Supplied by the Sault Economic Development Corporation…
Sault Ste. Marie, ON (January 22, 2018) . Hundreds of mountain bike racers and enthusiasts from across
North America will be peddling in and around Sault Ste. Marie this summer. The community has been
selected to host Crank The Shield, a multi]day cycling odyssey. Taking place August 17 to 19, the event was
secured by Tourism Sault Ste. Marie.
gOur team is always looking to bring in new sports tournaments, conferences and special events, and wefre
very excited to have secured Crank The Shield for the summer of 2018,h said Ian McMillan, Executive
Director of Tourism Sault Ste. Marie. gWe look forward to working with organizers on delivering a top]notch,
memorable event, one that fills a ton of hotel rooms and leaves a significant economic impact on our city.h
Hosted by Chico Racing and Superfly Racing, Crank The Shield has been taking place in communities across
Ontario since 2008. The event is held in . or in close proximity to . the Canadian Shield. Given its location
and natural beauty, Sault Ste. Marie was seen as a logical host city. Organizers hope to make the community
an annual stop.
gThe Algoma region offers excellent terrain, and we know riders are going to be very impressed with the
quality of the trails and landscapes around Sault Ste. Marie,h said Sean Ruppel, President of Superfly Racing.
gIn the first year, wefre projecting between 150 and 250 participants, with potential growth to 400 in
subsequent years.h
The Sault Ste. Marie edition of Crank The Shield will feature a number of components. On the first day,
participants will take the Agawa Canyon Tour Train to the starting point along the ACR rail line, then embark
on a 90]kilometre cycling stretch. Day 2 will have a run of 80 kilometres, and the third day will feature a 70]
kilometre ride ending in Sault Ste. Marie. To register, or to learn more, visit www.cranktheshield.com.
Tourism Sault Ste. Marie, which works to attract visitors to the community, is a division of the Sault Ste.
Marie Economic Development Corporation. For more information, go to www.saulttourism.com.