June 23, 2003 (Vancouver, B.C.) – Symmetrics sponsors the BC Junior Team for the Tour de L'Abitibi. After making in-roads in cycling with their Men's Elite team and Cyclists for Charity program, Symmetrics announces their first investment in young talent. The eight-stage event, located in Val-d'Or, Quebec, is the most prestigious Junior Men's (17-18 yrs old) race in North America, and a stop in the World Junior Challenge Series. Including over 700k of racing, the Tour de L'Abitibi attracts teams from as far away as Holland, South Africa, France, Mexico, and Japan, and past winners have gone on to professional cycling careers.

Consistent with their commitment to the development of Olympic calibre athletes, including Special Olympians, Symmetrics believes their sponsorship of a junior Tour de L'Abitibi team will assist the riders in nurturing their cycling talents to an elite, competitive level.

“We are really excited about our entry into the youth development arena. This effort is the beginning of our vision to combine charity, elite, youth and club activity into one cohesive cycling entity. These kids are the future of British Columbia cycling and I hope we can help them achieve their personal and cycling goals,”stated Mark Cunningham, President of Symmetrics Cycling.

The selected members of the BC Tour de L'Abitibi team are:

Marsh Cooper: National Team member, 2002 National Criterium Champion, Silver medal in 2002 National Road Race, 5th Stage 4 L'Abitibi 2002, winner of mor than 10 races in 2002.

Shaun Crump: Team BC member Tour de L'Abitibi 2002, 3rd Nooksack Road Race (Cat 3) 2003, 5th Enumclaw Road Race (Cat 3) 2003.

J.P. Dunlop: Third Place (Cadet) B.C Provincial Road Race Championships, B.C. Provincial Track Champion (various 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishes), B.C. Provincial Criterium Champion (3rd place junior men), Bastion Square Criterium (top junior/cadet in Cat 4).

Brad Fairall: Winner Enumclaw Road Race and Overall Cat 3, 2003. In 2002 Brad won the BC Junior Provincial Championships in both the Criterium and Time Trial.

Trevor Mahon: Top ten Junior, 2003 Sea Otter Classic, 1st 2003 BC High School Mountain Bike Championships, 3rd Overall 2002 BC Cup Mountain Bike Championships, 4th (U-17) 2002 National Championships.

Max Plaxton: World Jr. 2002 Mountain Bike Championship medallist in XC, World Relay Champion 2002, Sea Otter Jr XC winner 2003, Canada Cup #1 Jr. XC winner 2003.

The Symmetrics Team BC will be lead by Jeremy Storie, marking his third trip to L'Abitibi. Also accompanying the team is mechanic Bill MacPherson, who has worked with Jeremy on several professional US teams. “I think this group of kids is the most accomplished team we have taken to L'Abitibi, and I expect to continue the success of past teams, including the selection of individuals to represent Canada at the World Championships,” commented Jeremy Storie