Threshold's Chauner optimistic for future
By Tim Maloney, European Editor
Despite rumours to the contrary, the 2005 edition of the San Francisco Grand Prix bicycle race will definitely happen, according to race organizer Dave Chauner of Threshold Sports. "We are happy to tell Cyclingnews that we have secured a new title sponsor for the event with a three-year commitment and will be making an official announcement shortly, but we wanted to get the news out to the cycling community that come September 4th, the top cyclists in the world will be out challenge the streets of San Francisco again," he said.
"We also have reached an agreement with the City of San Francisco about city services costs," Chauner added. "Mayor Gavin Newsom has been really supportive of the San Francisco Grand Prix race and now we're really positioned well for the future." Chauner explained that Threshold Sports is now the sole owner of the SFGP, although they continue to collaborate closely with former partners Tailwind Sports. "Dan Osipow has done a fantastic job over the years for the race in San Francisco, and we continue to have a great relationship with him and Tailwind Sports."
Chauner expressed regrets that there would be no women's SFGP this year, saying to Cyclingnews that "we really wish that we could have a women's race in 2005; the last two years were excellent events where top women racers from all over the world came to compete. But with our budget shortfalls, it was impossible to keep the course open the extra time to do the women's race," he said.
"Due to the unique way the SFPD runs the rolling enclosure for the race, we can not put both races on simultaneously. The traffic impact would be too great, so we can only run the women's race before the men's race. But we have had a great response from the cycling community in San Francisco and our goal is to bring back the Women's San Francisco GP in 2006." When the official announcement is made for the 2005 San Francisco GP, Cyclingnews provide further information as it happens.
