March 20, 2006 – Here’s the scenario: a racer arrives at the Sea Otter Classic, the world’s largest cycling festival, and finishes on the podium. He says he’s dissected and memorized the course dozens of times yet he’s never set foot on Laguna Seca Recreational Area. Sound like fiction? Maybe, but here’s the secret: his win is a result of a custom blend of technology, terrain and training. Garmin International’s line of GPS-enabled fitness devices, in conjunction with its GPS-enabled online mapping service, MotionBased.com, is featured at this year’s Sea Otter Classic. The multi-sport, four-day “Celebration of Cycling” begins on April 6 at Laguna Seca Recreation Area in Monterey, CA.

Here’s how the scenario evolved. Back in January our racer visited motionbased.com and analyzed the detailed metrics for Sea Otter’s MTB XC course. Then he crafted a workout to mimic the course, strapped on his Edge GPS-enabled personal training system for cyclists, and off he went to train specifically for the MTB XC race. After months of virtual training for his debut at the Sea Otter Classic, when he finally put his tires on the trail at the start of the race in April, it was as if he’d been riding at Laguna Seca all along.