Rocky Mountain, U.S. Paralympics and U.S Handcycling National Road Cycling Championships Taking Place June 15-17, 2007 in Golden and Morrison, Colorado

(PRLEAP.COM) Top athletes with and without disabilities from across the country will descend on Colorado to compete on bicycles and handcycles, to battle it out on the roads of Morrison, Golden, and Denver in a 3-day cycling race that will serve as a selection event for the U.S. Paralympic Team on the road to Beijing, 2008. The 8th annual Rocky Mountain Cycling Omnium — is sponsored by U.S. Paralympics, U.S. Handcycling and the Metro Denver Sports Commission, among others. The event benefits the local adaptive recreation program, Adaptive Adventures, which will run a clinic in conjunction with the event.

The weekend’s events put athletes with and without disabilities together on the same course, in front of the same crowds. More than 50 athletes with disabilities will travel to Colorado to compete for a prestigious spot on the U.S. Paralympic Team. The racing kicks-off at Bear Creek Lake Park in Morrison on Friday, June 15 with a 14 kilometer individual time trial, and culminates in a fast, short-course criterium in Curtis Park in downtown Denver on Sunday. Paralympians will also compete in a road race on Saturday at the State Patrol Training course in Golden.

Event Director, Ian Lawless, says the event brings the right combination of fast-paced racing and community awareness. “Cycling and racing is a big part of the outdoor lifestyle in Colorado, but we really wanted to take the event to the next level and increase awareness about people with disabilities.” said Lawless. The event will feature bike racing at its best, and the disabled athletes are the highlight. “I know 100 people with amazing stories of perseverance and courage, and I think I take them for granted. This is a chance for the general public to meet some of the everyday heroes in our community.”

For more information, please visit the event website: http://www.rmomnium.com

About Paralympic Cycling: As part of the International Paralympic Committee’s (IPC) program, “disabled cycling” is one of the most competitive sports in the Paralympic Games. The Paralympic Games is an international competition among each nation’s elite athletes with physical disabilities and is second in size only to the Olympic Games. The Paralympic Games the Olympic Games at the same venues and facilities. This weekend’s event in Colorado will showcase the top American cyclists with disabilities with dreams of attending the Parlaympic Games in Beijing, 2008.

About U.S. Handcycling: U.S. Handcycling is the promoter for the event, and was formed in 1998 by wheelchair athletes, coaches, and supporters to promote integration of athletes with and without disabilities in the sport of cycling. U.S. Handcycling is an association of individuals and organizations who share a common goal of health, fitness, and well-being for cyclists of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds.

About U.S. Paralympics: A division of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), U.S. Paralympics coordinates the preparation and selection of athletes to U.S. Paralympic Teams, both summer and winter, in conjunction with pertinent National Governing Bodies (NGBs) and other partner organizations.

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