IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE 2001

Tour De Burg Schedule has been announced!

With the Spring Classics such as the Harris-Roubaix, Massanutten Mountain, Shenandoah Mountain, 24 Hours of Snowshoe and the WV National out of the way racers are done with their fine tuning and ready for this years Tour De Burg. This 10-day road and off road stage race will begin on the evening of July 6th with the ever famous and deeply loved TT. Like each of the past three years there will be new faces at the start and more notably some missing from years race. Most notable among the missing stars will be the 2000 Tour De Burg winner Jerome Vimpty, Frances "little Miguel". Close sources say he has come down with a rare disease that was picked up during a batched blood transfusion with an ape during this years 24 Hours of Snowshoe. His Prologue win, where he missed winning a 2000 SAAB by 23 seconds, set the stage for the remainder of the nine painful stages. Controversy has surrounded Miguel Carpellini who been both the Tour Director and Team Green strongman in past episodes. The Spaniard has not been invited since his terrible press in the American magazine Sport Illustrates June 18th issue, he says he will no longer compete for "bling-bling" (money), so do not expect to see him among the leaders competing for the 2 Billion Dollar top prize. Carpellini has however vowed to bandit the most epic of mountain stages and "shred carnage upon the weak disciples of the tour". After showing incredible early season form dominating all the Spring Classic's some believe Carpellini would be among the leaders similar to the Tours of 98 & 99. The incredible recovery of Joel Maynario the 2000 and 1999 runner after mid-season knee surgery has show the many fans that the Itailian strongman from the southern region is still their leader. Maynario claims to "make his presence but a painful experience for the tour leaders in his stages", but still leaves the door open for another pre- race favorite. Questions remain about the health of 99 Tour winner Paul Bushetti the ever powerful Belgian. If fans see his name on Friday's start list they will see him waving the colors of his new sponsor Mr J's Bagels. This new six-digit deal was signed late last week after Bushetti pounded 8 cups of coffee and 12 orange juice muffins while signing on the dotted line. The Orient is sending their message of power with Jeff Chang. Chang has made his plans public knowledge through the tabloids. The Asian has vowed to press the leaders from the back showing no mercy until all the primodona's have broken like baby bonzi trees. Still the question remains to who will be the favorite for this year's tour? Will Chris Scott the crispy Danish fellow show the form that made him famous in the early 90's? His legs appear to have lost some snap possibly a result of the 24 hr and 6-day events he frequents. Then there is the team of Tomas Jenkini the Spainsh loyalist and Tim Sherman Richardson of the Western Applaciation Virginia region who have been pre riding many this years stages. Christi Lhentholo da Sticky Green Kiwi has been rumored to pass through customs in the days preceding the tour, his appearance is expected by the many fans of the Tour that love him. But the big news might come from the new Tour rider like Jeramia Bishoup the Englishman who hopes to add to his list of impressive wins like Harris-Roubaix and the Six Pack Downhill. To help inspire the younger riders this year's Tour will include an under 23 Jersey. Among the contenders for this jersey will be Dylan Johnson of Keezletownia, the prince of steep and long stages, after his showing during the Spring Classic on Massanutten Mountain he is a fear for the GC contenders as well. The young Irish sprinter Pat Millard has taken leave from the IRA and hopes to launch his first successful bid at the tour. The foolish Irishman, who has struggled during the Classics with cramps, is rumored to be trying to stay clean as a final bid for health from his Spanish curse. Hole shot hero Eric Keim the snazzy Puerto Rico has turned his local village upside down after his statement, "the girls will have to wait till after the tour for I will not be clubbing this during this prestigious event". Billy Armstrong the fiery Texas is seeking his magical peak to form after his long Euro training régime has left him fried. No matter what happens expect the 2001 Tour De Burg to one of the most exciting stage races in cycling history.

Letters of Intent are still expected from:

Kevin Keane Team Greens Doobiemestique

Oliver Quinn the crafty Canadian Mofia leader

Christain Quinn the Canadian Butcher

Marty Quinn the Canadian lover boy

Mikhail Hurlikoff the Russian Ukranian bastard stepchild with ties to the Canadian Mofia

Mark Myracled Lieutnant Domestique - Bavaria

Jamie Von Keehner the underground champion

Tomi Brothers woodsman form da North

Michael Compraro one clean ass

Italian Pauli Johaneson swedish meatball

Bernd "Buck" Aus Kopf the German power rider for team

Green Carol (zee Barrel) Vaters German Power

Nico Waitito Spanish climbing sensation from the Appalachialusain Region

Matteus Frankovich sneaky dutchmen with ties to team green

David McGowan The Red Headed Spainard

Micki Buchness russian cosmonaut

Nikolai Danielski The Russian

Jay Duffy the Cocky American

Jacque Strap Gezttier The Frenchmen

Jens Nielsen The Biking Viking World champion

Jimi Stone Irish sprinting sensation Ryan Ketchum

Glenn Valton the Brazialian movie star

Hope to see your there!

Societe du Tour De Burg.

Tour De Burg Stages

2001 Tour De Burg July 6th -Friday 7:30pm
Prologue Time Trial: Trimble Mountain (a.k.a Boyscout) -It will be you, the clock and four miles of tight step single track to start the 2001 Tour. All the players will be trying to prove that they are in the hunt for this year's title, but this will only be the beginning.

July 7th - Saturday 10:00am
Stage 1: Camp Todd-Buck Mountain-Sandsprings-Heartstone -The tour directors might have been trying to make up for some of last year's easier stages when they thought up this climbing nightmare. This stage will bring all new sections that have never been included in any previous tour stage. The heart busting climbs up to Little Bald Knob and then Sand Spring Ridge will create a painful tone for the next eight days.

July 8th - Sunday 10:00am
Stage 2: Reddish Knob Mountain Finish -Riders will be grateful to put away their mountain bikes for a day and bring out the thin tire bikes, but not thin of a tire. Last year this gravel road climb saw many battles between riders before the mountain top finish on Reddish Knob. With thousands of spectators expected to line the final ½ mile of the climb riders will have push their way to victory on this 4500 foot summit.

July 9th - Monday 2:00pm
Stage 3: Harrisonburg- Kaylors Knob-Boones Run-Fridley Gap-Harrisonburg -There will be no travel time for the riders, which should help them recover and prepare for this mountain bike stage. Departing from town will allow an easy roll out before riders ascend the Massanutten Ridge. The Kaylors Ridge will allow riders to showcase their technical talent before the 2 mile dream descent to Boones Run Shelter. But with steep hike-a-bike sections cropping out later in the ride things will change before riders return to Downtown Harriosnburg.

July 10th - Tuesday 2:00pm
Stage 4: Eliots Knob- Mt Crawford Trail -"Gorillas in the Mist" was the theme for this epic stage during the 2000 tour that saw riders look for the medical tent soon after they were done. Trails might change but you will still have to peak out at Eliots Knob and then find the best lines north to Crawford Mountain. Riders will have to suffer through this stage knowing they still have not reached the mid way point of the tour.

July 11th - Wednesday 2:00pm
Stage 5: Reddish Knob-Sugar Grove-Confederates Breastworks-Jennings Gap -The road bikes will be unveiled for the second time during this year's tour but no one knows what to expect. One thing for sure this stage will cross into West Virginia and go deep into the heart of the "Wild and Wonderful" state. Riders will encounter many town sprints on their return to Harrisonburg; this will be a sprinters stage for sure!!

July 12th - Time Trial Thursday 2:00pm
Stage 6: Second Mountain-Dictums Ridge The tour directors have decided to add a new element for the tour. Riders for the second time in a week will find themselves racing against the clock and trying to set a record time for this mountain bike time trial. Second Mountain's deep mud holes have been know to swallow small vehicles so riders will be hoping to make it to the rocky descent of Dictums Ridge alive.

July 13th - Friday 2:00pm
Stage 7: Big Slouchs-North Mountain -With permits still trying to be received this stage may find itself in jeopardy. Known for the technical trails this section of the Lee Ranger District has not seen the presence of any tour stage. This stage will allow the technical riders to shine, maybe for the last time so expect an all out battle for this stage.

July 14th-Saturday 10:00am
Stage 8: New Market-Woodstock-New Market -Road riders will have their last opportunity for a stage win and this might be the last chance for leader change. With four mountains to cross on this second to final stage expect the broom wagon to be full on it's return to New Market.

July 15th -Sunday 10:00am
Stage 9: Shenandoah Mountain Trail Riders have been know to leave the start line at Braleys Pond arm in arm with smiles on their faces, probably because they know the directors have saved the best for last. With 18 miles of uninterrupted single track the SMT will bring the best out of any rider. But the racing is not over and the final sprint to Carpenters Convience will be that last victory until the 2002 Tour.

Chris Scott
540-434-2087
MountainTouring.com