May 16, 2005 - Volume 2
Symmetrics Cycling takes on the Dodge Tour de Georgia.
Since our first newsletter of the season the team has been very busy racing, training and working on a few community projects. The biggest event over the past month was the Dodge Tour de Georgia which many of you were following closely via the internet, OLN and other media outlets. The simplest description of this event is that it was HARD. Not only was the terrain unbelievably difficult but the competition was the toughest we have ever seen in North America. The course covered 61 000 feet of climbing over the six day race with the two mountain stages topping out at 18200 feet (Friday) and 15900 feet (Saturday) of climbing in a single day of racing. You get the idea….this race was no picnic.
The Impact
The Dodge Tour de Georgia garnered much publicity, in part because of Lance Armstrong’s retirement announcement in a press conference preceding the first stage. There is no doubt that the press cadre of one hundred and twenty photographers and five hundred journalists were interested in what may have been Armstrong’s final North American race before his final Tour de France. But worldwide press coverage – including televised coverage by Outdoor Life Network – has meant extensive exposure for the Symmetrics Cycling team.
Distinctive in the yellow and black kit, the Symmetrics team received a lot of attention from media, fans and spectators. During daily pre-stage coverage, the team was often singled out identified for the all-Canadian composition of the team, its “newbie” status, and the presence of Canadian National champions like Eric Wohlberg and Svein Tuft. Over several days, Symmetrics riders were interviewed in front of large crowds in each stage start city, answering questions about race strategies and the team, and providing plugs for sponsors. Check out a few video clips that exemplify this point.
Symmetrics Team Presentation - Eric Wohlberg and Svein Tuft Interviews
 (15.2MB) |
 (15.5MB) |
Svein Tuft Interview at Stage 1 Rider Sign In
| (4.7MB) |
(4.3MB) |
Here is a brief summary of the impact
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One million + spectators from across the United States and over a dozen countries. 51% of the spectators are men, 41% women, with an average household income of 90,000 USD. Nearly half the spectators come from locations outside Georgia.
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Over 50 discrete sponsor mentions in print, and in verbal coverage. Our riders were interviewed in front of thousands of people each morning during rider sign-in and during the team presentation which highlighted the Symmetrics team and its sponsors
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Our biggest differentiator as a team is that we have become known as “Canada’s team” south of the Canadian border. Fans would be talking about the Canadian team that trains in the freezing cold winter to prepare for races like Georgia.
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Photographs and rider quotes of Symmetrics’ riders on dozen’s of world wide websites, including full Tour coverage on www.pedal.com, www.canadiancyclist.com, www.cyclingnews.com, www.velonews.com and many more
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A three minute segment covering the Symmetrics Cycling team on Global TV, SportsNet and Sports Page.
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Several high profile articles in the Vancouver Province and the Vancouver Sun newspapers
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Team profile in Road Magazine
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250 % increase in website traffic on www.symmetricscycling.com from March 2005 to April 2005.
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120% increase in unique visitors to the Symmetrics Cycling site since March 2005
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Hundreds of requests for autographs, clothing, posters, water bottles, and other Symmetrics paraphernalia
Symmetrics’ acceptance and participation in the Dodge Tour de Georgia was the most significant event in the team’s short three year history. Since the team’s return we have had countless emails and phone calls congratulating the team on its early season success. Much like a growing start-up, Symmetrics Cycling has taken a giant leap to the next level of professional bike racing in Canada and the United States.
Other Races
The team has also been participating in many other international and regional events. Mandy Poitras and Will Routley took 2nd and 7th in their respective events at the Pan Am Cycling Championships in Argentina. While the men's team made it a clean sweep (1st through 5th) at the SISU BC Cup opener at the Harris Roubaix in Pitt Meadows, BC.
What's next? We have a men’s team summer training camp starting on Tuesday May 17 that will extend into our next race, Mutual of Enumclaw Stage Race. These next six days of hard preparation will begin getting the team ready for the Mount Hood Stage Race and the Bell Canada Grand Prix de Beauce in Quebec.
Until next time....
Regards
Mark Cunningham
President & CEO
Symmetrics
www.symmetrics.net
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