B Witty

MEDIA ALERT-For Immediate Distribution



Contact Information:

Brad Ross/ Brian Witty- Promoters

Cyclo-Cross Crusade Series

(brad-@prodigy.net and

bri-@tmioregon.com )

Chris Bright, Media Coordinator

(cbri-@pixelworks.com )





America's Top Cyclocross Racers Head to Portland for

Inaugural Saturn Stumptown Cyclocross Classic on December 1



The UCI Cat. 3 race is a tune-up for the

U.S. National Championships in Napa Valley in two weeks



      Portland, Ore., November 25, 2002 - The inaugural Saturn Stumptown

Cyclocross Classic kicks off this Sunday at Jackson Middle School in

Southwest Portland on December 1, 2002 and it promises to be showdown

between national-caliber riders and the Pacific Northwest's homegrown

talent. Although only in its first year, the Stumptown Classic is shaping

up to be one of the premier cyclocross events in the U.S. this year.

      For those not familiar with cyclocross, the sport is a cycling race

run over a circuit of fields, asphalt and dirt where riders occasionally are

required to dismount and run with their bicycles. Cyclocross is the fastest

growing cycling sport in America and Portland is gaining a reputation as a

hotbed, hosting the largest series in the U.S., the River City Bicycles

'Cross Crusade. The races are entertaining and spectator friendly because

the crowds can get close to the action and can often see most of the circuit

from a single vantage point.

      The Saturn Stumptown Classic anticipates the deepest elite field

assembled this year, featuring a highly anticipated match up between Marc

Gullickson (Mongoose/Hyundai) and his rival Tim Johnson (Saturn). Both

Gullickson and Johnson will have teammates to aid in their quest for the top

podium spot. Mongoose/Hyundai's Todd Wells, the current U.S. National

Champion, is quite possibly Gullickson's biggest ally and toughest

competitor. Earlier this season, Wells won the UCI category 3 Central Mass

Cyclo-Cross as well as the Portland International Raceway UCI race held in

October. Johnson will have his Saturn teammate, former U.S. National

Champion Mark McCormack.

      Also in the hunt will be Seattle's Jonny "The Cat" Sundt (K2 Bikes);

the powerful Kona/ Kenwood squad of Dale Knapp, Barry Wicks, Eric Tonkin and

Bart Bowen; the "Red Train" Clif Bar team of Jackson Stewart, Dave Wyandt,

and Andy Jacques-Maynes, as well as, Justin Robinson and Ben Jacques-Maynes

of Bullion Stil/Santa Cruz Spokesman. Local favorites Tonkin and Wicks will

be joined by Trek/VW/Bike Gallery's Shannon Skerritt.

      On the women's side, it will likely be a battle of the two strongest

teams: Clif Bar and Kona/Kenwood. Clif Bar features the one-two punch of

Gina Hall, the winner of the Portland International UCI race, and Carmen

D'Alusio, who has become the U.S. woman to beat this year at several UCI

events. Anne Grande and Jeanette Nussbaum of Kona/Kenwood are just as

dangerous and expect to capture at least one podium spot. However, several

other women are expected to challenge these two powerful teams, including:

Lyne Bessette (Cyclocrossworld.com), Rachel Llloyd (Team Spine), Christine

Vardaros (Sallyspicer.com), and Portland's own Rhonda Mazza (Team S&M/

Vanilla).

      The Saturn Stumptown Classic gets started at 9:30 a.m. with the Elite

Women starting at 1:30 p.m. and the Elite Men's event starting at 2:30 p.m.

Please visit www.crosscrusade.com for a full schedule and directions to the

course and registration information.



-end-



For more information, please visit www.crosscrusade.com