February 18... It's Official

Team iomega-Orbea today received their official invitation from the Federacion Ciclista de Uruguay to participate in the 61st edition of the Vuelta de Uruguay.  This year's event runs from April 2-11, 2004 and will be a UCI 2.5 event.  The team will officially accept the invitation and send a full squad of six riders to the event.  

The team will be going to Uruguay with modest goals and to gain experience competing in a European style stage race over ten days and with stage distances of over 200Km. 

"Its a great opportunity for the younger riders of the team as currently nowhere in the US except maybe Tour de Toona in PA, is there a race this length and stages this long. It will prepare them for events in the future and it will certainly be a great experience for all of us going down." commented iomage-Orbea Manager Gary Casella 

"I'd like to thank the Uruguayan cycling federation for this great opportunity for us to go there and race this national tour.  We will do our very best and race hard everyday and see what develops.  We'll be looking for opportunities to get good stage finishes, and we'll have Eric Ransom and Esteban Jukich as our GC co-leaders heading into the race." 

Check back later for more Vuelta de Uruguay details and results as they become available.

February 18... Uruguay?  Where is that?

After yesterday's announcement of its invitation to participate in the Vuelta de Uruguay, a common reply was...Uru-where?  Uruguay.  Uruguay is a small country nestled between Argentina and Brazil in South America roughly about the size of Washington State.  Uruguay is known for is beef export, leather and wool industry and also for Punta del Este, the Monaco of South America a popular tourist beachfront getaway. 

For more information on Uruguay check out the following links...

www.turismo.gub.uy

www.uruguayxxi.gub.uy