June 25, 2004 – Rocky Mountain Bicycles® today announced the addition of Canadian National Mountain Bike Champion Marie Helene Premont to the star-studded Pro Roster for the Rocky Mountain Business Objects Mountain Bike Team.

Marie Helene will make this change immediately, and debut in the colors of her new team in front of her home crowd of Quebec at the Mont Ste-Anne World Cup on June 2,7 2004.

Premont has ridden for Oryx Bicycles for most of her career. Expressing immense gratitude to that company for their years of support on the national scene, Marie explained the reason for her move. “I understand how important it is to have professional support to do my best at major international races,” she explained. “The support people with the Rocky Mountain Business Objects Team understand what I need to help me achieve my goals and they have the program to help. I also have the benefit of Alison Sydor as a teammate. Alison has incredible experience, having been to the Olympic Games three times.”

Marie Helene of Chateau Richer, Quebec is one of three women vying for the remaining two for the Olympic Team going to Athens in August 2004. (For the women’s Olympic MTB race, Canada was awarded a total of three spots.) Premont’s new tea mate, Alison Sydor, has been pre-selected based on the merit of her Silver Medal performance at the 2003 XC World Championships in Lugano, Switzerland. Premont recently had a second-place finish at the Fort William World Cup in Scotland on June 5. Fort William was one of five races designated by the Canadian Cycling Association to be an Olympic selection race. The Mont Ste-Anne and Calgary World Cups are the final two selection races.

Currently in 5th place over all in the 2004 World Cup Series standings and following a 5th place finish at the 2003 XC World Championships, National Champion Premont is looking to be in a good position to secure one of the remaining two spots and is taking very good form to race in front of the home crowd in Quebec.

“We are thrilled to have Marie Helene riding Rocky Mountain Bicycles,” said Rocky Mountain Bicycles General Manager Jean Poisson. “It is a great opportunity for us to showcase our quality bicycles and assist in her career.”

David Swanson, VP Human Resources of the global software company Business Objects added, “Our company embraces the concept of following your passion. As with all our mountain bike team athletes, Marie Helene will be a wonderful ambassador for our message on the world stage.”

Marie Helene Premont joins cross country teammates, 1996 Olympic silver medal winner Alison Sydor, Olympians Andreas Hestler and Lesley Tomlinson, National Team members Max Plaxton, Gretchen Reeves, and Karl Platt., and freeride icons Wade Simmons, Richie Schley and Thomas Vanderham. Team tech manager is Keith Yip

For more information contact:
Chantale LeChance 418-827-1122
Lesley Tomlinson, Director of Sponsorship and Media Communication, lestomlinson@aol.com