For Immediate Release April 15, 2006 www.willamettevalleyclassic.com Contact: Gary Medley Medley Communications 503–239–3948 503–516–1468 mobile garymedley@comcast.net West's Best Bike Racers Set to Tackle Inaugural Willamette Valley Classic Stage Race WILLAMETE VALLEY, Ore.   Stage racing is a competitive cycling's ultimate challenge, testing a rider's speed and endurance across different riding disciplines, day after day.  On the weekend of April 21-23, an elite field of bike racers  from the Pacific Northwest, Canada, and California  will converge in Oregon to tackle that identical challenge: the inaugural Willamette Valley Classic Stage Race.  More than 400 men and women are entered in the Willamette Valley Classic's 10 different categories to competing in four (or three, depending on category) different stages over the course of three days, including two road races, a circuit race and a time trial.   Total prize money for the event tops $10,000. Chasing that cash will be the headline-grabbing Pros class, which boasts top domestic professionals Mike Sayers (Health Net/Maxxis), Adam Craig (Giant), Carl Decker (Broadmark Capital/Hegans Berman) and Svein Tuft (Symmetrics Cycling).  The strong women's field is stong, as well, with more than 50 riders, including Pro 1/2 favorite Leah Golstein of the Israeli national team. The race categories include Pro/1/2 Men, Category 3 Men, Category 4/5 Men, Masters 40+ 1/2/3, Masters 40+ 3/4/5, Juniors, Pro/1/2 Women, Category 3 Women, and Category 4 Women.  The Pro 1/2, Masters 1/2/3 and Pro/1/2 Women will complete all four stages; the other categories skip the time trial. The four stages offer four unique challenges: Stage 1, the High Pass Road Race, Friday, April 21, starts in Junction City and travels up into the Coast Range in a hilly 17.5-mile lap. Stage 2, the Sears Road Time Trial, Saturday April 22, starts and finishes in Creswell, a 17-mile race against the clock. Stage 3, the Bear Creek Circuit Race, also Saturday, is an up-and-down 5.2-mile lap; racers complete four-to-eight laps, depending on the category.   Stage 4, the Wolf Creek Road Race, Sunday, April 23, is a extremely challenging 56-to-85-mile European-style road race that serves up 4,500-to-7,500 feet of climbing.  The Wolf Creek Road Race starts and finishes at the Kings Estate Winery in Lorane, Oregon. Each class crowns an overall race winner  General Classification, or GC  decided by the lowest accumulated time for all four stages combined.  In addition, an Aggressive Rider Competition (AG-Rider) is also held, earning a $1,000 prize. Race headquarters will be located at Paul's Bicycle Way of Life, 234 W. 6th Ave., Eugene, OR 97401, 541-344-4150.   Sponsors for the Willamette Valley Classic Stage Race include Sweet Sports, Upland Sports Group, the Eugene Weekly, Paul's Bicycle Way of Life, and Rainbow Optics.          For complete information on the race, visit www.willamettevalleyclassic.com. To learn more about all types of bicycle racing in Oregon visit www.obra.org, site of the Oregon Bicycle Racing Association.