What a day for Colavita/Sutter Home! Alejandro Borrajo, who departs tomorrow to represent his native Argentina in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing (more on that later), captured the biggest one-day prize purse in all of US racing with his definitive win at the 2008 Presbyterian Hospital Invitational Criterium in Charlotte, NC.

As Kirsten Robbins writes, the Colavita/Sutter Home Men’s Cycling Team presented by Cooking Light brought its A-team to the 80-km criterium held on the streets of Charlotte. The squad included Alejandro Borrajo, Luis Amaran, Luca Damiani, Davide Frattini, Gustavo Artacho, and Kyle Wamsley, each of whom played an integral role in the team’s success with representation in every significant breakaway during the twilight event. The 35,000+ fans who lined the streets got quite the show as the pro men raced around the 2-km dumbbell-shaped circuit in pursuit of the $50,000 purse plus lucrative lap primes. Kirsten reports that Luca Damiani kicked off the evening’s excitement in a two-lap solo breakaway, which forced the opposing teams to use their energy early on to bring him back. Luis Amaran continued to impress the crowds with a five-lap solo effort, picking up the lucrative cash primes along the way. Alejandro and teammate Kyle Wamsley jumped into a winning late-race break away and worked together against some of the top sprinters in the US. Alejandro flew around the final bend in a 500-meter drag race sprint to the line and took a convincing lead to claim the victory. As Alejandro told Kirsten after the race, “I want to thank my Colavita/Sutter Home teammates.” He continued, “They rode tremendously today and I want to dedicate this victory to them.”

Tina Pic of the Colavita/Sutter Home Women’s Cycling Team finished third in the 23-lap pro women’s criterium.

About the sponsors of the Colavita/Sutter Home Cycling Teams presented by Cooking Light

Cycling is more than a sport for the Colavita/Sutter Home Cycling Teams presented by Cooking Light. It’s a heritage, passed down from generation to generation. Colavita/Sutter Home champions cycling’s future through support of pro men’s and women’s teams; the Colavita New Jersey U19 Racing Team, the largest junior cycling team on the East Coast; as well as recreational cycling clubs in 9 states, including California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, New Mexico, South Carolina, and Texas. Visit www.ColavitaSutterHome.com to learn more.

Colavita USA imports and distributes the #1 brand of Italian extra-virgin olive oil in the U.S. as well as durum wheat semolina pasta, a full selection of balsamic and wine vinegars, and many other fine Italian products. A family-owned business headquartered in Linden, NJ, Colavita has championed the sport of cycling throughout its 25+-year history. Through its charitable arm, the Colavita Foundation for Children, the company provides bicycles and helmets to children in need. To learn more about Colavita USA, please visit www.Colavita.com.

Sutter Home Winery is wholly owned and operated by the Trinchero family, Napa Valley vintners since 1948. The company produces the wines of Sutter Home, Trinchero, Montevina, Wild Bunch, Trinity Oaks, Folie à Deux, Ménage à Trois, Napa Cellars, the number one alcohol-removed wine, Fre, and imports Angove’s, Reynolds Vineyards and Little Boomey wines of Australia. For more information, visit www.tfewines.com.

Founded in 1987, Cooking Light www.cookinglight.com/cooking is the world’s largest food magazine. Each month, more than 11 million consumers turn to Cooking Light to “eat smart, be fit and live well.” CookingLight.com provides daily food and fitness updates, healthy recipes and nutrition advice to millions of unique visitors every year.

For the 2008 season, the Colavita/Sutter Home Cycling Teams presented by Cooking Light will be riding Jamis super-light Xenith SL road frames and the revolutionary Xenith T2 time trial bikes supplied by Jamis Bicycles, designed and marketed by the G. Joannou Cycle Company (GJC) of Northvale, NJ. Established in 1937 by the father of CEO and President Carine Joannou, GJC ranks among the largest bicycle companies under private ownership in the US. For more information about Jamis and to view the complete line of bicycles, please visit www.JamisBikes.com.

The bikes are fully equipped with Shimano components, wheels, shoes, and pedals, Easton handlebars, stems, and seat posts, Fizik saddles, Vittoria tires, and TRP Brake levers for time trial bikes. Team jerseys are provided by Giordana; helmets, glasses, and bags are supplied by Rudy Project. Additional sponsors of the Colavita/Sutter Home Cycling Teams presented by Cooking Light include American Suzuki Motor Corporation, Dominator Clothing, GU Sports, and Headsweats.

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