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Thursday News Briefs

Published June 27, 2012

Bell-Easton to consolidate Illinois operations • RockTape selects Smack Media for PR • 110% Play Harder sponsors Rêve Tour Team • Restaurant sponsors women's stage race

RANTOUL, IL (BRAIN) Thursday June 28 2012—Easton-Bell Sports plans to consolidate its several buildings in the southern Illinois town of Rantoul, creating a new building for assembling, distributing and servicing products.

The new facility will house about 300 employees. Bell Sports has had a factory in Rantoul since 1983.

"Easton-Bell Sports has enjoyed a long and productive history in Champaign County with a loyal, dedicated workforce and highly supportive local community," said Donna Flood, chief operations officer and president of Giro / Easton Cycling.

A local official said the new facility will produce $53 million annually in direct economic impact.

The planned site location is Rantoul's Village Industrial Park, less than four miles from the company's current building on US 136, with scheduled completion in late 2013. A Bell official told the Rantoul Press that the plant would be approximately 800,000 square feet.


RockTape selects Smack Media for PR

CAMPBELL, CA (BRAIN) Wednesday June 27 2012 9:53 AM MT—Sports medicine products supplier RockTape has selected Smack Media as its public relations agency of record. RockTape is best known for its kinesiology tape. The company sponsors the Garmin-Sharp pro team and the Reebok CrossFit Games, and is working with several Olympic trainers and athletes who will be competing this summer.

SmackMedia's clients include Clif, Grease Monkey Wipes, Zoot and 110% Play Harder.


110% Play Harder sponsors Rêve Tour Team

JACKSONVILLE, FL (BRAIN) Wednesday June 27 2012 10:10 AM MT—110% Play Harder, which offers a line of cold compression products, is the official performance and recovery tool sponsor for the women of the Rêve Tour team. The team of six women is riding all the stages of this year's Tour de France, the day before the men's race.

The cyclists plan to raise $60K for the Bikes Belong Foundation though the ride.


Aspen women's race gains title sponsor

ASPEN, CO (BRAIN) Wednesday June 27 2012 4:24 PM MT—Blue Ribbon Restaurants will become the title sponsor of the 2013 Aspen Snowmass Women's Pro Challenge, a stage race held in Colorado in August concurrently with the USA Pro Cycling Challenge.

The newly-renamed Blue Ribbon Alpine Challenge will take place Aug. 20-22.

The second-year race has created a non-profit organization that will help will support young womens athletic programs in Colorado.

“We have a fantastic title sponsor with Blue Ribbon Restaurants, and we also have some truly amazing companies such as Exergy Development Group, Primal Wear – which is our new clothing sponsor – and the Ajax Tavern at The Little Nell, who have also stepped up to support this event,” said race organizer and two-time U.S. elite national road champion Jessica Phillips.

The National Racing Calendar event will consist of three stages, with the final downtown criterium taking place just before the professional men arrive in Aspen for the conclusion of stage 4 of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge.

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