BACK FROM THE BRINK OF DEATH
Swiss Cycling Champion Yves Corminboeuf at Cincinnati International Cyclocross Festival after Battle with Leukemia
Press Contact Information: Zipp OVCX Cyclocross Tour
SpectaSport LLC; KenG@SpectaSport.com
Ken Getchell, Account Manager, 610-397-1950
Attachments: Two photos of Yves Cormnboeuf, One Festival Guide
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Date; Conshohocken, PA, USA: When the world-class field of professional cyclists line up on each of their three days of racing during this weekend's Cincinnati International Cyclocross Festival, few will have traveled further than Yves Corminboeuf.
Yves Corminboeuf has travelled to the brink of death and back.
On January 8th 2006, Corminboeuf won his third consecutive Swiss National Championship and represented Switzerland at the World Championships in Belgium at the end of that same month. Two weeks later he suffered a stroke. He was taken to the University Hospital of Lausanne, where doctors discovered that he suffered from severe Leukemia. After 3 months of chemotherapy, and the loss of 35 pounds from his already super-skinny bike racer's body, he was discharged from the hospital May 1st 2007.
His battles weren't done yet, however. The stroke had paralyzed the left side of his body. Less than six months earlier, Corminboeuf had been a champion racer in the sport of cyclocross, a bike race demanding grace and fluidity as the riders need to jump off and on their bikes at full speed to carry them over hurdles and other obstacles. Now he needed to learn how to walk again, and he was still on oral chemotherapy.
In September of 2007, exactly 10 months after the day of his stroke, Yves climbed aboard a bicycle and competed in a race. Since then, Corminboef, who remains under an oral chemotherapy treatment, has been preparing himself for his comeback to professional cyclocross. However, he realized that the media-hype to his comeback would be an un-needed distraction in Europe. So, Corminboeuf and his friend and countryman Guillaume Dessibourg hatched a plan to start his comeback tour in America, where cyclocross is growing very rapidly and has an enthusiastic following – but, like soccer, isn't at the same level of frenzy as in Europe.
After races in Michigan and Wisconsin, Yves Corminboef and Guillaume Dessibourg will cap off their American tour with one of the highest-ranked cyclocross racing weekends in North America, the Cincinnati International Cyclocross Festival, where he will be competing against two-time defending Danish National Champion Joachim Parbo and the best racers in America. The festival is comprised of three races: Friday's Dark Horse Cyclo Stampede in Burlington Kentucky, Saturday's Java Johnny's/Lionhearts International in Middletown Ohio, and Sunday's Grand Finale – the Category1-ranked BioWheels/United Dairy Farmers Harbin Park International in Fairfield. All races run rain or shine, and no admission is charged.
Conshohocken, PA, USA: Mark Legg and Guillame Dessibourg literally come from the opposite side of the world from each other. They were born in different eras. They speak different languages (Deutsch_English_ French). Yet they have one thing in common, cyclocross bicycle racing and this weekend?s Cincinnati International Cyclocross Festival.
The two serve to show the widespread popularity of the sport, which is rapidly attracting the attention of competitors and spectators in the United States. Guillame Dessibourg, who resides in Fribourg in the French-Deutsch speaking section of Switzerland, is one of the sport up-and-comers. The lanky 21 year old, was part of the Swiss National Team and will be competing in the Elite/Professional races during the three-day festival. Dessibourg, who weighs only 134 pounds, is known as a puncher hill specialist, somebody who can destroy his competitors by rapidly accelerating up steep inclines.
DETAILS:
DAILY SCHEDULE:
Race #1 • Friday October 10:
England-Idlewild Park • Burlington Kentucky
Admission Free • Rain-or-Shine
1:00 pm Amateur Race • Beginner Men, Women and Junior categories • 40 Minutes
1:45 pm FREE Kiddie Fun Race (parental assistance allowed, must provide own bike & helmet)
2:00 pm Pro Juniors and Fast Amateur Men • 45 Minutes
3:00 pm Semi-Pro Race • Elite Masters age 35+ • 45 Minutes
4:00 pm ELITE / PROFESSIONAL INTERNATIONAL WOMEN • 40 Minutes
5:00 pm ELITE / PROFESSIONAL INTERNATIONAL MEN • 60 Minutes
Race #2 • Saturday October 11:
Java Johnny's - Lionhearts International
Sunset Park • Middletown Ohio
Admission Free • Rain-or-Shine
10:30 am Amateur Race • Beginner Men and Junior categories • 40 Minutes
11:15 am Amateur Race • Beginner, Junior and Masters 35+ Women's categories • 30 Minutes
12:00 pm Pro Juniors and Fast Amateur Men • 45 Minutes
1:00 pm Semi-Pro Race • Elite Masters age 35+ • 45 Minutes
2:00 pm ELITE / PROFESSIONAL INTERNATIONAL WOMEN • 40 Minutes
2:45 pm Sportsleader Cyclocross Challenge FREE Kids Fun Race ages 4-9
(parental assistance allowed, must provide own bike & helmet)
3:30 pm ELITE / PROFESSIONAL INTERNATIONAL MEN • 60 Minutes
Race #3 • Sunday October 12:
Harbin Park • Fairfield Ohio
Admission Free • Rain-or-Shine
11:00 am Amateur Race • Beginner Men, Women and Junior categories • 40 Minutes
11:45 pm FREE Kiddie Fun Race (parental assistance allowed, must provide own bike & helmet)
12:00 pm Pro Juniors and Fast Amateur Men • 45 Minutes
1:00 pm Semi-Pro Race • Elite Masters age 35+ • 45 Minutes
2:00 pm ELITE / PROFESSIONAL INTERNATIONAL WOMEN • 40 Minutes
3:00 pm ELITE / PROFESSIONAL INTERNATIONAL MEN • 60 Minutes
For more information about cyclocross, see the attached Festival Guide.
For additional information in the races of the Cincinnati International Cyclocross Festival, call Mitch Graham of Bio-Wheels at 513-861-BIKE
