Cheryl J. Willson
Thought some of you might find this interesting....nothing like a
two-week stage race....
Begin forwarded message:
From: "Sea Otter Classic Media Office" <med-@seaotterclassic.com>
Date: Fri Feb 28, 2003 9:11:54 AM US/Pacific
To: "sea otter classic media list" <med-@seaotterclassic.com>, "sea
otter classic media list" <med-@seaotterclassic.com>, "sea otter
classic media list" <med-@seaotterclassic.com>, "sea otter classic
media list" <med-@seaotterclassic.com>, "sea otter classic media
list" <med-@seaotterclassic.com>, "sea otter classic media list"
<med-@seaotterclassic.com>, "sea otter classic media list"
<med-@seaotterclassic.com>
Subject: Sea Otter Classic, powered by SRAM & Redlands Bicycle Classic
Reply-To: med-@seaotterclassic.com
PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Jenn Ingersoll
PR Director
Tel. 917 693 4894
jinge-@seaotterclassic.com
www.seaotterclassic.com
Sea Otter & Redlands to Combine Men's Elite Road Events
2004 Will Launch New Two-Week Stage Race in California
MONTEREY, Calif. (Feb. 28, 2003) - Sea Otter Classic and Redlands
Bicycle Classic are combining their Elite Men's Road Stage races in
April 2004 for a joint venture, the American Cycling Classic,
presented by the two promoting organizations.
The new stage race, scheduled at the time of this release to kick off
in Southern California on March 23, 2004, will travel through
southern, central, and northern California, running in tandem with the
Redlands Bicycle Classic en route to its finish at the Sea Otter
Classic on April 3, 2004 at the Laguna Seca Recreation Area in
Monterey.
Sea Otter Classic President and CEO Frank Yohannan cited several
reasons for the merger. A primary reason for the decision is to
promote a stage race in the US of international quality with an
unrivalled sense of participatory inclusiveness.? According to
Yohannan, the joint venture brings together a dynamic group of people
with tremendous expertise and resources in a US cycle racing climate
where such resources are limited.
"Combining the Sea Otter and Redlands teams creates the most
experienced, deepest pool of logistical race experience in America,"
explained Yohannan. "Operationally, this creates the strongest team in
the land for media and marketing reach. The net result will be an
organization that is on the cutting edge of cycling in the US."
"This alliance is the perfect next step for both events and a big
stride for cycling in the US," said Redlands Bicycle Classic Executive
Director and Co-founder Carole Beswick.
The UCI event will include a minimum of 10 stages and one transfer
day. Sea Otter Classic and Redlands Bicycle Classic will continue
managing and running their additional activities and events
individually. Sea Otter Classic will remain at the helm of its various
MTB, women's road, amateur road, and festival activities, while
Redlands Bicycle Classic will continue independently to own and run an
elite women's stage race, amateur and public races, as well as fun
rides.
"This event will create two weeks of all-comers cycling, the magnitude
of which has never before been seen in North America," said Rick
Sutton, Sea Otter Classic chief operating officer. "It's poised to
take two of the greatest community-based, amateur-fed international
events and connect their two grand weekends of races and festivities,
so everyone - amateurs, pros, adults, and kids - can participate
together in two major weekends of riding, racing, recreating, and
festivity."
"Combining the talents of these two organizations will produce an
event with a level of racing that is unprecedented in America due to
its variety, history, and impact on cyclists of all ages, abilities,
and interests," said Craig Kundig, Redlands Bicycle Classic marketing
director. "Seeing the same team jerseys as in the Tour de France
battle on the streets of California is what so many of us have worked
toward over the last 19 years."
"Not all race promotion groups are inclusive," said Sutton.
"Everyone's welcome to participate in our events. Nowhere else in
global cycling can amateurs watch pros race one day, then ride with
them along the same course, trailed by official Mavic cars the next.
This event is a true fantasy for riders of all stripes."
Specific race details and plans are forthcoming and will be announced
in October at International Bike Expo 2003 in Las Vegas. The 13th
Annual Sea Otter Classic, powered by SRAM will be held April 9-13,
2003 at the Laguna Seca Recreation Area in Monterey, California, USA.
Athletes are invited to visit www.seaotterclassic.com ?or call
530.661.9500 for complete race and festival information. Press
inquiries should be directed to Jenn Ingersoll at 917.693.4894 or
jinge-@seaotterclassic.com .
The 19th Annual Redlands Bicycle Classic, America's Premier Stage
Race, will kick off April 1 and finish April 6, 2003, in Redlands,
California. Additional events include amateur and public races as well
as fun rides. Information is available at www.redlandsclassic.com .
Press inquiries should be directed to Craig Kundig at 909.990.4637 or
uci-@aol.com.
END
The following section of this message contains a file attachment
prepared for transmission using the Internet MIME message format.
If you are using Pegasus Mail, or any another MIME-compliant system,
you should be able to save it or view it from within your mailer.
If you cannot, please ask your system administrator for assistance.