BERKELEY, Calif. (May 10, 2002) - - PowerBar Inc. and Jeff Webster, CEO of Carmichael Training Systems, Inc. (CTS), today announced the signing of a joint endorsement contract, formalizing a relationship that has existed between the two companies for several years. Effective immediately, the agreement makes PowerBar Inc. the official energy bar and energy gel sponsor to CTS. The contract also welcomes Chris Carmichael, CTS founder and chairman, and his staff of certified elite coaches to serve as the official coaching service to the energy bar leader.

"As the worldwide leader in performance nutrition, we are excited to join forces with PowerBar," CTS's Jeff Webster stated. "As CTS prides itself on being for everyone, from the first-timer to the elite, we are happy to be aligned with a company with the same principles."

Carmichael, a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic Cycling Team and part of the first American team to ride in the Tour de France in 1986, has been a member of the PowerBar community since the company's beginning. "When PowerBar first introduced the Original Performance Energy Bar , Chris was one of the first athletes to put the bar to the test as a member of the 7-Eleven cycling team," said PowerBar General Manager Cindy Vallar. "CTS and PowerBar share a common nutritional philosophy and fundamental objective - - to bring athletes and active people worldwide the training and competition tools they need to achieve their goals. We're thrilled to make the natural partnership between our two organizations official."

Carmichael formed CTS in 1999 after spending more than two decades in the sport of cycling as a member of the U.S. Team, 1992 Olympic Road Cycling Coach and head coach at the 1996 Olympics where U.S. cyclists took home three medals. His CTS organization provides clients the finest personal coaching available by creating and managing training programs, camps and certifying performance-related training products. Carmichael has developed a training system that has proven to be successful from world-class athletes to recreational competitors, and the company has quickly become the world's leading source of personal coaching for endurance sports and general fitness.

"I have been involved with PowerBar since my racing days and am extremely excited to continue the relationship through CTS," stated Carmichael. "They have long been the best product in their category and always seem to be getting better. I am thrilled to formalize our relationship with PowerBar and to be connected with the best in the business."

Prior to formalizing the agreement, the companies shared relationships with three-time Tour De France Champion Lance Armstrong, and the Trek/Volkswagen mountain bike team. PowerBar will feature Carmichael and his CTS organization on its web site and in its print advertising campaign later this year. Throughout 2002, CTS and PowerBar will work together at sponsored sporting events to offer consumers solid sports nutrition and training tips designed to help athletes reach their personal goals. All efforts will support the PowerBar(R) Performance energy bar, the number-one selling energy bar, which is especially formulated for world-class athletes and provides an ideal blend of carbohydrates for energy, protein for muscle repair and is low fat.

PowerBar Inc. is the creator and leader of the energy bar market. PowerBar proudly fuels world-class athletes including Lance Armstrong, sponsors premier events such as the Boston Marathon and is the Official Nutritional Energy Bar Supplier to the U.S. Olympic Team. Headquartered in Berkeley, Calif., the company's product line includes PowerBar(R) Performance energy bars, PowerBar Harvest(R) morning energy bars, PowerBar(R) ProteinPlus high protein bars, PowerBar(R) Pria nutritional energy snack bars and PowerBar(R) PowerGel(R) energy gels. For more information, contact PowerBar at 800-58-POWER or visit the PowerBar web site atwww.powerbar.com.

Carmichael Training Systems is a community of athletes and coaches dedicated to improving the performance and lives of athletes of all levels and disciplines. Led by Chris Carmichael, CTS brings coaching expertise, product advice and endurance sports information to the athletic community via the world wide web. CTS works with a wide variety of athletes including three-time Tour de France Champion Lance Armstrong, 2000 Triathlon Olympic Gold Medallist Simon Whitfield, Montreal Canadiens Captain Saku Koivu and Indy Car racer Eliseo Salazar. CTS also serves as the official coaches for the US Paralympic track & field and cycling teams and is the nationally endorsed coaching partner of the MS Society. For more information, contact CTS at 719-635-0645 or visit our web site at www.trainright.com.

— Posted by Ari Cheren, MountainZone.com Staff