Tour of Shenandoah Announces New Future
Race to Showcase North America's Future Stars

Harrisonburg, Virginia - Now in its fourth year, the Tour of Shenandoah - slated for April 25th- 30th - is already known as a top draw for up-and-coming pro and amateur cyclists. The event consistently attracts one of the youngest average age fields among top-level races. Acting on this fact, and looking at trends in the USA bicycle racing scene, the event's organizers have decided to give greater emphasis to the Under 25 age group riders.

"The Tour of Shenandoah will become the international showcase for North America's emerging talent," said executive director, Matt Butterman, announcing this year's course and race details during a press conference in Harrisonburg, Virginia last Wednesday.

"We are starting to style the race on events like the Tour de l'Avenir in Europe, with a maximum rider age of 25 years and with professional, amateur and national teams," said Butterman.

For 2006, at least, older riders will be permitted to participate, but eventually the age cap will take effect as the number of young riders swells to fill the field quota. This year in addition to the race leader's jersey in the General Classification, additional race leader jerseys will be awarded to the best Under 23 rider and the best Collegiate rider.

"More and more pro teams are realizing the value of having a development squad, and we provide the perfect event for these young riders not only to have a taste of being a team leader, but also to get the feeling of competing in a proper road stage race," explained Butterman.

It is easy to see why the nation's top pro and amateur teams continue to send more than 100 riders to the Tour of Shenandoah, and why the event is especially popular for riders under 23, collegians, and pros who normally have to serve under their team leader rather than compete to win. The grueling six-day, seven-stage Tour of Shenandoah offers the perfect induction to big-time, European-style road racing in the atmospheric setting of western Virginia.

The race format consists of blisteringly fast time-trials, spectator-favorite criteriums, and some honest-to-goodness point to point stages which include punishing mountain climbs. The Tour de France illustration echoes earlier comparisons to European races made by many cyclists including last year's Tour of Shenandoah winner, Roman Kilun (Berkeley, Calif), and local hero and name-to-watch at this year's race, the US national mountain bike team member, Jeremiah Bishop (Harrisonburg, Va).

In addition to the thrilling excitement of pro cycling, the Tour of Shenandoah has even more to offer spectators and bike enthusiasts, not only in the area but from across the USA. In 2004 Mountain Bike Magazine named the Shenandoah Valley as one of the nation's most beautiful mountain biking spots. These same mountains are included in the road race route. "Many of the venues will have activities for children," said Butterman. A bike rodeo is in the works for kids and bicycle helmets will be given away as part of the Virginia Department of health's "Bike Safe Virginia" program. "We encourage people to bring out the family, as it's a very exciting event for people to watch and makes a great day out," added Butterman.

This year's Tour of Shenandoah visits Dayton, Harrisonburg, Staunton, Hot Springs, Staunton, Lexington, Bedford, Natural Bridge, and Waynesboro . This area is steeped in southern hospitality and Civil War history. With it's rigorous mountain terrain, spectacular rural landscape, and historic towns and villages, the Shenandoah Valley stands on its own as a unique cycling venue. "People will race our event simply because of the terrain and scenery in the (Shenandoah) Valley and the people," said Butterman. In the race director's own words: "There's no better region to have a bicycle race. And as far as the USA's rising stars are concerned, there's no better reason, either."

As with previous editions, an important mission of the 2006 Tour of Shenandoah is to inform the public about how to control or prevent the onset of diabetes and its complications, through exercise and a healthy lifestyle. Established by former Category 1 cyclist, Matt Butterman, who is a Type 1 diabetic, the race features the participation of several elite cyclists who successfully deal with the dual challenges of Type 1 diabetes and top-level cycling competition. The Official Charity Partner of the 2006 Tour of Shenandoah is the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, who will use the press coverage and publicity surrounding the Tour of Shenandoah to highlight its own fundraising efforts in the quest to find a cure for diabetes.

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