NEWS
For Immediate Release
June 18, 2009

Contact
Julie Whitley, Tour de Grandview
(614) 832-5373
whitleyj@columbus.rr.com 

GRANDVIEW HEIGHTS, Ohio - Teams, riders and spectators alike will enjoy affordable lodging when they come to Columbus, Ohio for the 17th annual Tour de Grandview Cycling Classic June 27-28.

Local hotels the Hilton Garden Inn Columbus (University Area), the University Plaza Hotel & Conference Center, and the Varsity Inn (OSU North and OSU South) all are offering discount rates for Tour de Grandview guests. 

The Hilton Garden Inn (614-263-7200 or stayhgi.com) is offering a rate of $99 per night; the University Plaza (614-267-7461 or universityplazaosu.com) has rooms for $89 per night; and the Varsity Inn (866-678-8277 or varsityinn.com) is available for $59 per night.  Guests should mention the Tour de Grandview when making their reservations.

All the participating hotels offer excellent amenities and are conveniently located within five miles of the Tour de Grandview Criterium course. 

"We're pleased to have all of these great hotels participating and supporting this year's Tour de Grandview," said Tour organizer Julie Whitley.  "We hope lots of our teams, riders and guests will be able to take advantage of these great local lodging options and great rates."

A favorite stop for top professional cyclists from the U.S. and around the world, the Tour de Grandview Cycling Classic will feature a day of world-class bicycle racing through the streets of suburban Grandview, as well as a number events and activities for spectators and cyclists alike. 

           

Among the events scheduled for this year's Tour are a Kids' Sprints competition (5:00 p.m.) and Grandview Avenue Street Party (5:30 - 11:00 p.m.) on Saturday night, June 27.  The street party will include food, drinks, music, dancing and live entertainment.  The racing begins Sunday afternoon, June 28 (12:00 - 6:00 p.m.) with the signature Tour de Grandview Criterium.  

The races will feature both men and women cyclists in multiple professional categories.  The criterium course will cover a number of the hilly, tree-lined streets just west of Grandview Avenue, the city's main thoroughfare. 

The Tour de Grandview Cycling Classic is Ohio's premier cycling event, attracting an international field of more than 300 professional cyclists to central Ohio each year, as well as hundreds of cycling enthusiasts and spectators.  Celebrating its 17th year in 2009, the Tour is organized by the non-profit Grandview Community Association with the support of the City of Grandview Heights, local volunteers and sponsoring businesses.  More information is available at www.tourdegrandview.com.