Cycling Race Donates Sponsorship Rights To Millennium Promise

The USA Pro Cycling Challenge cycling race, which in April dropped the name Quizno’s Pro Challenge, is donating its presenting sponsorship category to the Millennium Promise, a global nonprofit that targets extreme poverty. The race, which will be the country’s second largest when it debuts Aug. 22-28, will now refer to itself as the USA Pro Cycling Challenge for Millennium Promise. Sources familiar with the event said the sponsorship category could have brought in $2.5-4M annually.

Race CEO & co-Chair Shawn Hunter said he is not worried that two name shifts will cause confusion. “We have two very successful investors who have great vision and the resources to do (the race) long-term,” said Hunter, who referenced FC Barcelona’s '06 choice to donate its jersey sponsorship to UNICEF. The race is owned by Quizno’s founder Rick Schaden and his father Richard, both of whom volunteer with the Millenium Challenge. The change will not affect Quizno’s sponsorship of the race.