Mountain Bikers Converge on Infineon Raceway

SONOMA, Calif. May 11, 2004; The rolling hills of the scenic
Sonoma Valley will be transformed into a paradise for mountain bikers at
the California Outdoor Sports Championships, presented by Infineon
Technologies, May 14-16.

 

            For one weekend the facility, which is best known for the
roar of NASCAR NEXTEL Cup stock cars, will become a paradise for
mountain biking, road cycling and gravity disciplines. This will mark
the first national cycling event in the 36-year history of the raceway.

 

All mountain bike events at the California Outdoor Sports Championships
will be sanctioned by NORBA, a member association of USA Cycling, the
cycling body recognized by the United States Olympic Committee. This is
one of eight national series mountain bike events on the calendar for
2004, and one of just three in California. 

 

            Alison Dunlap (Luna Women) will lead the charge in the
women's class in the Infineon Technologies Mountain Bike Cross Country
event, which will feature a scenic 4.5-mile course that will encompass
the entire Infineon Raceway facility. The climbs on the hilly course
will be short, which will lead to tight racing in both the men's and
women's professional categories.

 

            Dunlap won her third consecutive mountain bike cross country
championship at the prestigious Hyundai Sea Otter Classic in Monterey
(April 18). The native of Colorado Springs (Colo.) moved to the mountain
bike class after competing in the 1996 Olympics and has been a force
ever since. She is a winner of five consecutive U.S. National Cyclocross
championships. Other top contenders in the women's field include
Katerina Hanusova, a teammate of Dunlap's, Gretchen Reeves (Rocky
Mountain-Business Objects) and Sue Haywood (Trek-Volkswagen). Hanusova
placed second at Sea Otter.

 

            On the men's side, it should be a battle for the top spot at
Infineon Raceway between several riders, including Geoff Kabush (Team
Maxxis), Seamus McGrath (Haro-adidas) and Liam Killeen (Subaru-Gary
Fisher). Kabush took second place at Sea Otter, while Killeen placed
third.  Competitors will also be featured in the Infineon Technologies
Short Track event. These 20-25 minute events will take place on a
three-quarter mile dirt and pavement circuit. 

 

            The women's Infineon Technologies Mountain Bike Cross
Country will take place on Saturday, May 15, at 1:30 p.m., followed by
the men at 4 p.m. Infineon Technologies Short Track events are as
follows: women, Sunday, May 16, 3 p.m.; men, Sunday, May 16, 3:45 p.m.

 

WHAT: California Outdoor Sports Championships, presented by Infineon
Technologies

WHEN: May 14-16

WHERE: Infineon Raceway

TICKETS: $10 per car per day. For more information call 800-870-RACE or
visit www.oschamps.com <http://www.oschamps.com/> .