Nissan Teams Up With Levi Leipheimer's King Ridge GranFondo Event

SANTA ROSA, Calif., Sept. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of the Innovation for Endurance program, Nissan is proud to return for the second year as the official automotive sponsor of Levi Leipheimer's King Ridge GranFondo, a long distance, charity cycling event. The zero-emission Nissan LEAF will be at the Nissan Innovation for Endurance footprint Finley Center during registration on Sept. 30 and for the ride on Oct. 1.

The Levi Leipheimer King Ridge GranFondo, expected to include about 7,500 riders, is a charity event designed to effect change at a local level. Ride beneficiaries include Forget Me Not Farm, LIVESTRONG, and VeloStreet's Community Giving and Cycling Initiatives Programs.

Fresh off this summer's Tour De France with Team RadioShack, Levi Leipheimer, professional cyclist, Olympic medalist, National Champion and three-time winner of the Tour of California, is one of the five innovators in the Nissan Innovation for Endurance program. Leipheimer will make an appearance at the Nissan booth for a meet-and-greet and autograph session from 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM on Sept. 30 and will join the ride the following day.

At the interactive display, Nissan will invite spectators to learn more about electric vehicles, participate in a bike challenge, design a t-shirt and check out the 100-percent electric Nissan LEAF. The Innovation for Endurance program connects Nissan and its "World Car of the Year" with a series of high profile running and cycling events nationwide. The program aims to help athletes take their performance to a new level through health and fitness "Innovators" who offer state-of-the-art tips on the "Innovation for Endurance" Facebook page.  

To learn more about the Innovation for Endurance program, stay up to-date on fitness tips and check out other upcoming events, visit www.facebook.com/InnovationforEndurance.

About King Ridge GranFondo

Levi Leipheimer's King Ridge GranFondo is a fully supported bicycle ride with 35, 65, and 103-mile route options through some of the finest cycling country in the USA. The range of riders is recreational to professional, and the pace varies from leisurely to very fast. The ride is organized with the collaboration and support of the City of Santa Rosa as well as communities and fire departments around Sonoma County. More information on the King Ridge GranFondo can be found at www.levisgranfondo.com.

About Nissan Americas

In the Americas, Nissan's operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing.  Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program and was recognized as an ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2010 and 2011. More information on Nissan in North America, the Nissan LEAF and zero emissions can be found at www.nissanusa.com.

About Nissan

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Japan's second largest Japanese automotive company by volume, is headquartered in Yokohama, Japan and is an integral pillar of the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Operating with more than 150,000 employees globally, Nissan provided customers with more than 4 million vehicles in 2010. With a strong commitment to developing exciting and innovative products for all, Nissan delivers a comprehensive range of fuel-efficient and low-emissions vehicles under the Nissan and Infiniti brands. A pioneer in zero emission mobility, Nissan made history with the introduction of the Nissan LEAF, the first affordable, mass-market, pure-electric vehicle and winner of numerous international accolades including the prestigious 2011 European Car of the Year award.

For more information on our products, services and commitment to Sustainable Mobility, visit our website at http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/.

About Rodale Inc.

Rodale is a global media company with a heritage, mission, and authority dedicated to the health and wellness of the individual, community, and planet. Through a broad portfolio of leading media properties, Rodale reaches more than 70 million people around the world through multiple distribution channels, including magazines, books, online, e-commerce, direct-to-consumer, and video. The company publishes some of the best-known health and wellness lifestyle magazines, including Men's Health, Prevention, Women's Health, Runner's World, Bicycling, Mountain Bike, Running Times, and Organic Gardening, and is the largest independent book publisher in the United States, with a collection of bestselling titles, including Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth, The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite, and Flat Belly Diet! Rodale is also a leader in direct-response marketing and has more than 25 million active customers in its database. To learn more about Rodale, visit www.rodaleinc.com.

SOURCE Nissan North America