News Release | What's New - The Cliffs Communities

The Cliffs Communities Renews Commitment as Host for USA Cycling's National Time Trial Championship

New Date Scheduled for The “Race of Truth” for U.S. Professionals

GREENVILLE, S.C. (June 26, 2007) – In only its second year, the national championship for professional cyclists in the individual time trial discipline will take place on Saturday, September 1. The Cliffs Communities, with seven private master-planned residential communities located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North and South Carolina, announced it will renew its presenting sponsorship of the Professional Time Trial Championship. The USA Cycling Professional Time Trial presented by The Cliffs will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday with route details to be announced soon.

"Our partnership with The Cliffs Communities is a perfect match of a world-class sporting event with a world-class residential community and lifestyle. On behalf of the organization and the athletes, The Cliffs Communities provides the ideal environment for an event such as the USA Cycling Professional Individual Time Trial Championships”, stated Chris Aronhalt, Executive Director and Managing Partner with Medalist Sports.

Based in the Carolina Preserve – the quality-of-life corridor connecting Asheville, NC and Greenville, SC - The Cliffs has partnered with professional golf and cycling events to showcase its residential communities, emphasizing a blend of wellness and respect for nature. The Cliffs began its association with professional cycling last year when the USA Cycling Professional Championships relocated from Philadelphia, PA to Greenville, SC.

In 2006, the newly established USPRO Time Trial Championship presented by The Cliffs challenged professionals to a 21-mile “race of truth” between The Cliffs at Mountain Park and The Cliffs Valley communities on the Friday prior to Labor Day weekend. Like last year, admission to the event is free for all spectators along the route. Reserved viewing areas and covered seating are available with VIP Hospitality Tickets, starting at $100 per ticket. Details about the route, best viewing areas, and volunteer opportunities are being finalized.

"We are delighted to be the presenting sponsor of the Individual Time Trial for the second consecutive year," stated Scott Beville, President of Sales and Marketing at The Cliffs Communities. "Wellness is a key cornerstone of our company's development philosophy and our communities' culture. What better way to illustrate our commitment to integrated wellness than to host such a nationally-acclaimed cycling event within our gates. It's truly a hallmark event for Greenville, as much as it is a test of skill for the participants, and we're poised to offer a highly memorable experience for our property owners and the spectators who will attend or tune in from across the world."

The individual time trial is a race against the clock rather than a mass race of teams. The time trial discipline has gained significance at multi-day stage races, like the Tour de France and Tour de Georgia. Close to 70 competitors are expected on September 1, including defending champion David Zabriskie (Team CSC) and runner-up Chris Baldwin (Toyota-United).

“I will be back to defend the national time trial championships. It was my first time in Greenville last year and I found it to be very nice part of the country that loves cycling,” Utah-native Zabriskie said. He is a two-time winner of the US national time trial championship (2004 and 2006) and has won time trials at both the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia (2005).

The USA Cycling Professional Time Trial Championship presented by The Cliffs is part of the Greenville Hospital System USA Cycling Professional Championships and a schedule of Labor Day weekend activities. Saturday night following the Time Trial, a special public concert will be held in downtown Greenville. Sunday features a fundraiser bicycle ride for recreational cyclists, the “Stars and Stripes Challenge”, and the Road Race Championship for professional cyclists. Last year the USA Cycling Professional Championships attracted over 62,000 spectators and raised over $80,000 for charity. Professional cyclists are permitted to compete in both the Time Trial and the Road Race, but must be American-only riders (U.S. citizens, open to members of UCI-registered trade teams only). The official website is www.usacyclingchampionships.com.

The Cliffs includes seven premier, private master-planned residential communities located along the leading edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains, between Asheville, North Carolina, and Greenville, South Carolina, collectively bordered by over one million acres of national forests and state parks. The start line is expected to return to The Cliffs at Mountain Park, which spans over 5,000 acres and includes more than 1,000 acres of green space and trails for walking, hiking and outdoor fitness. The finish line is expected to be located at The Cliffs Valley again this year. This community is nestled between mountain ridges with a parkland-style golf course designed by Ben Wright and 360 degrees of mountain views.