A bicycle race in the tradition of a classic European road race comes to Northern Michigan on
Sunday, May 25. The UCI 1.2 ranked, 4th Annual Priority Health Tour de Leelanau, presented by Leelanau Sands Casino, will take international and professional male and female bicycle racers through some of the most scenic spots in the State of Michigan the Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend.

“We have moved the event forward on the racing calendar in order to capitalize on the teams’ enthusiasm for racing in early summer compared to the end of the season” noted Steve Brown, race director. “It has meant a short “off-season” for our organizing committee but everything is on-track for a great race in May.”

Both the men’s and women’s courses will include varying twists,climbs, and descents before finishing uphill at Leelanau Sands Casino in Peshawbestown. The men’s point-to-point course will take racers on a 109.5-mile trek through many of the scenic towns and villages across
Leelanau County and features over 7,000 feet of climbing.

“The Tour De Leelanau course profile is a feature that really defines the event. I was surprised by how much power the course required. We were constantly going up and down. It is more like a traditional European road race. I’m really excited to return to defend my title”, says 2007
Champion, Garrett Peltonen of the Bissell Pro Cycling Team (http://www.bissellprocycling.com).

The women’s course will be 69.5-miles, featuring much of the same challenging terrain as the men’s race. “We selected the May 25th date to correspond with the upcoming major events in both the men’s and women’s pro cycling calendar. For the men, the challenging nature of the race course will serve as perfect preparation for the “Philly Week” Commerce Bank Classic races that take place in early June. For the women, the Tour De Leelanau will be a great way to tune their legs before the Montreal World Cup and Le Tour du Grand Montréal”, says Steve Brown.

The Priority Health Tour de Leelanau is sanctioned by the International Cycling Union (UCI) and USA Cycling, and is one of the sixteen events that make up the “2008 USA CYCLING PRO TOUR” series, the most prestigious bicycle race series in the U.S. One thing is certain at the 4th Annual Priority Health Tour de Leelanau, presented by Leelanau Sands Casino; Leelanau County is a great venue for challenging and dynamic cycling.

2008 Sponsors include Priority Health, Leelanau Sands Casino, The Homestead, Advantage Benefits, Bissell Homecare, and Hagerty Insurance.

More information is available by visiting www.tourdeleelanau.com