Columbus, OH. (Top40 Charts/ Pelotonia) - Pelotonia, founded by NetJets to benefit cancer research at The Ohio
State University Comprehensive Cancer Center -
James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research
Institute (OSUCCC-James), is pleased to announce that its inaugural tour will start at Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS), 2540 Olentangy River Rd., in Columbus and feature live entertainment by
Michelle Branch and Matt Nathanson.
More than 4,000 riders and guests are expected to attend Pelotonia's opening ceremony on August 28th, joining 3,000 cancer survivors and family as part of the 2009 Cancer Survivors Day sponsored by OSUCCC-James. In total, more than 7,000 people are expected to gather on the lawn of Chemical Abstracts on Friday night. The event is closed to the public.
Pelotonia's opening ceremony will begin at 7:00 p.m. and include remarks from Inaugural Chair Lance Armstrong. Earlier in the day, starting at 3:00 p.m., the site will offer a cycling exposition, rider check-in, first aid, bike storage/service and dinner for participants.
'We are excited to start Pelotonia on the campus of CAS in Columbus with our founding partners NetJets and The Ohio State University,' said Tom Lennox, executive director of Pelotonia. 'Although we started building the Pelotonia brand over a year ago, Friday evening will further define the need to fund life-saving cancer research.'
CAS, the global leader in chemical information, is ideally located near The Ohio State University campus with excellent access to bike-friendly roads capable of accommodating Pelotonia's roster of more than 2,000 riders, a number that may very well exceed 2,250.
Following remarks by Pelotonia Executive Director Tom Lennox, seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, Ohio State University President Dr. E. Gordon Gee and NetJets Aviation President Jim Christensen at 7:00 p.m., Pelotonia riders, cancer survivors, friends and family will enjoy live music by Branch until 9:30 p.m.
Following an early morning breakfast on Saturday, August 29th, Pelotonia's riders will start the tour just before sunrise at 7:15 a.m. from CAS and travel south along Olentangy River Road past the Jerome Schottenstein Center, through campus and down Neil Avenue.
Turning left at Nationwide Boulevard, Pelotonia riders, led by Lance Armstrong, will turn right on High Street, riding past the Ohio Statehouse for three miles before heading southeast past Groveport toward Canal Winchester, Amanda, Lancaster, Logan and Nelsonville before stopping in Athens, Ohio.
Because the CAS campus will only be open to Pelotonia riders and staff that morning, spectators are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs to view the action from one of two locations, either the Jerome Schottenstein Center or the Ohio Statehouse lawn.
Between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., riders will arrive in Groveport and Amanda, Ohio, the end of the 25- and 50-mile routes, respectively, while all other riders will continue their ride with most arriving in Athens by mid-afternoon.
All along the route, volunteers will fully support riders by providing snacks, beverages, first aid assistance and bike maintenance services. More than 1,400 volunteers will line the route to Athens, with many more supporters and bystanders cheering riders along.
Weekend Schedule:
Opening Ceremony - Friday, August 28, 2009
All Opening Ceremony activities occur on the campus of Chemical Abstracts Service.
* Rider Check-In (3 p.m. - 9 p.m.)
* Expo (3 p.m. - 9 p.m.)
* First Aid Services (3 p.m. - 9 p.m.)
* Bike Storage and Maintenance (3 p.m. - 9 p.m.)
* Bag Drop-Off (3 p.m. - 9 p.m.)
* Beverages (3 p.m. - 9 p.m.)
* Dinner Buffet (4:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.)
* Opening Ceremony Program (7 p.m. - 8 p.m.)
* Live Music (5 p.m. - 7 p.m.; 8 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.)
Ride - Day One - Saturday, August 29, 2009
* Late Rider Check-In and First Aid Services (5:30 a.m. - 6:45 a.m.)
* Bike Pick-up and Emergency Maintenance (5:30 a.m. - 6:45 a.m.)
* Bag Drop-off in Columbus (5:30 a.m. - 6:45 a.m.)
* Light Breakfast (5:30 a.m. - 7 a.m.)
* All Riders Depart (7:15 a.m.)
* Hamilton Township Water Stop (7:30 a.m. - 10 a.m.)
* 25-Mile Finish at Groveport Recreation Center (7:45 a.m. - 11 a.m.)
o Shuttles for 25-Mile Riders
* Marcy General Store Water Stop (8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.)
* 50-Mile Finish/100 & 180-Mile Lunch Stop at Amanda - Clear Creek High School (9 a.m. - 2 p.m.)
o Shuttles for 50-Miler Riders
* Clear Creek Metro Park Water Stop (9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.)
* Lake Logan Dam Water Stop (10 a.m. - 5 p.m.)
* Hocking College Water Stop (11 a.m. - 7 p.m.)
* 100-Mile Finish/180-Mile First-Day Finish at Ohio University's TailGreat Park
(www.ohiobobcats.com/facilities/tail-great-park-main.html) (noon - 9 p.m.)
o Beverages (noon - 9 p.m.)
o 180-Mile Rider Dormitory Check-In/Bag Pick-up (noon - 8 p.m.)
o 100-Mile Rider Bag Pick-Up (noon - 8 p.m.)
o 100-Mile Rider Locker Room for Showers (noon - 8 p.m.)
o First Aid Services (noon and throughout the night)
o Bike Storage/Transportation/Maintenance (noon - 8 p.m.)
o Live Music (2 p.m. - 8 p.m.)
o Buffet (2 p.m. - 8 p.m.)
o Massage (2 p.m. - 8 p.m.)
o Shuttles for 100-Mile Riders
Ride - Day Two - Sunday, August 30, 2009
* Rider Reveille (5:30 a.m.)
* Breakfast in Athens (5:30 a.m. - 6:45 a.m.)
* First Aid Services in Athens (5:30 a.m. - 6:45 a.m.)
* Bike Pick-up and Maintenance (5:30 a.m. - 6:45 a.m.)
* 180-Mile Riders Depart (7:15 a.m.)
* Hocking College Water Stop (7:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.)
* Lake Logan Dam Water Stop (8:30 a.m. - noon)
* Clear Creek Metro Park Water Stop (9 a.m. - 2 p.m.)
* Amanda-Clear Creek High School Water Stop (10 a.m. - 3 p.m.)
* 180-Mile Finish at Slate Run Metro Park
(www.metroparks.net/ParksSlateRun.aspx) (10:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.)
o Beverages (10:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.)
o Bag Pick-Up (10:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.)
o Shower Truck (10:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.)
o First Aid Services (10:30 a.m.- 5 p.m.)
o Bike Transportation/Maintenance (10:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.)
o Buffet (11 a.m. - 4 p.m.)
o Music (noon - 5 p.m.)
o Shuttles for 100-Mile Riders
