FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Contacts:

Chris Aronhalt, Medalist Sports (Executive Director) Phone: 770-631-1239

Jackie Tyson, Peloton Sports (PR) Phone: 678-362-6228

E-Mail: chris.aronhalt@medalistsports.com E-Mail: USPROpr@pelotonsports.net GREENVILLE, S.C. (August 6, 2009) – Summer starts to wind down at the end of the month, but you wouldn’t know it in Greenville, S.C. A full weekend of activities for sports fans, recreational cyclists and families heat up just before the Labor Day holiday on August 29-30 with the 4th annual Greenville Hospital System USA Cycling Professional Championships. Event organizers expect over 60,000 people for the two-day event, with a full schedule of activities surrounding elite handcycling and professional bicycle races.

The GHS USA Cycling Professional Championships are the dual championships for the top pros across the U.S., many of whom compete on the world stage of the Grand Tours of Europe. On Saturday, Aug. 29, the 20.7-mile Professional Individual Time Trial Championship, presented by Duke Energy, will return to the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR). On Sunday, Aug. 30, the 110-mile Professional Road Race Championship will be contested, utilizing a start/finish in the West End of downtown Greenville, and challenging athletes with four climbs over Paris Mountain on the north side of Greenville County. Both courses will also host new races for the U.S. Handcycling Series, presented by the Paralyzed Veterans of America, giving these elite athletes a final tune-up for the world championships in September.

Not a professional cyclist or elite handcyclist? Not a problem. Families can get involved in some free activities, such as the Family Fun Ride in Falls Park on Sunday morning, or the Duke Energy Kid’s Races in downtown Greenville Sunday afternoon. Main Street near Broad in downtown Greenville will be the headquarters for the Health and Wellness Expo and a special Soby’s Summer Block Party Sunday afternoon. Listen to music, enjoy food and check out the many exhibits from Greenville Hospital System and other event sponsors. And if you feel like a challenge, sign up for the Stars and Stripes Challenge bicycle ride early Sunday morning.

This marks the fourth consecutive year that Greenville has hosted the dual championships for professional cycling. 2009 is also the 25th anniversary of the Professional Road Race Championship. Past winners of the Pro Road Race Championship include Lance Armstrong of Austin, Texas in 1993, George Hincapie of Greenville, S.C. in 1998, 2006, Levi Leipheimer of Santa Rosa, Calif. in 2007, Tyler Hamilton of Boulder,

Colo. in 2008. David Zabriskie of Salt Lake City, Utah has won the Professional Time Trial for three consecutive years. Also since 2006, the Stars and Stripes Challenge, fundraiser bicycle ride for cancer research, has engaged thousands of recreational cyclists and raised over $400,000 for GHS’ Oncology Research Insitute and Lance Armstrong Foundation.

For more information about the event, opportunities for hospitality tickets or to volunteer, visit www.usacyclingchampionships.com or follow at www.twitter.com/usacpro.