Wide-Open Field in Cross Country Events at Cougar Mountain Classic

Contact: John Cardinale

707-933-3907

 

Wide-Open Field in Cross Country Events at Cougar Mountain Classic

 

        SONOMA, Calif. (IMMEDIATE RELEASE) - The 2006 Infineon Cougar
Mountain Classic will spawn a whole new California gold rush as U.S.
national mountain bike competitors from across the country descend on
the Infineon Raceway in beautiful Sonoma, California, July 13-16, to
race for gold medals in the 2006 U.S. MTB National Championships brought
to you by X-Fusion.

 

The U.S. MTB Nationals are a stand-alone, American-only event for all
levels and professional mountain-bike disciplines, and all races will
also include amateur age and class categories. 

 

This year's cross-country course will consist of a number of turns
around an extremely fast and rolling 7.7-mile lap which will favor the
all-around athletes who excel at high-speed challenges.  

 

"This year we will crown a national champion who can maintain a
high-speed on all the terrain," says Jeff Frost, course designer and
series director.  "The course suits riders who might not have triumphed
at Mammoth [site of last year's Nationals], which required very strong
climbing skills to be in contention."  

 

As reigning XC national champions, Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski of Team
Subaru/Gary Fisher and Mary McConneloug of Team Seven Cycles/Kenda will
be at Infineon Raceway to defend their titles though there's sure to be
a host of challengers on such a fast course.  

 

Horgan-Kobelski's biggest challengers include Giant's Adam Craig of
Bend, Ore., and GT's Todd Wells of Durango, Colo., while McConneloug
will face down a slew of contenders including Willow Koerber of Team
Subaru/Gary Fisher and Short Track national champion Sonny Vanlandingham
of Team Luna.  

 

Spectators will have an easy time watching Thursday's Marathon race,
which uses the 7.7 mile cross-country lap to provide a
60-mile/100-kilometer course following International Cycling Union (UCI
) rules.  

 

Marathon competitors will ride anywhere from seven to nine loops based
on categories such as age and classification.  There is also an open
category for pros.  

 

Team Trek/VW looks to have a lock on this competition, fielding a team
that consists of national 24-hour champion Chris Eatough, Pan American
Games Champion Jeremiah Bishop, and Michael Lee and Travis Brown both of
whom placed well at the NOVA Desert Classic and the Fontana Marathon
races.    

 

On the female side, Xterra triathlete and stand-out mountain biker
Melissa Thomas is the woman to watch in the Marathon race.

 

This year's Cougar Mountain Classic will include the Short Track
National Championships on Sunday, July 16, where Adam Craig and Shonny
Vanlandingham will look to hold on to their red, white and blue stripes.


 

Infineon Cougar Mountain Classic

WHAT: 2006 USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships brought to
you by X Fusion, as part of the Infineon Cougar Mountain Classic.

WHEN: July 13-16.

WHERE: Infineon Raceway

MOUNTAIN BIKE CHAMPIONSHIPS: Cross Country, Short Track, Downhill,
SuperD, Marathon and Mountain Cross

ROAD CYCLING: Road Circuit Race and Road Criterium (United States
Cycling Federation sanctioned)

EXPO:  Trade team trailers, cycling vendors, family activities and
vintage bicycles

PARTICIPANTS: On-site registration is available for a full slate of
racing classes, with entry fees ranging from $30 to $80. Non-competitive
events for mountain bikers and road cyclists are $10 each. 

SPECTATORS: $10 per car per day or a three-day pass for $20           

CONTACT: For more information call (707) 933-3556, email
info@cmclassic.com  , or visit
www.cmclassic.com <http://www.cmclassic.com/> 

 

 

---------------------------
John Cardinale
VP of Media/Community Relations
Infineon Raceway
Highways 37 &121, Sonoma, CA 95476
wk: 707-933-3907
cell: 707-334-9805