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Sen. Schumer's letter to USA Cycling

Published: Dec. 2, 2008

December 1, 2008
Sean Petty
Chief Operating Officer
USA Cycling
1 Olympic Plaza, 

Colorado Springs, CO 80909

Dear Mr. Petty:
I write to ask that you reconsider the application from the Tour of
 the Battenkill to replace the 2009 Tour of Georgia in 2009 on the UCI America
 Tour. As you know, the Tour of Georgia canceled its 2009 race, and I
 believe Tour of Battenkill in Washington County of New York State is the
 perfect event to be included on the tour. The Battenkill Valley is an 
idyllic region of Upstate New York that is prepared and excited to attract
 even more attention to its already-popular Tour of Battenkill event.

In just five years, the Tour of the Battenkill has become the largest 
amateur biking race in the country and winds through 60 exciting miles of
 the picturesque Washington Country. Twenty of the race's 60 miles are on
 harsh and unforgiving hard-packed dirt roads that emulate the legendary 
cobblestone courses in Belgium and northern France.

But unlike
 Paris-Roubaix, Liège-Bastogne-Liège or the Tour of Flanders, the Tour of the 
Battenkill takes place right here in New York and has rightfully earned the 
title of America's "Queen of the Classics."

 Last year drew 15,000 participants and spectators. This year the race is
 expected to attract over 20,000 people, creating an economic boon for
 Washington County and surrounding areas.

Granting the race a UCI 2.1
 status will ensure that some of the top professional cyclists in the country
 will race on back roads of Washington County. Their participation will help 
fuel regional and national interest in the event and attract more people to 
the sport of cycling.


Unfortunately, due to the late cancellation of the Tour of Georgia the
 organizers of the Battenkill Race did not submit their application with USA 
Cycling until after the application deadline had passed. The UCI , however,
 has encouraged the organizers to file an application with them 
directly.

Having the support of USA Cycling for this event is critical. I
 respectfully ask that you re-consider the application, as I know that USA 
Cycling would not want to miss this exciting opportunity to fill an 
unanticipated gap in their 2009 schedule with one of the 
most exciting amateur biking races in the country.


Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to hearing from you on 
this matter. If you have any questions or would like additional 
information, please contact Sam Schaeffer in my office.


Sincerely,
Charles E. Schumer