FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 10, 2015

Contact: Beth Pappas, 479-2280 ext. 2009

Sports Event & Sponsorship Manager

ATHLETIC CLUB AT THE WESTIN MOUNTAIN BIKE RACE SERIES CONTINUES WEDNESDAY WITH DAVOS DASH

(Vail)--The longest-running mountain bike race in the area, the 33rd Annual Davos Dash, will bring racers back to Vail Wednesday for the Athletic Club at the Westin Mountain Town Series. The race, held at 4:45 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. on Davos Road for bicyclists eight years and older, is a 3.5 mile grind that's virtually straight uphill, starting behind the Holiday Inn in West Vail. The current record holder, Jay Henry, set the record at 16 minutes 45 seconds in 2009. The record for the women's Pro division was set by Lisa Isom in 2005 at 20 minutes 25 seconds. This is the sixth race of the seven race series, which is presented by East West Resorts, Anthem BlueCross BlueShield, Summit Ford and The Dusty Boot.

Individual race costs are $25 for preregistration or $35 on race-day. Registration is available by going to www.vailrec.com. Preregistration for individual races ends at 5 p.m. tomorrow and day-of registration will end at 5:30 p.m. The races will begin at 4:45 p.m. with the Larkburger Youth Series for riders ages eight to 17, followed by the Athletic Club at the Westin adult series at 5:45 p.m. Men's Pro, Expert and Vet Experts will start first, followed by all other categories at 30 second intervals.

The race will include an after party at The Ale House in West Vail with a free keg of beer provided New Belgium Brewing Company. Prizes also will be presented after the race to the top three finishers of each category, as well as a raffle prize drawing featuring products from race sponsors, area merchants and national companies. Participants should park at the after party location or at the Lionshead parking dtructure and ride to the start. There is no race parking at the Holiday Inn. Additionally, riders are reminded that the roads leading from the start to the Davos trail head will not be closed to the public prior to the race so all bikers need to follow the rules of the road when warming up.

The final race of the season, the Beaver Creek Blast, is scheduled for Aug. 26 in Beaver Creek. With only two races remaining, the team competition is heating up and it's a close race between first and second place teams with less than 400 points separating Dusty Boot/Mountain Pedalar and Pedal Power. Trinity Development Vail Valley Juniors is in third followed closely by the Vail Valley Medical Center/Howard Head Sports Medicine. According to Race Director Beth Pappas, the next two races will include strategy about who is racing in which categories and who is up for the challenge. "Its anyone's game at this point," said Pappas. "It could be a nail biter the evening of the Beaver Creek Blast, making it exciting for not only our racers, but our staff as well. It's came down to just a few points in the past and it's looking like that may happen again for the 2015 race series."

In addition to the Athletic Club at the Westin, East West Resorts, Anthem BlueCross BlueShield, Summit Ford and The Dusty Boot, sponsors of the 2015 race series include Vail Valley Medical Center, Town of Eagle, The Steadman Philippon Research Institute, The Steadman Clinic, Central Rockies Mortgage, Vail, Beaver Creek, Apex Dental, New Belgium Brewing Company, POC, Avon Liquor, Optic Nerve, Outdoor Tech, Yeti's Grind, Yellowbelly, Honeystinger, Vail Honeywagon, Venture Sports, The Kind Bikes and Skis, Mountain Pedaler, Pedal Power and KZYR 97.7. The 2015 Youth Series is presented by Larkburger and KidSPORT.

Photos will be available on the VRD's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/vailrecdistrict, plus feature photos by Linda Guerrette Photography at www.lindaguerrettephotography.com.

Registration, course information and start times are available by visiting www.vailrec.com/sports/mountain-bike-racing/mtb-race-series or calling 970-479-2280. For information on all other VRD programs and activities, visit www.vailrec.com or call 970-479-2279.

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The VRD is an equal service provider and operates under special permission from the White River National Forest and Bureau of Land Management.