Mohawk & Quick-Step USA to Sponsor Ford Tour de Ge

Dalton, GA, April 14, 2006--Mohawk Industries and Quick-Step USA have joined forces to become the official flooring sponsor of this year’s Ford Tour de Georgia, April 18-23. In addition to this sponsorship, Team Quick-Step- Innergetic will take part in a race for the first time on U.S. soil. Mohawk Industries’ fall 2005 acquisition of Unilin Holding NV, a leading manufacturer and marketer of laminate flooring products based in Belgium, brought with it the Quick-Step brand. Mohawk continues support of the Quick-Step brand through the existing distribution structure and customer base while introducing new complementary brands and products. Quick-Step has sponsored professional cycling teams in Europe, including teams competing in the Tour de France for six consecutive years. “We are delighted to be a part of this event,” said Ed Williams, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Mohawk. “The Ford Tour de Georgia generates excitement and goodwill throughout Mohawk’s home state, and it’s an opportunity to show the diversity in Mohawk’s business as a company with international reach.” The Ford Tour de Georgia is North America’s premier, professional cycling event and rolling festival of community activities. The Tour is held annually in the spring with a varying route. It is sanctioned by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and USA Cycling (USAC) as a 2.HC rating (highest ranked event in North America), making the event one of the top stage races for elite athletes around the world. The tour will wind through Dalton during Stage Four of the race on April 21. The 2005 Tour was won by Tom Danielson (USA) of the Discovery Channel Professional Cycling Team; champions from previous years include Lance Armstrong (USA) in 2004 and Chris Horner (USA) 2003. The Tour’s official beneficiary is the Georgia Cancer Coalition (GCC). The Georgia Cancer Coalition and the Georgia Department of Human Resources are teaming up to bring the Live Healthy Georgia Expo to the finish cities of the 2006 Ford Tour de Georgia. The Live Healthy Georgia Expo includes a variety of interactive, health-focused booths, children's activities, food and fun activities for all ages. The Ford Tour de Georgia is owned by The Georgia Partnership for Economic Development (GPED) and is managed by Medalist Sports. Merchandise and the latest updates are available at the official website, www.fordtourdegeorgia.com. Quick-Step-Innergetic’s 29-person team has celebrated much success with riders winning several classics during the 2005 UCI ProTour season, including the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, the HEW Cyclassics, the Championship of Zurich, and the Tour of Lombardy. The team’s greatest victories have been wins at the 2003 and 2004 UCI World Cup.

Related Topics:Armstrong Flooring, Mohawk Industries

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