US Open of Cycling cancelled for 2010

by VeloNation Press at 5:15 PM EST

The U.S. Open Cycling Foundation, an organization that empowers people to live a healthy lifestyle by incorporating cycling into their daily activities, today announced that it has cancelled The U.S. Open of Cycling scheduled for May 2010 in Providence, R.I. The Foundation, which cited a lack of significant corporate sponsorship for its decision to cancel this year’s professional cycling event, hopes to run the event in R.I. in May 2011. This event offers a national platform to corporations interested in promoting a healthy lifestyle and a cleaner environment.

The event, which was first run and broadcast nationally on NBC in April of 2007 as the U.S. Open Cycling Championships, has changed venues from Richmond, Va. to Providence, R.I. The U.S. Open of Cycling was scheduled as a part of the USA Cycling Professional Tour which is made of the nation’s top, internationally sanctioned cycling races.

Richard Durishin, executive director of the U.S. Open Cycling Foundation, said: "Unfortunately, we have not been able to secure the sponsorship needed to run the U.S. Open of Cycling this year and are cancelling the event. We have already begun discussions with potential sponsors for the 2011 race and we hope that, by then, the interested parties are enjoying the fruits of a more robust economy. We have a beautiful venue in the state of Rhode Island and the City of Providence, and look forward to showing the Ocean State’s beauty to the world during next year's event.

“The work of the U.S. Open Cycling Foundation, which focuses on reducing childhood obesity by inspiring kids of all ages to incorporate cycling into their daily lives, will continue in Rhode Island schools, businesses and on the state’s numerous bike paths through the season. The Foundation thanks all of its partners in supporting that work," added Durishin.