American Specialty Health Team Places Second in Leg of “World’s Toughest Bike Race”
SAN DIEGO (June 12, 2007) –
The team from American Specialty Health (ASH) recently secured a second place finish in Race Across America’s “24-Hour Corporate Challenge” relay cycling race. Collectively, the amateur ASH cycling team biked almost 500 miles in approximately 25 straight hours. This is the first time ASH employees have competed as a group in a race of this type.
The ASH team started the race with seven cyclists— Todd Northup, Michael Denhaan, Richard Stein, Bryan Van Noy, Brian Daugherty, Erik Eilers, and Eric Fox— in Oceanside, California on Sunday, June 10. The route went east through Imperial Valley, the Chocolate Mountains, Blythe, and into Arizona, finishing in Flagstaff. The ASH cyclists completed the race in 25 hours and 39 minutes.
Each team member cycled anywhere from seven to 30 miles at a time while a support vehicle followed them to each station. Here, the cyclists would switch and continue on to another checkpoint. Another small team of ASH employees— Erica Torske, Stuart Colan, and Matthew Arntzen— acted as crew members and provided support to the cycling team.
“We are extremely proud of our employees for this achievement,” said George DeVries, chairman, president, and CEO of ASH. “Their success in the 24-Hour Corporate Challenge is testament to our employees’ resolve, hard work, and enthusiasm for fitness and reaching their own healthy goals.”
The semi-professional Clif Bar cycling team was the only team to finish the race before ASH. The Swami TeamSam.com group and the Denver Paramedic Cycling team also competed in the challenge. Both the ASH team and the Swami team kept a steady pace with each other, but the ASH team finished the race about 20 minutes ahead the Swami team. The Denver Paramedic Team finished the race approximately two hours later.
Created in 1982, the Race Across America (RAAM) is now the longest running ultra-distance bicycle endurance competition in the world. Unlike the Tour de France race, a set distance is not covered each day. Instead, this race simply starts on the West coast and ends over 3,000 miles away in New Jersey. The 24-Hour Corporate Challenge was created in 2005 to make the Race Across America more accessible to corporations wishing to compete.
About American Specialty Health
American Specialty Health Incorporated is the nation’s premier personal health improvement organization, providing clinical benefits, fitness programs, health coaching and incentives, Internet solutions, and worksite wellness programs to health plans, insurance carriers, employer groups, and trust funds nationwide.
Based in San Diego, ASH has over 600 employees and covers more than 13.4 million members in benefit, fitness, and coaching programs. For more information, visit ASH online at ASHCompanies.com or call 800.848.3555.