34th Annual Joe Martin attracts top pros, marks 6th NRC event
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Print The 34th edition of the Joe Martin Stage Race will kick off May 5-8 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. When the late Joe Martin began the Fayetteville Spring Classic cycle race in 1978, he did not expect it to become one of the longest and continually held races in the country.
On May 5-8, the Joe Martin Stage Race, renamed after Martin’s death in 1988, will commence its 34th consecutive year in existence and its 9th consecutive year on the USA Cycling National Racing Calendar. The NRC is the pro and elite amateur cycling tour of USA Cycling. The JMSR is the only event in Arkansas on the NRC and has become one of the premier events on the professional cycling tour.
“Being able to celebrate 34 years of any event, especially this race, speaks a lot about this community, the racers, and the fans that come and support it,” said Bruce Dunn, race director and owner of All Sports Productions. “A lot of great races aren't around after ten years, and here we are, celebrating our 34th year as a race. That is such a great accomplishment for the community and for the supporters of this event.”
In 2010, the 5-year domination of the Pro Men's race by United Healthcare came to an end at the hands of the Jamis-Sutter Home presented by Colavita Professional cycling team. In addition to capturing the team title, Jamis-Sutter Home rider Luis Romero Amaran was also the overall individual winner. We’re very excited to announce that Jamis-Sutter Home presented by Colavita will return to defend their 2010 title this year, and overall individual winner Luis Romero Amaran will be looking to defend his title as well. On the Pro Women's side and for the second year in a row, Alison Powers successfully defended her 2009 title with the Team Vera Bradley Foundation cycling team.
“We always want to see more racers each year,” Dunn said, “but what we’re seeing each year is an incredible increase in the quality of riders. Quantity is great, but we also want to see the reputation of the race grow each year as well. This year's early-season commitments from teams should make this a reality.”
This year the four-day, four-stage race will offer more than $55,000 in cash and merchandise to competitors across 11 categories. All Sports Productions is expecting 700 riders with approximately 1,500 support personnel for the four-day event. There will riders from 20 countries and all 50 states.
The races begin Thursday, May 5th, with a Pro/Elite Men’s and Women’s uphill time-trial from 2:00 to 7 p.m. that will push even the most experienced athletes. A racer will start every 30 seconds to race the 2.5-mile climb out of Devil’s Den State Park on Highway 170.
The next day, May 6th, the Pro Men’s road race begins at 12:30 p.m. The men will race 110 miles south from the Wal-Mart on 62 West and will continue on Highways 62, 45, and 59 until riders hit Mountainburg, where they will turn and head north on Highway 71. Racers are expected around 6 p.m. and will finish on Dickson Street. The women will start their 64-mile race at the First Baptist Church in Cedarville at 2:00 p.m. and are slated to finish around 4:30 p.m. on Dickson Street. The Pro Men's and Elite/Amateur Men's races will finish between 5:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Saturday morning, the amateur categories will begin their race with the uphill time-trial from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Devil's Den venue.A road race for both the professionals and amateurs will start Saturday at noon, May 7, at a new location to be announced very soon. The course length will vary between 46 and 92 miles depending on the level of the rider.
Races on Sunday will be very family and community-oriented as the final day of racing falls on Mother’s Day.
A free fun ride for kids between three and 12 years of age will begin at 12:30 in downtown Fayetteville. Inflatable bouncies, vendors featuring food, outdoor productions, refreshments, and demonstrations will be at the Square from 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Prizes will be given away to the public throughout the day.
The final race of the four-day event, the criterium, will begin and end at the corner of Church Avenue and Center Street. This course will be one of the easiest to observe for the community and always presents some exciting finishes. The Pro Women will start at 11:30 a.m. and the Men will follow at 1:15 p.m.
“The really special thing about the Joe Martin is the people that return to Fayetteville,” Dunn said. “These are the people that make this race bigger and better every year. But more importantly, this race has attracted those riders back to the area for vacations with their families. They come back every year for the race, but we know that they are starting to come back because of the attraction of the area and the city of Fayetteville.”
For more information visit www.joemartinstagerace.com and follow the race on Facebook and Twitter.
JMSR Facebook profile
JMSR Twitter account
All Sports Productions Facebook profile
HASHTAG FOR EVERYONE FOLLOWING OR ATTENDING THE RACE IS: #JMSR2011
Photos: Tom Ewart/Joe Martin Stage Race
About All Sports Productions, Inc.
The Joe Martin Stage Race is promoted by All Sports Productions, Inc. All Sports Productions is a sports event management and consulting company which promotes cycling, running, duathlons, triathlons, adventure racing and other outdoor events. The goal of the company is to produce races at the highest standards which are locally, regionally and nationally recognized events with a festival-like atmosphere. The mission of each event is to engage new participants and spectators in a healthy, multi-sport lifestyle.
About the National Racing Calendar (NRC)
Entering its 15th season, the National Racing Calendar (NRC) is an all-inclusive road cycling series sanctioned by USA Cycling. It is designed to provide a ranking system for all elite-level cyclists, both amateur and professional, through participation in the nation’s premier cycling events. For more information on the NRC, visit http://www.usacycling.org/nrc/.
On May 5-8, the Joe Martin Stage Race, renamed after Martin’s death in 1988, will commence its 34th consecutive year in existence and its 9th consecutive year on the USA Cycling National Racing Calendar. The NRC is the pro and elite amateur cycling tour of USA Cycling. The JMSR is the only event in Arkansas on the NRC and has become one of the premier events on the professional cycling tour.
“Being able to celebrate 34 years of any event, especially this race, speaks a lot about this community, the racers, and the fans that come and support it,” said Bruce Dunn, race director and owner of All Sports Productions. “A lot of great races aren't around after ten years, and here we are, celebrating our 34th year as a race. That is such a great accomplishment for the community and for the supporters of this event.”
In 2010, the 5-year domination of the Pro Men's race by United Healthcare came to an end at the hands of the Jamis-Sutter Home presented by Colavita Professional cycling team. In addition to capturing the team title, Jamis-Sutter Home rider Luis Romero Amaran was also the overall individual winner. We’re very excited to announce that Jamis-Sutter Home presented by Colavita will return to defend their 2010 title this year, and overall individual winner Luis Romero Amaran will be looking to defend his title as well. On the Pro Women's side and for the second year in a row, Alison Powers successfully defended her 2009 title with the Team Vera Bradley Foundation cycling team.
“We always want to see more racers each year,” Dunn said, “but what we’re seeing each year is an incredible increase in the quality of riders. Quantity is great, but we also want to see the reputation of the race grow each year as well. This year's early-season commitments from teams should make this a reality.”
This year the four-day, four-stage race will offer more than $55,000 in cash and merchandise to competitors across 11 categories. All Sports Productions is expecting 700 riders with approximately 1,500 support personnel for the four-day event. There will riders from 20 countries and all 50 states.
The races begin Thursday, May 5th, with a Pro/Elite Men’s and Women’s uphill time-trial from 2:00 to 7 p.m. that will push even the most experienced athletes. A racer will start every 30 seconds to race the 2.5-mile climb out of Devil’s Den State Park on Highway 170.
The next day, May 6th, the Pro Men’s road race begins at 12:30 p.m. The men will race 110 miles south from the Wal-Mart on 62 West and will continue on Highways 62, 45, and 59 until riders hit Mountainburg, where they will turn and head north on Highway 71. Racers are expected around 6 p.m. and will finish on Dickson Street. The women will start their 64-mile race at the First Baptist Church in Cedarville at 2:00 p.m. and are slated to finish around 4:30 p.m. on Dickson Street. The Pro Men's and Elite/Amateur Men's races will finish between 5:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Saturday morning, the amateur categories will begin their race with the uphill time-trial from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Devil's Den venue.A road race for both the professionals and amateurs will start Saturday at noon, May 7, at a new location to be announced very soon. The course length will vary between 46 and 92 miles depending on the level of the rider.
Races on Sunday will be very family and community-oriented as the final day of racing falls on Mother’s Day.
A free fun ride for kids between three and 12 years of age will begin at 12:30 in downtown Fayetteville. Inflatable bouncies, vendors featuring food, outdoor productions, refreshments, and demonstrations will be at the Square from 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Prizes will be given away to the public throughout the day.
The final race of the four-day event, the criterium, will begin and end at the corner of Church Avenue and Center Street. This course will be one of the easiest to observe for the community and always presents some exciting finishes. The Pro Women will start at 11:30 a.m. and the Men will follow at 1:15 p.m.
“The really special thing about the Joe Martin is the people that return to Fayetteville,” Dunn said. “These are the people that make this race bigger and better every year. But more importantly, this race has attracted those riders back to the area for vacations with their families. They come back every year for the race, but we know that they are starting to come back because of the attraction of the area and the city of Fayetteville.”
For more information visit www.joemartinstagerace.com and follow the race on Facebook and Twitter.
JMSR Facebook profile
JMSR Twitter account
All Sports Productions Facebook profile
HASHTAG FOR EVERYONE FOLLOWING OR ATTENDING THE RACE IS: #JMSR2011
Photos: Tom Ewart/Joe Martin Stage Race
About All Sports Productions, Inc.
The Joe Martin Stage Race is promoted by All Sports Productions, Inc. All Sports Productions is a sports event management and consulting company which promotes cycling, running, duathlons, triathlons, adventure racing and other outdoor events. The goal of the company is to produce races at the highest standards which are locally, regionally and nationally recognized events with a festival-like atmosphere. The mission of each event is to engage new participants and spectators in a healthy, multi-sport lifestyle.
About the National Racing Calendar (NRC)
Entering its 15th season, the National Racing Calendar (NRC) is an all-inclusive road cycling series sanctioned by USA Cycling. It is designed to provide a ranking system for all elite-level cyclists, both amateur and professional, through participation in the nation’s premier cycling events. For more information on the NRC, visit http://www.usacycling.org/nrc/.
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