World News Daily

BENTONVILLE TONIGHT WHERE THOUSANDS OF CYCLING ENTHUSIASTS ARE EXPECTED. CHIP? PROFESSIONAL CYCLER AND OLYMPIAN GEORGE HINCAPIE MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT RIGHT HERE AT THE “THADEN SCHOOL OF PERFORMING ARTS CENTER” THIS AFTERNOON. HE SAYS BENTONVILLE IS A PRIME SPOT FOR CYCLING AND HE WANTS THE REST OF THE WORLD TO SEE THAT TOO. GEORGE HINCAPIE WAS FRONT AND CENTER FRIDAY AFTERNOON AS HE HELPED UNVEIL PLANS FOR THE “GRAN FONDO HINCAPIE,” SET FOR SEPTEMBER 6TH THROUGH 8TH IN BENTONVILLE. HINCAPIE, WHO LIVES IN SOUTH CAROLINA, SAYS THERE’S NO BETTER PLACE TO DEVELOP A LOVE FOR CYCLING THAN RIGHT HERE IN BENTONVILLE. “We love this community. We see it as one of the most cycling-centric communities in the country.” ORGANIZERS SAY IT’S ABOUT MORE THAN JUST CYCLING THOUGH. IT’S A FESTIVAL OF EVENTS WITH SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE, INCLUDING LIVE MUSIC AND FOOD. “So, it’s an event that anyone can participate in. Whether you’re a serious cyclist or just a newcomer to the sport.” HINCAPIE SAYS HE WAS QUICK TO ACCEPT THE CITY OF BENTONVILLE’S INVITATION TO HOST THE EVENT HERE. HE SAYS YOU CAN CYCLE AS MANY AS 80 MILES AT ONE TIME, ALTHOUGH THERE ARE SHORTER DISTANCES AVAILABLE TOO. AND A CHANCE TO RIDE ON THE PAVEMENT. (Hincapie) “A lot of people don’t know how good the roads are here as well. And how much elevation and how scenic the roads are.” PEOPLE OF ALL AGES WERE ON-HAND FOR THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT ON FRIDAY. MANY YOUNG PEOPLE, EAGER TO SEE HINCAPIE AND SHARE THEIR LOVE FOR CYCLING. “I’ve always just like really wanted to do Tour de France. And I thought it would be cool to see somebody that was actually from that has actually done it.” HINCAPIE IS THRILLED TO SEE YOUNGER PEOPLE DEVELOP AN INTEREST IN CYCLING. “Youth cycling in the United States is a big goal of our’s. To help grow it, get more kids on bicycles.” THE CYCLING FESTIVAL WILL COME JUST A FEW SHORT WEEKS AFTER THE SUMMER OLYMPICS IN PARIS. REGISTRATION FOR THE EVENT IS ALREADY UNDERWAY. WE’LL POST A LINK TO THE REGISTRATION SITE ON O