2002 Saturn Cycling Classic

FOR RELEASE: May 7, 2002

Saturn Sponsors What Many Call The Toughest One-Day Race On Earth

DETROIT- Saturn will again sponsor one of the most exciting and demanding events in American bicycle racing. World-class bicycle racers from two disciplines - road and mountain biking - will traverse the mountains of Colorado during the grueling Saturn Cycling Classic on Saturday, August 10, 2002.

The 140-mile adventure across the Continental Divide from Boulder to Breckenridge features more than 14,000 feet of accumulated climbing on both paved and dirt roads. Saturn, the official vehicle sponsor of the second-annual event, is continuing its support as title sponsor and will award the race winner a new Saturn VUE(tm). The winner will receive the vehicle as part of the overall prize list of $77,000.

"The VUE is a great prize for people interested in the outdoors and sports," says Jill Lajdziak, vice president of sales, service and marketing. "The VUE's versatility and innovative features make it perfect for people with an active lifestyle."

The Saturn Cycling Classic also features the Nicole Reinhart Criteriums. Four separate races take place in downtown Breckenridge:

Women's Pro and Category 1 and 2 amateur racers
Two Men's Category 3 and 4 racers
Junior Men, ages 15-18 (part of the Lance Armstrong Junior Olympic Race Series)

The Saturn Cycling Team will be well represented. Competing for Saturn in the men's race will be Chris Fisher, who recently clinched first place in the Lake Nona Circuit Race (Fla.) at the Festival of Speed; Will Frischkorn, former Junior National Road and Criterium Champion; Harm Jansen, who took second place in the criterium events at both the Sequoia Cycling Classic and the McLane Pacific Classic races (Calif.) earlier this year; Tim Johnson, former U.S. Cyclo-cross National Champion; Trent Klasna, who finished the 2001 season as the top-ranked U.S. rider; Damon Kluck, former Junior U.S. Cyclo-cross National Champion; and Soren Petersen, who ranked in the top 10 overall at the 2002 Sea Otter Classic.

While the crowds of race fans await the exciting finish to the men's race in picturesque Breckenridge, members of the Saturn Cycling Team's women's squad compete in the Nicole Reinhart Criterium. Saturn cyclists include: Lyne Bessette, 2001 overall National Racing Calendar (NRC) Standings leader; Kim Bruckner, 2001 U.S. National Road Race and Criterium Champion; Anke Erlank, 2001 Xterra Off-Road Series winner; and first-year pro Jessica Phillips.

A sports expo and festivals are part of the day's racing activities in Breckenridge. To bolster Saturn Cycling Team efforts at the Saturn Cycling Classic, local Saturn retailers will host a display at the race's finish line in Breckenridge. Race fans can pick up Team Saturn giveaways and view a display of Saturn cars including the new Saturn VUE sport utility.

The extremely popular Saturn CyberBike will again let race fans experience the excitement of bicycle racing on the high-tech system. Two cyclists compete against each other over long or short distances while securely seated on stationary LeMond(r) pro racing bikes. The race will be translated into an animated graphic where each racer can see his or her exact position in the race on plasma screens.

Now entering its second decade of cycling support, the Saturn Cycling program has grown and evolved. It continues to provide an excellent means of reaching Saturn customers and potential customers who truly care about issues related to a productive and healthy lifestyle. Saturn has created a program that is beneficial to the Saturn retailer network as well as communities at large.

Through sponsorship of national and local events, as well as the 24-member professional team, Saturn Cycling also provides an excellent way to showcase Saturn vehicles. The fleet of decaled Saturns is a visible link between the car company and Saturn Cycling.

For more information about Saturn Cycling, visit www.saturncycling.com. For more information about the race, visit www.saturncyclingclassic.com..