Ecology Center Classic News and Notes

jcro-@kibogroup.com

2003-05-12



(Please forward this message to your friends and teammates as applicable.)



We are approaching this year's race and I want to highlight a few recent

events and notes. We are glad to have our race be part of the National

Racing Calander and the Lance Armstrong Junior Racing series and remain

dedicated to promoting an event that is focused on providing a challenging,

enjoyable venue for the racers.



REGISTRATION- please register for the race as soon as possible. You can do

so online at www.active.com or you can print an entry form off from the race

website at www.wildrockies.org/bikeclassic. We are looking at record number

for this year's race and pre-registering by THIS THURSDAY saves you $15 and

makes our lives a bit easier.



HOTELS in town are beginning to fill up! The Holiday Inn Parkside is our

official race hotel and last time we checked they still had a few rooms left

for racers. Their phone number is 406.721.8550. The Holiday Inn Parkside is

a very nice hotel located in Downtown Missoula close to the racing. Please

support our sponsors! Other local options that may have rooms available

include: Travels Inn 406.728.8330, Redwood Lodge 406.721.2110, Four B's Inn

406.251.2665, Microtel Inn 406.543.0959, Downtown Motel 406.549.5191, Orange

Street Inn 406. 721.3610, Thunderbird 406.543.7251. These vary widely in

cost and quality and the list is not complete. However, these are less

likely to be full since they don't have the 1.800 reservation systems that

the big guys have.



HOME STAYS are still available. We will do our best to find home stays for

anyone submitting a request by THIS THURSDAY. We have had a record number of

home stay requests so please get your requests to us as soon as possible.



PRIZE PURSE is a record fifteen thousand dollars this year! This includes

the addition of an equal prize purse of $ 5680 for both pro/elite men and

pro/elite women.



PACKET PICK-UP is at the following times:

-Thursday May 22 6-8 pm at Adventure Cycling Association (150 East Pine

Street in downtown Missoula)

-Friday May 23rd (pro/elite men and women only) 9-11:30am in Philipsburg,

Montana at the High school. Philipsburg is one hour East of Missoula.

-Friday May 23rd 5-7:30 pm at Adventure Cycling Association (150 East Pine

Street in downtown Missoula)

-Saturday May 24th 9-11:30 am at Perma Starting Line. One hour West of

Missoula



REMEMBER! MEN 1,2 and WOMEN 1,2(3) start their race on Friday with the epic

Pintlar Road Race. All other cats start their race Saturday

with the Perma Road Race. Please make sure that your teammates know when

their race begins.



CAT CHANGES- This year Women cat 3 racers may choose to race in either the

1,2,(3) race or the (3)4 race. Also, Masters Men is 30+ and racers will

self seed themselves in either Masters A or Masters B.



KICK OFF DINNER- Friday night after the pro/elite's first stage we will host

a race kick-off dinner in Missoula. We will award Stage One awards at this

event and will have door prizes. All sponsors and Elite riders will receive

a free ticket to this dinner. All others are invited. Dinner is all you can

eat for $5. 6:30-9:00 pm at First United Methodist Church (300 East Main

Street in downtown Missoula)



We are excited by this year's race and look forward to hosting all of you at

the event. This year's race organization committee has been working non-stop

this past few weeks and Bill Wyckoff will be back to head up the officiating

of the race. Please feel free to call or email if you have any questions.



Sincerely,

Jeff Crouch

The Ecology Center Classic