Feb. 28, 2003 (Redlands, CA) – The 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 jingersoll@seaotterclassic.com.