February 5th - SATURN CYCLING TEAM OPENS 2001 RACE SEASON AT LE TOUR DE LANGKAWI
Seven members of the Saturn Cycling Team will begin their racing season with Le Tour de Langkawi, a 12-stage race in Malaysia that runs February 6-18 covering 1605 kilometers (997 miles).
The men and women of the Saturn Cycling Team concluded a 10-day training camp in California’s Santa Ynez Valley on January 31. The seven riders competing in Malaysia departed directly for the Southeast Asian peninsula – Frank McCormack, 31, Plymouth, Mass.; Trent Klasna, 31, Pine Valley, Calif.; Soren Petersen, 33, Skive, Denmark; Harm Jensen, 33, Topanga, Calif. (Delft, the Netherlands); Chris Fisher, 31, Fort Collins, Colo.; Michael Barry, 25, Boulder, Colo.; and Matt DeCanio 23, Tucson, Ariz.
“The stages are mostly flat but there is one day (Feb. 15) with a substantial climb to the Genting Highlands, which has been pivotal in the past in the final general classification,” said Saturn team manager Jim Copeland. “There is also a 27-kilometer individual time trial the following day that will be selective.
“Most of the stages will end with bunch sprints and we will be working on our organization at the end of races, working on leadouts and sprinting,” said Copeland. “Saturn has won stages in the past, so we will be cherry picking some of the stages to target. But we’re not going into the race with hard line goals.
“If we find that we have a possible GC (General Classification) contender, not less than top five, then we will work to support him,” Copeland continued. “Trent (Klasna) is the one person who might be able to put together a good climbing stage and time trial. He has good form right now.”
In the bunch sprints, Copeland indicated Saturn veteran Frank McCormack plus new team member Soren Petersen of Denmark are likely to be in a position to nab stage wins. “Soren is a fast guy on the road, especially in those harder selection finishes.”
McCormack ruled himself out as a GC contender. “I might be able to attain the yellow jersey, but I won’t be able to keep it. The climb to the Genting Highlands, which is 24 kilometers long, has a Tour de France difficulty to it. I might finish 12^th or 18^th, but I’ll lose six minutes since I’m kind of a big guy,” he said with a laugh. “That’s where the climbing specialists excel.”
McCormack has watched the evolution of Le Tour de Langkawi into a major international competition since its inception in 1996. “It’s become more intense each year and a lot more teams show up racing to win,” said McCormack. “It’s hot and humid, but the environment is awesome. We stay in great hotels and the food is great. The organization is very professional. There are a lot of spectators.”
The spectators include unusual wildlife by American standards, but befitting the nation’s tropical environment. McCormack told a story of a training ride a couple of years back. “We thought we saw a great big tropical leaf in the road, but when we got closer and slowed down to avoid it, a six-foot reptile that looked like a giant iguana took off. You see a lot of different things.”
American Chris Horner is the defending champion. Teams expected to compete include European powerhouses Mapei, Saeco, CSC-World Online, AG2R, Crédit Agricole plus a host of national teams.
Saturn and cycling are a perfect match as they both recognize that achieving a common goal is dependent on teamwork. From the time of Saturn’s inception, teamwork has driven the Saturn success story. From the UAW representatives who build the cars to the network of Saturn retailers who sell them, the Saturn team works well together to deliver world-class cars with an equally world-class ownership experience. 

January 8th - TEAM SATURN GEARS UP FOR TRAINING CAMP IN PICTURESQUE SANTA YNEZ VALLEY
TROY, Mich.— Following a nine year tradition, the 2001 Saturn Cycling season will begin with the team’s visit to training camp, which will take place from January 21-31, in Solvang, California, located in the Santa Ynez Valley just outside Santa Barbara. Saturn anticipates another strong season with a team consisting of both experienced veterans and new talent. Adding eight new riders eager to contribute to the team’s success will nicely balance the 2001 Saturn Team’s core of 13 familiar faces.
While in many respects, this year’s team camp will be like those in past years, the 2001 trip to Solvang will be a bittersweet reunion for the team. Training camp will mark the first time the team will gather together since the death of Saturn Cycling Team member Nicole Reinhart, who was killed in a bicycle crash last September. “It will be a very important time for the team,” says Giana Roberge, Team Saturn’s Assistant General Manager. “It will be a time for us to heal, to give thanks and to move on.”
From a training standpoint, Solvang is ideal for what the team looks to accomplish. The hills, roadways, scenery and climate come together to provide the Saturn athletes with the variety they need to hone important skills. While in Solvang, the 21 athletes and 13 support staff will stay at the Marriott Rancho Santa Barbara in Buellton. “The hotel really provides a good base with a relaxing atmosphere for the tired athletes to return home to after a hard day of training,” says Roberge.
Before the break-neck traveling and racing schedules begin, the training camp is a chance for all of the riders and staff to be together to renew the sense of teamwork at the start of the season. While at camp, the riders will be fitted for custom orthodics, finalize the custom fit of their LeMond bicycle, and work with coaches, trainers, the team nutritionist and doctors to agree on individual fitness and training plans for the year. In addition, the riders have a chance to meet with cycling industry sponsors, such as Timex, Shimano, Louis Garneau, Oakley and KORE, to learn about some of the products they will be using. In addition to meetings and on-the-bike training on the streets of Solvang, the team will participate in a photo shoot for the Saturn Cycling promotional materials.
The Team Saturn athletes and support staff also will participate in media training, Saturn product training as well as an outdoor training experience that will allow them an opportunity to hone the skill that is most valuable during a race—teamwork.
It is the time spent in Solvang taking advantage of the challenging terrain that will, undoubtedly aid the team in what is certain to be a successful assault on the 2001 season. Forming a tight bond between the veterans and younger athletes fosters the winning edge that the Saturn Cycling Team has been known for in their nine years. With the 2004 Olympics in Athens is on the horizon the team’s coaches look to veteran riders such as Frank and Mark McCormack, Anna Wilson Millward, Petra Rossner and Clara Hughes to help instill in the new, younger riders how to be gracious champions.
Saturn and cycling are a perfect match as they both recognize that achieving a common goal is dependent on teamwork. From the time of Saturn’s inception, teamwork has driven the Saturn success story. From the UAW representatives who build the cars to the network of Saturn retailers who sell them, the Saturn team works well together to deliver world-class cars with an equally world-class ownership experience.
If you are interested in setting up interviews with Saturn Cycling Team members, coaches and staff, please contact Giana Roberge at 262-549-6801 ext. 46. Here is a full list of the 2001 Saturn Cycling Team roster:
2001 Saturn Cycling Team Roster
Michael Barry (CAN)
Lyne Bessette (CAN)
Kimberly Bruckner (USA)
Kimberly Davidge (CAN)
Matt DeCanio (USA)
Ivan Dominguez (CUB)
Anke Erlank (RSA)
Christopher Fisher (USA)
Erin Hartwell (USA)
Clara Hughes (CAN)
Harm Jansen (NED)
Tim Johnson (USA)
Trent Klasna (USA)
Frank McCormack (USA)
Mark McCormack (USA)
Anna Millward (AUS)
Soren Petersen (DEN)
Petra Rossner (GER)
Suzanne Sonye (USA)
Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (GER)
Eric Wohlberg (CAN)