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July 31, 2007 - Clay County Regional Events Center Hosts Lance Armstrong, RAGBRAI
For Immediate Release: July 31, 2007
Contact: Scott Hallgren 712-580-3000
Tammy Koolbeck 319-929-5755
SPENCER, Iowa – The Clay County Events Center in Spencer, IA hosted an interactive session between riders and cycling champion Lance Armstrong following the first day of the Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) in late July.
The Clay County Events Center, managed by VenuWorks, is located on the Clay County Fair Grounds. Other events included a concert featuring Cory & the Fireflies and the Johnny Holm Band, and a fireworks show.
Armstrong, a survivor of testicular and brain cancer who went on to win the Tour de France seven times, was making his first appearance at the Clay County Events Center. He discussed his bout with cancer, his Tour de France victories and his reasons for riding in RAGBRAI.
"This event has a lot of character. … Last year, I even saw a bike with a windsail on it," he told a crowd estimated in the hundreds, all age 21-under. You can't compare this bike ride."
Armstrong also said his cycling career was a springboard for his fight against cancer. Armstrong was participating in his second RAGBRAI. He offered the chance to ride with him for up 150 cyclists, all of whom had to pledge $1,000 to his LIVESTRONG Foundation.
RAGBRAI is sponsored by the Des Moines Register newspaper. More than 10,000 people participated in this year's event, the 35th. It covered 477 miles from Council Bluffs to Bellevue.
BACKGROUND
VenuWorks (formerly Compass Facility Management) is well known for its success in providing full management services for arenas, theaters, and convention centers, which are primarily under the governance of municipalities, counties, colleges, and universities. VenuWorks, headquartered in Ames, Iowa, is the third largest facilities management company in the United States, serving 26 facilities in 15 communities throughout the US. It also manages food and beverage operations and provides event booking and promotion services. VenuWorks also performs feasibility studies and consulting work for clients with existing and prospective public assembly facilities.
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