Univest In The News
International Field Of Teams Announced For 2006 Univest Grand Prix
North America’s Pro Classic to Feature Field of 27 Top Professional and Elite Teams
SOUDERTON, Pa, August 29, 2006 – Growing from its international success in 2005, Sparta Cycling, Inc., one of America’s premier bicycle race promoters, today announced that it has confirmed 27 international and domestic professional and elite cycling teams for the ninth annual Univest Grand Prix (UCI 1.2). Second and third, respectively, in the USA Cycling National Race Calendar standings, Navigators Insurance Company (NIC) and Toyota-United Pro (TUP) will lead a field of unprecedented quality along with Team TIAA-CREF (TIA), recent winners of the USPRO National Criterium Championships. The Grand Prix, North America’s Pro Classic is one of only six internationally sanctioned competitions on the UCI America Tour and is scheduled for September 9-10, 2006.
“The field for the 2006 Univest Grand Prix builds on the foundation laid in the eight previous editions of the race and cements its reputation as the top event of its kind in North America,” said John Eustice, president of Sparta Cycling, Inc. and promoter of the Univest Grand Prix. “Over time, we have built this event from the top developmental races in the United States to an event that hosts some of the top teams in the world. Our status this year as the only professional “Classics” style race on the North American calendar is a natural evolution for an event that has deep roots in the cycling community.”
The penultimate race on the United States National Race Calendar for 2006, this year’s Univest Grand Prix is primed to feature the best of America’s professional class racing in front of thousands on WFMZ’s live television broadcast and on the web at www.wfmz.com. Navigators Insurance and Toyota-United Pro will come to Univest with an eye to valuable NRC points. Expect sprinters who can also climb to excel on the famed Univest Grand Prix course.
Russian Vassili Davidenko (NIC), now a resident of Mt. Arlington in New Jersey, will face tough challengers’ Argentinian sprinter Juan-Jose Haedo (TUP) and his teammate Ivan Dominguez. New Jersey based Colavita Olive Oil Professional Cycling Team will also be sending a powerful team featuring former USPRO Champion Mark McCormack and Italian Davide Frattini. Strong international professional squads from Mexico, Germany, Poland and Canada will look to take advantage of the in-fighting between the U.S. teams and take the win in Souderton on Saturday and the lion’s share of the $20,000 prize list. Last year’s second-place finisher Amos Brumble, an Elite with CCB-Volkswagon, will return to the roads of Montgomery and Bucks counties to challenge the professional class of riders.
Sunday’s Univest Grand Prix of Doylestown Criterium will feature the sprinters. Team TIAA-CREF will arrive in Doylestown with the past two winners of the 50-lap circuit race, Chad Hartley (2004) and Mike Friedman (2005). They will be looking to capitalize on their recent strong showing at the USPRO National Criterium Championships. As average speeds exceed 30 miles-per-hour, expect Haedo, Oleg Griskine (NIC) and former US Criterium Champion Frank Pipp of TargeTraining to also figure prominently in the flat, fast race.
For more information on the Univest Grand Prix, please visit www.univestgrandprix.com. The 2006 Univest Grand Prix will be broadcast live from 12:00-3:00 p.m. on WFMZ and www.wfmz.com. Individual rider profiles available upon request.
Univest Grand Prix 2006 Team Roster
International
Sparkasse – Etta Maes Antiques, Germany
TECOS – Alderfer Auction, Mexico
MBK-Cycles-Scout, Holland
Jet Fuel Coffee, Canada
Doylestown Hospital – Poland
Heinz von Heiden – Wolf Block, Germany
Garneau-Optik, Canada
Navigators Insurance
Toyota-United Pro
Team TIAA-CREF
TargeTraining
AEG-Toshiba-JetNetwork
Rite Aid
VMG Racing
Calyon-Litespeed
Ital Pasta transport Belmire
CRCA/Sakonnet Technology
Fiordifrutta
CCB-Vokswagon
GS Mengoni
LSV/Kelly Benefit Strategies
Kenda/Raleigh
Webcor
Pactimo/Kane Bikes
Lombardi Sport
Nature’s Path presented by Fuji
About Univest Grand Prix
The Univest Grand Prix is presented by: Univest Corporation of Pennsylvania, Leidy’s Premium Pork Products, Bergey’s Dealerships, Clemens Family Markets, Doylestown Hospital, Comcast Sportsnet, WFMZ-69, and The Intelligencer.
About Univest Corporation
Univest Corporation of Pennsylvania was founded in Souderton, Pa. and celebrates its 130th anniversary in 2006. Univest and its subsidiaries, Univest National Bank and Trust Co., Univest Insurance, Inc., and Univest Investments, Inc., provide support and leadership in their communities and offer a wide range of financial services to individuals, businesses, municipalities and non-profit organizations. Univest serves Bucks, Montgomery, and Chester counties through 34 financial service centers, 12 retirement community financial service centers, and 39 ATM locations.
About Sparta Cycling
Sparta Cycling, Inc. is a cycling event and television sports producer, and also offers training programs for top level cycling athletes. Founded in 1997, the Manhattan-based company produces the Univest Grand Prix and the Tour of Connecticut. For more information, please visit www.spartacycling.com.
This press release may contain forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results and trends could differ materially from those set forth in such statements due to various factors. Such factors include the possibility that increased demand or prices for the Company's financial services and products may not occur, changing economic and competitive conditions, technological developments, and other risks and uncertainties, including those detailed in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.