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Tuesday, October 16, 2007 USGP of Cyclocross and Clif Bar Focus on the Sustainable Junior Athlete – By jhanscom @ 3:50 PM :: 707 Views :: 0 Comments :: October 15, 2007 (Saratoga Springs, NY) -- Organizers of the US Gran Prix of Cyclocross, presented by Crank Brothers (USGP) and Clif Bar have announced an innovative new partnership focusing on the development of the Junior cross racer.   “We are thrilled to announce that because of our partnership with CLIF Bar and their tremendous commitment to Junior development, that we will be providing a “scholarship” for one additional Junior rider to be selected from the USGP Series ranks to compete at the World Championships,” said Bruce Fina, Executive Director, US Gran Prix of Cyclocross “The USGP and CLIF Bar are both committed to the growth of the sport of cyclocross in the United States and these Junior athletes are the future.  We saw last year how the right level of support and strong head to head competition here at home amongst the juniors can lead to tremendous success on the international level.  We want to continue to support that type of growth.”   “One key component of TEAM CLIF BAR’s Sustainable Sports program is the focus on supporting junior athlete development efforts,” stated Dylan Seguin, manager of the TEAM CLIF BAR program.  “The scholarship piece that we’ve created with the USGP for ’07 is a great addition that will allow one more Junior rider to compete at Worlds.  The scholarship, combined with the CLIF BAR Kids’ Clinics, really puts a nice focus on the importance of supporting the young athletes.  It’s good stuff.”   USGP Technical Director and US National Team Coach Geoff Proctor continued, “This CLIF Bar scholarship presents us with a great opportunities – one additional Junior rider will earn invaluable experience competing at the International level and the US National Team will have the chance to bring an even stronger, deeper roster of Junior athletes to Worlds. It’s a win-win for everybody.” Proctor went on to explain how the scholarship will work, “The overall winner of the USGP gains automatic selection to the National Team as does the winner of Nationals.  The CLIF Bar scholarship will be awarded after the conclusion of the USGP and Nationals to the next Junior athlete in the overall USGP rankings who did not earn automatic selection by winning Nationals.”   CLIF Bar’s commitment to the USGP and the Junior athlete extends beyond the Top Tier Junior. In addition to the National Team scholarship, CLIF Bar will host Kids’ Clinics at each USGP weekend.   Specifically designed as an opportunity for young cross racers aged 10-16 to learn about the sport, these clinics will feature World Championship Silver Medalist and CLIF Bar Development Team athlete Danny Summerhill, Team Clif member Ben Turner and the USGP’s Geoff Proctor.  Each clinic will be held on Friday afternoon at the USGP venue and provide the participants with hands on instruction, the opportunity to experience the USGP course while receiving feedback and a chance to learn more about the sport from some of the best instructors the US has to offer.   Team CLIF Bar’s Ben Turner emphasized, “It’s exciting to work with these young athletes. The clinic will really focus on the basic skills of cyclocross and laying a solid foundation for developing skills.  We’ll learn how to mount, dismount and carry the bike.  Then we’ll have the chance to put these skills to the test on the actual race course.”   The U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross presented by Crank Brothers (USGP) is the Official National Cyclocross Team Selection Series of USA Cycling.

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