Salem, NY - The organizers of the 2008 Tour of the Battenkill Cycling Race announce that with more than 1200 current registrants, the race has surpassed Monterey California's prestigious Sea Otter Classic as the largest single-day road cycling race in the United States. 1600 racers from more than 25 States and Canada are expected to race on April 19. The event is hosted in cooperation with the Towns & Villages of the Battenkill Valley (www.visitbattenkillvalley.com). Proceeds will benefit Farm Team Cycling of Cambridge (farmteamcycling.org) - an area Junior-level cycling team, and the Public Libraries of Southern Washington County, NY. See www.tourofthebattenkill.com for race details, contact information, and the many sponsorship opportunities still available.

Starting & finishing in the rural Washington County New York village of Salem, the race features one of the most challenging and unique race courses on the North American calendar with a single 55 mile loop, rolling countryside, direct passes through small villages, covered bridges, and the un-paved roads that have become the race's trademark. Challenging sections of the course include Juniper Swamp Road in the Town of Salem - a 1/4 mile un-paved climb with a 15% grade, Meeting House and Becker Roads in Easton - 4 very difficult un-paved climbs that come late in the course, and the challenging climb up Willard Mountain at mile 30. The Elite and Professional Men will race on an extended 82 mile course that will feature the rarely-travelled McKie Hollow Road in the Town of White Creek - a 1/2 mile unpaved climb that averages 12-15% in grade, and a final 7 mile circuit in the Town of Salem. Along the way, racers will pass directly through the Villages of Cambridge and Greenwich giving spectators several opportunities to see the race.

There are 17 separate races from Junior to Professional Men's & Women's races. Among the Professional teams attending are the Advil/Chapstick Women's Professional Cycling Team, Kenda/Raleigh Men's Cycling Team, Calyon-Litespeed Professional Cycling of Montreal, Target Training Elite Development Team, Team RACE Professional Cycling of Ontario, Fitness Together / IF pb Lionette's Men's Elite Cycling, MetLife Pro-Am Cycling, and VW/Trek of Quebec.

The race also features a race expo organized by the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce at the finish line on West Broadway in Salem featuring food, local crafts, cycling vendors, and live entertainment, as well as several viewing areas around the course.

Major 2008 Race Sponsors include Glens Falls Hospital (glensfallshospital.org), Trade Manage Capital (trademanagecapital.com), WestoodVelo (westwoodvelo.com), Glens Falls National Bank & Trust Company (gfnational.com), Reynolds Real Estate of Greenwich (lreynoldsrealestate.com), Cabot of Vermont (cabotcheese.com), Echappe Equipment (echappeonline.com), 53x11 Coffee (53x11coffee.com), Udderly Smooth Udder Cream (uddercream.com), Flex Power (flexpower.com), and Adidas Eyewear (adidas.com/eyewear).