MONTEREY, Calif., (March 10, 2002) - Specialized will circle its team wagons at the Sea Otter Classic. Road teams, mountain bike teams, and even employee cycling club Team Cannibal will be woven together for the famous four-day unabashed celebration of the bicycle.

Racing in Specialized's backyard, the teams will be gunning to put the red "S" atop the podium again. What makes the Sea Otter unique is the rare opportunity to see road and off-road stars together, and Specialized will have both together for the week-long affair.

"Specialized and the Sea Otter have come to define NorCal cycling heritage," said Rick Sutton, co-founder of the Sea Otter. "This is a model of a local company supporting an event - and I mean back when supporting this event meant taking a risk - and then having that event become a centerpiece to their spring season. I like to think we were worth the risk." Sutton reported that Specialized has agreed to a multi-year deal to continue its support of the Sea Otter.

Specialized, with perhaps the earliest heritage of mountain bike racing support is playing their aces of past and present racing success. Caroline Alexander and Barbara Blatter dominated the women's races last year; Blatter won the time trial and the short track and Alexander, with a strong ride in the cross country, won the women's overall contest. Both will defend their titles on Specialized S-Works race bikes.

The men's race team will again be led by the Belgian bomber Filip Meierhaeghe, who uses power and downhill skills to score wins at the World Cup level. Last year Meierhaeghe scored the short track win. Specialized recently signed on it's USA mtb team and is excited to have Magen Long, holder of 13 National Championship titles in all disciplines of cycling: mountain bike, road, track, cyclo-cross and BMX; Jay Henry, 10 time podium finisher in 2001; Skyler Reeves, 2nd overall U-23 rider in 2001, and more promising athletes on the team.

Specialized will also be strutting its skinny-tire stuff with the Jelly Belly/Specialized team. The Team will participate in 100 races in the coming season with the National Racing Calendar as the main focus of the team. This promising pro road squad is handling the domestic calendar while Mario Cipollini's Aqua & Sapone team flies the big red S in Europe.

Specialized is at the Sea Otter to race, but they are also there to meet people and have fun. "We will display our latest technologies, we have some great ways for people to have fun riding bikes, from the nimble Sirrus flat-bar road bikes, to kids' bikes than make me wish I was 6 again. So many different types of cyclists and non-riders come to the Sea Otter Classic, we want to give everybody something to dream about." said Jon Mikkelsen, USA Marketing Manager for Specialized.

With Specialized headquartered in nearby Morgan Hill, the Sea Otter is a unique backyard opportunity to integrate all of its squads and employees, into a massive weeklong launch. Legends such as Ned Overend, reigning stars such as Meierhaege, Blatter and Alexander, the JellyBelly/Specialized team, The Specialized USA mtb team, and even free ride sensation Brett Tippie, will be signing autographs.

"All of these folks will be using the Specialized race trailer as their home base during Sea Otter. The race truck is right next to the display tent, so it will be busy for sure," said Mikkelsen. "The day after Sea Otter Barbara Blatter and Fillip are traveling with the local sales rep, Don Shipman, to see dealers on his call schedule that day," explained Mikkelsen. "Also the day after, Team Jelly Belly/Specialized will be at our Morgan Hill facility to learn all about us, meet the sales group, and to subject their weary legs to the legendary Specialized lunch ride. It's so important to get our teams involved and to know what Specialized is all about. Sea Otter is the perfect event to get the year started right for everyone!"

The 12th Annual Sea Otter Classic Powered by SRAM will be held March 21-24, 2002 at the Laguna Seca Recreation Area. Athletes are invited to call the Sea Otter Classic event hotline at 530.661.9500 with entry inquiries. For more information visit http://www.seaotterclassic.com./

— Posted by Ari Cheren, MountainZone.com Staff