National Criterium Champion Charles Dionne, and Americans Adam Bergman, Anthony Colby, Andy Guptill, Dan Vaillancourt, and Tyler Wren.

“We’re honored to be selected to join UCI ProTour teams for the debut of the new Tour of Ireland,” said Schuler.  “We’re particularly proud that David McCann, one of Ireland’s favorite athletes who has represented his home country in major cycling events all over the world as well as two Olympic Games, will be racing in Colavita/Sutter Home colors as the Tour of Ireland returns to the international cycling calendar after a 15-year absence.”

“With Charles Dionne’s speed and Anthony Colby’s climbing skills, Colavita/Sutter Home has an excellent shot at winning stage victories at the Tour of Ireland,” Schuler continued. “In the last two months alone, Charles has won Canada’s National Criterium Championship and La Coupe de la Paix (Peace Race) as well as the overall points competition at the International Tour de Toona, one of the toughest stage races in North America.” 

Schuler added, “And when the road tips up on those steep hills for which Ireland is famous, you can bet that Anthony Colby will be at the front of the field.”  Colby, of Durango, CO, won the King of the Mountain competition at the Tour de Toona in July and finished third in Stage Five of the 2007 Tour de Georgia, renowned for the grueling climb up Brasstown Bald, the highest peak in the state.

Colavita/Sutter Home Men’s Cycling Team presented by Cooking Light roster for the inaugural Tour of Ireland:

• Adam Bergman (USA)
• Anthony Colby (USA)
• Charles Dionne (CAN)
• Andy Guptill (USA)
• David McCann (IRE)
• Dan Vaillancourt (USA)
• Tyler Wren (USA)

 

Bios, recent results, photos, and news about the Colavita/Sutter Home Men’s Cycling Team presented by Cooking Light are available at www.ColavitaSutterHome.com.

About the Tour of Ireland

More than 100 of the top professional male cyclists will contest the new five-stage Tour of Ireland, sponsored principally by Fáilte Ireland, the country’s National Tourism Development Authority.  From August 22 through August 26, the race will cover over 530 miles (860+ kilometers), heading south from Kilkenny Castle to Cork, passing through Killarney, Limerick, and Galway, to finish with a high-speed 10-lap circuit through Dublin’s historic Mannion Square.  Building on the popularity of the predecessor Tour of Ireland, the Nissan International Classic, which was held annually from 1985 through 1992, at least 500,000 spectators are expected to turn out for the stage starts and finishes and along the race route. 

Live television coverage is planned for each day of the Tour of Ireland and in-depth programming will be shown on RTÉ in Ireland and throughout Great Britain, the U.S., and parts of Europe, South Africa, Australia and Japan.  The Tour of Ireland is ranked 2.1 on the European Tour by the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale), the world governing body for cycling.  Additional information about the Tour of Ireland is available at www.tourofireland.ie.

About the sponsors of the Colavita/Sutter Home Cycling Teams presented by Cooking Light

Colavita USA imports and distributes the #1 brand of Italian extra-virgin olive oil in the U.S. as well as durum wheat semolina pasta, a full selection of balsamic and wine vinegars, and many other fine Italian products.  A family-owned business headquartered in Linden, NJ, Colavita has championed the sport of cycling throughout its 25+-year history.   The company supports the Colavita New Jersey U19 Racing Team, the largest junior cycling team on the East Coast, as well as recreational cycling clubs in 9 states, including California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, New Mexico, South Carolina, and Texas.  Through its charitable arm, the Colavita Foundation for Children, the company provides bicycles and helmets to children in need.  To learn more about Colavita USA, please visit www.Colavita.com.

Sutter Home Winery is wholly owned and operated by the Trinchero family, Napa Valley vintners since 1948.  The company produces the wines of Sutter Home, Trinchero, Montevina, Wild Bunch, Trinity Oaks, Folie à Deux, Ménage à Trois, Napa Cellars, the number one alcohol-removed wine, Fre, and imports Angove’s, Reynolds Vineyards and Little Boomey wines of Australia.  For more information, visit www.tfewines.com.

Founded in 1987, Cooking Light (www.cookinglight.com) is the world’s largest food magazine. Each month, more than 11 million consumers turn to Cooking Light to “eat smart, be fit and live well.” CookingLight.com provides daily food and fitness updates, healthy recipes and nutrition advice to millions of unique visitors every year.

For the 2007 season, the Colavita/Sutter Home Cycling Teams presented by Cooking Light will be riding RC7 bikes supplied by Blue Competition Bicycles.  The bikes will be fully equipped with Shimano components, wheels, shoes, and pedals and Profile Design handle bars and stems. Team jerseys are provided by Voler Team Apparel.  

Additional sponsors of the Colavita/Sutter Home Cycling Teams presented by Cooking Light include Amino Vital nutrition, Maxxis tires, Specialized helmets and glasses, Rotor chain rings, Headsweats head wear, Park Tools, Purple Extreme Chain lube, Thule Racks, American Suzuki Motor Corporation, San Marco Saddles, socks by Defeet, Lavazza Coffee, The Olive Garden Restaurants, Trainers supplied by Saris, Timex heart rate monitors and watches, and Cheetah Bars and figs.

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