June 30, 2007 (Vancouver, BC) – Chris Eatough, Trek-VW MTB rider and number one ranked 24 hour solo mountain bike racer, will be on the start line for the inaugural 2007 BC Bike Race – The Pacific Traverse.

Eatough, who has partnered with up-and-comer Jeff Schalk for the 7-day race, is looking forward to the challenge. “I have raced in British Columbia quite a bit over the last few years and it’s one of my favorite places to ride and race. So having a 7-day stage race through that area is a great opportunity to ride some great single-track and do some hard core mountain biking. It’s the challenge and the excitement of racing in BC that is bringing me out there.”

This test of endurance will showcase other amazing athletes such as Ryder Hesjedal, Seamus McGrath and Andreas Hestler in a 4-person team. Due to a busy international schedule, the four-person format works well for top Canadian racer Ryder Hesjedal, allowing him to ride a few of the stages without committing to the entire event.

As he prepares for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Hesjedal is attempting what no other Canadian has done – stand atop the podium at an international level in both road and off-road racing.

Overall, BC Bike Race President, Dean Payne is thrilled with the current racer registration. “We are looking at over 250 racers which meets our goals for year one. Considering we’ve had a short time line for our first year, we are going to have a great race! Our message is simple: Bike where biking is best!”

www.bcbikerace.com