Introducing 2011 Echelon Masters 45+ team Roster

PlanetZ/Echelon is pleased to announce its small masters 45+ national cycling team managed by current US National Road Champion, Cale Reeder.  The team is charged with marketing the Echelon Challenge and Gran Fondo series, its related charities, and our sponsor company products, Wilier Triestina, Garmin,  Hammer Nutrition, Vredestein, Shimano, Bicycling, and Bike Radar. The team will compete largely in California and Oregon but also attend the US National Championships and the World Championships in 2011.

Racer Bios:

Cale Reeder (46) was a member of the 1982 Junior National Cycling Team. He competed in the World Championships in 1982 in Italy for both Road and TTT. After racing for the Senior National Cycling Team as a CAT 1 and a member of the 25 Man Olympic Development Team in 1983 and 1984. He retired from racing in 1984. In 1996 after a couple of Silicon Valley startups and weighing in at over 180 pounds he started riding his bike again. He fell in love with cycling again, but had no desire to race back then. He decided to start racing again in 2009, but in February 2009 he suffered a set back when he had a ruptured kidney and nearly died from blood loss. Still, after missing the first third of the season and recovering from severe Anemia, he was finally able to start racing and produced amazing results. Cale is a husband, dad and entrepreneur. He lives in the NorCal Sierra Foothills, enjoys good food, wine, loves climbing and likes to win with integrity.

Cale Reeder: 2010 US National Champion

Cale's Recent Race Highlights

- 2010 US National Masters Road Champion (45-49)

- 2010 Podium Finishes: 16-1^st Places, 10-2^nd Places, and 5-3^rd Places

- 2010 Northern California Best All-Round Rider (BAR) Point Series Champion

- 2010 Northern California Endurance Racer Points Series Champion

- 2010 Central Coast Circuit Race - Spring Series Champion

- 2010 Cascade Classic Stage Race - 2^nd overall GC

- 2010 Mt. Hood Stage Race - 2^nd overall GC

- 2010 San Dimas Stage Race - 2^nd overall GC

- 2010 Madera Stage Race - 2^nd overall GC

- 2009 Northern California Best All-Round Rider (BAR) Point Series Champion

- Other Notable Podium Finishes:

            1^st - Mt Hamilton RR 2010

            1^st - Nevada City Classic 2009 & 2010

            1^st - Winters RR 2009 & 2010

            1^st - Pescadero RR 2009

            1^st - University RR 2009

            1^st - Spring Hill RR 2009

            1^st - Sea Otter Circuit Race 2010

            1^st - Mt Tamalpais Hill Climb 2010

            1^st - Fremont Peak Hill Climb 2010

            1^st - Cantua Creek RR 2010

1^st - Henleyville RR 2009

            1^st - Sonora RR 2009

            2^nd - State Road Championships 2009

            2^nd - Sea Otter Road Race 2010

            2^nd - San Ardo RR 2010

            2^nd - Challenge RR 2009 & 2010

            3^rd - Mt Hamilton RR 2009

            3^rd - Pescadero RR 2010

            3^rd - Spring Hill RR 2010

3^rd - State TT Championships 2010

Kurt Bickel (51) (Joes Pro Bikes)  began his two wheeled racing as a teen in the early days of BMX. After switching to motorcycles, he turned professional, winning two state roadrace and two regional dirt track titles, while serving as a Aviation Crew Chief in the Army Reserve. After injuries forced retirement, he took up free dive spearfishing, while plying his trade as a writer/editor for numerous publications. At 40 he returned to cycling because of health considerations, and returned to racing in 2005. Since that time he's won over 90 races, including two national and nine state championships, all of which has surprised the heck out of him: "I was just some fat guy trying to lose weight and not end up on blood pressure meds". He splits time between McKinney Texas and Reno Nevada with his wife of 24 years Karen, and their two Chesapeake Bay Retrievers.

Kurt Bickel at Texas state crit champs

Kurt's Recent Race Highlights

2010 US National Track 50-54 Team Sprint Champion

2010 US National Track 50-54 2km Pursuit Silver Medalist

2010 US National Track 40-50 Team Pursuit Bronze Medalist

2010 Texas 50-54 Criterium Champion

2010 Texas 50-54 Time Trial Champion

2010 Texas 40+ Team Time Trial Champion

2010 Texas Track 50-54 2km Pursuit Champion

2010 Texas Track 50+ Team Sprint Champion

2009 Texas 40+ Best All Around Cup Champion

2009 Texas 45-49 Road Race Champion

2009 Texas 45-49 Time Trial Champion

2008-2009 Horse Country Time Trial Course Record Holder

- Other Notable Podium Finishes

1st- Rockwall Criterium 2010

1st- Elk Hill Circuit Race 2010

1st- Horse Country Time Trial (Fall & Spring editions) 2010

1st- OKC Rocks Criterium 2010

1st- Windy 100 Criterium 2010

1st- Superdrome Omnium 2010

1st- Topsport Stage Race TT stage 2010 (3rd GC)

1st- Pace Bend Road Race 2010

2nd- Tour of the Gila TT stage 2010

2nd- Sea Otter 35+ Criterium 2010

1st- Ft. Davis Hammerfest Stage Race GC (1 stage win) 2009

1st- Alsatian Omnium GC (2 stage wins) 2009

1st- Tour of Arkansas GC (2 stage wins) 2008

1st- Joe Martin Stage Race GC (3 stage wins) 2008

1st- Fayetteville Stage Race GC (1 stage win) 2008

Janne Hamalainen (48) (Tulsa Wheelmen) ran cross country and track growing up in Finland and finished a few times on the podium in the Finnish Junior Nationals. He attended the University of Tulsa on a track scholarship and earned an electrical engineering degree 1986. Janne started racing with Tulsa Wheelmen in the spring of 2003. By spring of 2005, Janne had two top 30 GC finishes in NRC races at Joe Martin (28th) and Tripeaks (23rd) earning him NRC points. He finished second that year in the M40+ US Nationals Criterium in Park City, Utah. He won the Sea Otter M40+ Circuit Race the following year and accumulated enough points to get upgraded to category 1. He was unable to participate in the Master's Nationals in 2006 and 2007. Janne was able to return to the Nationals in 2008 and finished third in the M45+ Road Race. In 2009, Janne won 10 races including the US National Masters Road Championships. Janne is married to Rae who also enjoys cycling.

Yanne Hamalainen (far right) at Sea Otter 2010

Janne's Recent Race Highlights (photo far right)

- 2009 US National Masters Road Champion (45-49)

- 2010 Oklahoma State Elite Road Race Champion (Cat 1-2)

- 2010 US National Masters Road Championships – 4^th

- Other Notable Podium Finishes:

            1^st - Sea Otter Road Race 2009 & 2010

            1^st - Sea Otter Circuit Race 2009

            1^st - Tour of Lawrence Circuit Race 2010

            1^st - Tour of Kansas City Crit 2010

            1^st - Breakthrough Tour Crit 2010

            2^nd - Sea Otter Circuit Race 2010

Dirk Himley (48) started racing in 1977 in New Jersey and moved to Northern California in 1979. In 1980 he was selected to be on the US Junior National Team and was an alternate on the Junior World Team after healing from a bad crash. Later that year Dirk left cycling to pursue a career. After back surgery in 1994 he started riding again. He started racing competitively again from 1996 to 1999 and now again in 2010. Dirk is excited to be part of finding and fighting for a cure for cancer through his involvement with Echelon. He is also a mentor to the youth and up and coming riders, and helping others to realize their dreams. Dirk only began racing with Echelon in August of 2010 and won 3 out of 5 races he entered.

Dirk breaking away for the win at Central Coast

*Dirk's Recent Race Highlights

            1^st - Challenge RR 2010

            1^st - Henleyville RR 2010

            1^st - Central Coast Circuit Race Fall Series 2010

*Dirk only began racing again in August of 2010.

Craig Parker--Craig started bike racing at age 16 and was Junior State Champion in road, time trial and multiple track events.  He was on the 1979 Junior National Track Team and on the 1980 National Development Track Team before going to college and medical school.  Craig raced somewhat competitively on the track throughout the 1980's and re-started a racing career in the Masters category after moving to California in the early 90's.  He has won more than 30 National and State Championship medals. Craig was the 2008 Masters 45-50 Northern California State and U.S. National Champion on the track in the kilometer and was 7th in the 2008 UCI Masters World Track Championships in Sydney, Australia.  He is currently an entrepreneur in the biotechnology industry and unlike most of the Echelon team has a serious aversion to races with hills.

Craig Parker at Worlds

Key Results

1st  - 2008 Masters National Track Championships

1st -  2008 Northern California/Nevada State Track Championships (Kilometer)

3rd - 2008 Northern California/Nevada State Track Championships  (Pursuit)

7th - 2008 UCI Masters World Track Championships

Hunter Ziesing worked in the investment banking industry for nearly 20 years for Thomas Weisel (founder of the U.S. Postal/Discovery Cycling Team) before founding PlanetZ/Echelon Foundation. Over the years, Hunter's passion grew for cycling and later, philanthropy. Hunter's full time occupation is now managing the cancer foundation and its events, "The Echelon Challenge and Gran Fondo Series."  His roll includes traveling the country speaking at schools, hospitals & local cancer foundations as well as marketing Echelon at various professional, amateur, and recreational cycling events. Hunter finished second in the California Best All Around competition in 2010 and has aspirations of winning a national title in Bend Oregon next year in the age 50-54 category masters cycling championships.

"Being able to race my bike at this level at age 50, while running an up and coming foundation that helps others, has added ultimate self purpose and inspiration to my graying years."

Chris Horner/Hunter Ziesing @Echelon Oregon 2010

Hunter's Recent Race Highlights

- 2010 Northern California Best All-Round Rider (BAR) Point Series - 2^nd

- Notable Podium Finishes:

            1^st - Cat's Hill Classic 2010

            1^st - San Ardo RR 2010

            1^st - Modesto RR 2010

            1^st - Mt Hood Crit 2010

            1^st - Three Village Tour RR 2010

1^st - Wente Vineyards Classic Road Race 2009

2^nd - Winters RR 2010

            2^nd - Ronde Van Brisbeen 2010

            3^rd - Snelling RR 2010

            3^rd - Giro Di San Francisco 2010

            3^rd - Topsport Circuit Race 2010

            3^rd - Cantua Creek RR 2010

3^rd - Central Coast Circuit Race Spring Series 2010

            3^rd - Central Coast Circuit Race Fall Series 2010

3^rd - Napa River Velo Grand Prix 2009

            3^rd - Ronde Van Brisbeen 2009

3^rd - Spring Hill RR 2009

3^rd - Henleyville RR 2009

Proposed 2011 Race Team Schedule:

Pine Flat Road Race

Southern Nevada Stage Race, Las Vegas

Snelling Road Race

Madera Stage Race

Tucson Classic Stage Race

San Dimas Stage Race

Bariani (Zamora) Road Race

Topsport Stage Race

Copperopolis Road Race

Spring Hill Road Race

Sea Otter Classic Circuit Race

Sea Otter Classic Road Race

Cherry Blossom Classic Stage Race

Wente Road Race

Tour of the Gila Stage Race

Cat's Hill Classic

Sonora Road Race

Berkeley Hills Road Race

Panoche Road Race

Mt Hamilton Road Race

Mt. Hood Stage Race

Pescadero Road Race

Nevada City Classic

Cascade Classic Stage Race

NorCal State Masters Road Race Championships

US National Masters Road Championships

UCI World Masters Road Championships

San Ardo Road Race

University Road Race

Winters Road Race

Challenge Road Race

Giro Di San Francisco

Mt Tamalpais Hill Climb

Echelon Oregon Recap

For Immediate Release: 

ECHELON GRAN FONDO DELIGHTS A CROWD OF 700 CYCLISTS FOR ITS INAUGURAL OREGON EVENT

Praise from all for the September 26^th Echelon Gran Fondo in Hood River as event reaffirms accomplishment of a community focused fundraising event

(Hood River, OR – September 26, 2010) – The all-star fall weather conditions set the stage for this first time Oregon Gran Fondo produced by Echelon/PlanetZ in Hood River. The starting line resembled the beginning line up of a Tour de France stage, featuring the Yellow, Polk-a-dot, Green, and other colored jersey’s, which designated the levels of dollars the participants raised in their efforts to support the event’s beneficiaries. Fundraising Teams such as the world-renowned OHSU Knight Cancer Institute boasted their custom-logoed Green Jersey as well as a cast of characters from the Traders Joes team in their Echelon kits, while others joined in force in their team kits.

The Hood River event, open to all levels and abilities of cyclists, and was focused on raising dollars for the Lance Armstrong Foundation, LIVESTRONG®, The Knight Cancer Institute in Portland and the Celilo Cancer Center located in The Dalles, OR. Additionally, a portion of the proceeds will be given to the Historic Columbia River Highway and their important grassroots efforts to improve the old highway from Troutdale to The Dalles.

The event, intended to offer a cycling experience beyond what you see in a typical century ride or what Executive Director, Hunter Ziesing has claimed, “theater on the roads”, the 700 plus participants were welcomed by a cast of characters and stunts designed to give racers and recreational cyclists a day to remember. The Angel of Echelon, Elvis, a Red Devil, and cheerleaders added to the buzz and exhilaration of the cyclists’ day.  Team Radio Shack’s Chris Horner participated and politely hung back with most of the riders until the competitive 20-mile hill climb began.  He was third to the summit behind local Washington pro, Lang Reynolds and Jennifer Slawata who finished just one second in front of Horner.

Along with the on course entertainment – a SAMBA band was stationed at the peak of the 20-mile hill climb where a little rain began to fall. “Our goal was to create a uniquely fulfilling experience for the community and our participants.  For the most part we did, but for a few mistakes out on course, your post survey feedback has helped us identify a few areas where we can improve to make next year’s event even better.

Hunter Ziesing the event’s Executive Director commented, “We were really pleased with the generosity of the Oregon/Washington fundraising levels and especially the friendly nature of the northwest community.”

With little funding from corporate sponsorship, early indication is that Echelon will make a significant donation to its beneficiaries. “Our early look is that we will make close to a $40,000 net donation to our charities and based on this level of success, we know that in 2011 along with increased participants and corporate sponsorship, we will be able to offer EVEN MORE substantial dollars to our beneficiaries,” said Ziesing. The Echelon team now turns their creative efforts towards 2011 that will include Arizona and Colorado events. In addition to the Hood River Gran Fondo, Echelon intends to add an “Echelon Challenge” to Portland, a 12-24 hour fun fitness challenge in the city.

About PlanetZ/Echelon:

PlanetZ is a non-profit global member organization that promotes human affairs including health, environment, and community, and is greatly committed to the cycling community at large by creating events and fitness challenges that are designed to raise money to local and national cancer focused institutions. For more information, please visit www.echelongranfondo.org

Media Contact: Rebecca Kotch

Email: Rebecca@rebeccakotch.com

Phone: 323.806.5900

Echelon expansion cities announced

For Immediate Release:

ECHELON GRAN FONDO SERIES ANNOUNCES EXPANSION PLANS FOR 2011 AND BEYOND.

Targeting communities in Arizona, California, Colorado, New York, and Washington DC.

(San Francisco, CA – August 17, 2010) – The Echelon Gran Fondo Cycling Series by PlanetZ/Echelon, a non-profit organization that benefits cancer research and survivor support, has announced intentions to increase their program to additional markets in 2011 and beyond.  Echelon, a unique series designed for cyclists of all levels, combines riding, racing, and fundraising, along with what the organizers call a “Tour de France-like frivolity” to offset the serious nature of fundraising. Echelon has produced smaller charitable events since 2005 with cycling celebrities Eddy Merckx, Bob Roll, and Frankie Andreu, and this past May produced its first Gran Fondo in Napa, CA.

Based on the success of the Napa event and strong participation levels at the forthcoming September Hood River, OR event featuring Chris Horner of Team RadioShack®, the Echelon Gran Fondo will enter Arizona, the Rocky Mountain Region, Washington DC, Manhattan/Southern Connecticut, and the Stanford/Palo Alto markets. According to David Cochran, Director of Operations for Echelon, “Not only have certain cycling-oriented communities come forward and asked us to create a Gran Fondo for them such as groups from the New York Tri-states area, but we also have pursued locations such as Tucson and Palo Alto both of which have tremendous health oriented demographics and highly specialized cancer research universities. Specific to Colorado, with the recent introduction of the 2011 Quiznos® Pro Challenge cycling tour in Colorado, there is a logical fit for us to give fans their own challenge and support the local community.” The Echelon team also anticipates partnering with a key events operator for a Washington DC Gran Fondo; this would occur in conjunction with the Prologue stage of the Giro slated to start in the Capitol city in 2012.

What makes the Echelon event distinct from other charity-based cycling rides is the ride itself, or what Echelon’s Executive Director Hunter Ziesing calls “theater on the roads” –where cyclists are treated to an experience of riding in a grand tour for the day. At an Echelon event, a rider can expect announcers, balloons, cheerleaders, helicopters, live music, marching bands, epicurean treats, and a cast of characters typically found on Alpe d’Huez.  Additionally, and fundamental to the both the fundraising efforts and the ride is the integration of sponsor partners. (Sponsors for the 2010 series are Capo, Skins, Garmin, Hammer Nutrition and Bicycling Magazine). According to Ziesing, “Activation of our sponsor partners is a critical ingredient of offering an outstanding experience, fundraiser awards, as well as lowering our cost ratios. We are now in dialogue with potential national partners who recognize the platform we have created for brand immersion in the worlds of health, healing and fitness.”

Echelon’s national beneficiary is LIVESTRONG® but unique to the Echelon model is their heavy focus on partnerships with local hospitals that have cancer specific clinics or foundations. “Fundraising is not for everyone and it is optional, but we offer all levels of cyclists the opportunity to raise money for the fight against cancer, reap rewards from their efforts, and have an unbelievable day on some of the most beautiful roads in this country,” commented Ziesing.

For more information, please visit www.echelongranfondo.org

About PlanetZ/Echelon:

PlanetZ is a non-profit global member organization that promotes human affairs including health, environment, and community, and is greatly committed to the cycling community at large by creating events and fitness challenges that are designed to raise money to local and national cancer focused institutions. 

Media Contact: Rebecca Kotch

Email: Rebecca@rebeccakotch.com

Phone: 323.806.5900

Echelon at US National Masters Road Championships

Congrats to Cale Reeder, Echelon Masters Bike Team leader and donor who finished in first place (stars & and stripes) in the US Masters age 45-49 road championships in Louisville Kentucky last week. A photo finish.  Echelon Masters Team races to help promote Echelon, its local partner charities and LIVESTRONG.

Visiting Manhattan

Spent the day in Manhattan yesterday visiting Bicycling Magazine, a potential sponsor/donor, as well as NY based cancer institute. Back in my career days I traveled by black car. Here I sit on the Echelon company vehicle.  Aside from dodging taxi cabs and busses, the only challenge is getting past office reception door men for meetings with company executives. In a thick NY accent, as I approach reception areas in NY office buildings I usually get, "Excuse me sir, messenger deliveries are in the rear by the freight elevator". Crack me up.

The Echelon Chronicles

Since our May 23 Napa event the Echelon team has been out traveling and networking this summer to market our Hood River Oregon Gran Fondo starting with a Dave Cochran's drive to Oregon for the Mt Hood Cycling Classic. Hunter Ziesing later departed by small plane for a trip accross country to meet some notable charities and scout out locations for 2011 Echelon Gran Fondos as well as meeting potential sponsor donors.  This summer we will visit 20 states and 8 Cancer institutes. These photos chronicle our travels and marketing of Echelon.

 Dave, Jana & Hunter departing Napa May 23 for Oregon

                                                      Mt Hood Cycling Classic Early June

                                           Mt Adam stage of Mt Hood Cycling Classic

 Cale Reeder Echelon M45+ team, proudly wears leaders jersey. Echelon has a small masters racing team who help fundraise and market our events. Cale Reeder quit racing for 25 years only to return to racing to dominate.  His company, Cozy Winters, is a large donor to Echelon

Stopping to market Echelon in some southern OR towns
That is snow in June

Flying east over the Rockies and the Beech Bonanza

Stopping in South Dakota for supplies--yes Walmart

Welcome to South Dakota

Checked out a ride in the Caribou National forest, Idaho

Flight continued East to see the Mayo Clinic in Rochester MN

Copilot, "Charlie" responding to g-forces in bank turn

Stopping to stay with Greg and Kathy Lemond in MN

Spectacular country. Greg and Kathy are the nicest people on the planet.
Greg recently settled his lawsuit with Trek and is in a very good place. You will be seeing more of Greg in Cycling.  

Casa de Lemond in Medina MN

Greg Lemond observing Hunter on an epic new wind trainer to come due out from Lemond Fitness this fall. A low tech solution that will blow your mind. 

One of Greg's many Yellow Jerseys

Scoped out some great roads for a MN fondo, rode with Greg who still holds 400 watts on occasion. Just  got to slim him down for 2011. Stay tuned.

Departed east for Chicago to see the Kellogg Cancer Institute. Rarely saw the ground.
Hit Toronto the next day and met with Don Listwin, early investor in Open Wave Systems and Cisco Systems. He founded The Canary Foundation at Stanford--an early cancer detection research center.
We are discussing a fondo with Canary and or Stanford. Stay tuned. Don is going to put on a cool event this fall in the South Bay SF area. Don has a lot of zero's on his balance sheet but is driven by cause and to give back.

I wish

Thanks--The Echelon Staff

Hunter Ziesing & Marcy Ziesing are back in the Boston area now. 

Dave Cochran is still traveling around Oregon hitting bike shops and camping

Linda Klein (team fundraising) is at home in CA hitting the phones fundraising along with Nick Mcgowan. (fundraising and registration)

Rebecca Kotch (our marketing guru) has moved to Napa and working on projects of her own as well as Echelon. 

                                              

The Chronicles of Echelon

Mt Hood Classic

Minnesota

Flying to Minnesota

Passing a few clouds

The Copilot

ECHELON GRAN FONDO DELIGHTS A CROWD OF 700 CYCLISTS AND CONFIRMS VICTORY FOR THIS INAUGURAL EVENT

Praise from all for the May 23^rd Echelon Gran Fondo in Napa Valley as event reaffirms accomplishment of a community focused fundraising event

(Napa, CA – June 3rd, 2010) – The all-star weather conditions set the stage for this first time and first of a kind Gran Fondo produced by Echelon/PlanetZ in Napa Valley. The starting line resembled the beginning line up of a Tour de France stage, featuring the Yellow, Polk-a-dot, Green, and other colored jersey’s, which designated the levels of dollars the participants raised in their efforts to support the event’s beneficiaries. Fundraising Teams such as the world-renowned Silver Oak Winery boasted their custom-logoed Yellow Jersey, while others joined in force in their team kits.

The Napa Valley event, open to all levels and abilities of cyclists, and was focused on raising dollars for the Lance Armstrong Foundation, LIVESTRONG®, Queen of the Valley Cancer Center in Napa, and the Martin-O’Neil Cancer Center located on the campus of St. Helena Hospital. Additionally, a portion of the proceeds will be given to the Napa Valley Vine Trail and their important grassroots efforts to implement a multi-use trail from Calistoga to Vallejo.

The event, intended to offer a cycling experience beyond the expected, or what Executive Director, Hunter Ziesing has claimed, “theater on the roads”, the 700 plus participants were welcomed by a cast of characters and stunts designed to give racers and recreational cyclists a day to remember. The Angel of Echelon, a Borat-inspired character, a photographer’s helicopter hovering over the start, a hot air balloon, and cheerleaders added to the buzz and exhilaration of the cyclists’ day. 

Along with the on course entertainment – a Jazz band was stationed at the peak of the four mile hill climb - and gourmet cuisine, such as sandwiches from the famed Culinary Institute of America, the event itself was structured as a partnership model between the donors, volunteers, corporate partners and charitable recipients. “Our goal was to create a uniquely fulfilling experience for our participants and a significant contribution to worthy, local programs. Everyone gives…and everyone receives,” said Ziesing. According to Ziesing, ninety percent of the event’s expenses went to local merchants, with an additional several thousand dollars in donation to the Napa Food Bank.

David Cochran, the event’s Chief Operating Officer commented, “We have been very please by the continual positive feedback from the participants, and how our team, though limited in size, was able to pull off this new breed of event. While we had some minor glitches such as the size of our signage and our delayed start time, all in all we are encouraged by the momentum this will bring to future Echelon events.” 

With little funding from corporate sponsorship, early indication is that Echelon will make a significant donation to its beneficiaries. “Based on this level of success, we know that in 2011 along with increased participants and corporate sponsorship, we will be able to offer even a more substantial amount to our beneficiaries,” said Ziesing. The Echelon team now turns their creative efforts towards their next event, September 26^th in Oregon’s Columbia River Gorge featuring pro-cyclist, Team RadioShack’s® Chris Horner.

THE ANGEL OF ECHELON HAS RISEN

 

For Immediate Release:

THE ANGEL OF ECHELON RISES FOR THE INAUGURAL ECHELON GRAN FONDO SERIES – NAPA VALLEY, MAY 23RD

Angel serves dual role of inspiring the cancer community and encouraging cycling fundraisers on the Napa Gran Fondo course.

(San Francisco, CA – April 16th, 2010) – With the focus on fundraising for LIVESTRONG® and local cancer institutions, Queen of the Valley Hospital and the Martin O’Neil Cancer Center, organizers of the Echelon Gran Fondo series have resurrected a known figure in the world of professional cycling, and soon to be known to many more in the cancer centered hospital communities where the Echelon rides will occur  – the Angel of Echelon.  The Angel, formerly known as the Specialized® Angel, popular to both the cyclists and fans, has been restored and restyled to emulate a protector and healer while still maintaining her celebrated allure and charisma. 

The real life angel, California native Jana Ireton, began her career in the service sector as a nurse and is all too familiar with the emotional toils of working in hospitals. “When I was asked to bring back the Angel, I was thrilled, as I know the cycling fans liked this character and it was also great to simply energize the peloton. Now I have the chance to take the Angel to a different level, and work with the Echelon beneficiary partners and spread good will and encouragement to those who need it the most,” stated Ireton.

Echelon Event Director, Hunter Ziesing, has said that this particular series will emulate more the fanfare of the Tour De France, than the Italian heritage of Gran Fondos. “The angel character serves a dual role: one to inspire and support those off the bike and the other to captivate and cheer those on the bike,” said Ziesing. Ziesing has explained that other lively and unexpected characters will be on course cheering the riders along.

The Echelon series is designed as a partnership between the local beneficiaries who donate their time, and the donors who are focused on raising money for cancer initiatives. The key event sponsors - Garmin®, Louis Garneau®, Hammer Nutrition®, Capo®, Skins™, Bicycling Magazine and 1440 KVON- have donated product and services, of which will be rewarded to the fundraisers. 

The Echelon Napa cycling event will begin at 8:30am at Napa’s Veteran’s Park. Shortly after the cyclists depart much of downtown Napa will be closed for the inaugural Echelon 5k Run/Walk benefiting the Napa Valley Vine Trail, and beginning at 9:30am. A fun run for kids under 12 will take place after the 5K run. Deadline for team and individual registration is May 16, 2010. For more information, visit http://www.echelongranfondo.org/napa.

About PlanetZ/Echelon:

PlanetZ is a non-profit global member organization that promotes human affairs including health, environment, and community, and is greatly committed to the cycling community at large by creating events and fitness challenges that are designed to raise money to local and national cancer focused institutions. For more information, please visit www.echelongranfondo.org