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Nike ACG-Balance Bar in “Pole Position�

Gordon Wright (SPQ) / 19.09.2004

Eastsound, Washington Athletes from around the world cleared the final pre-race hurdle today as they completed the SPQ Prologue. A time-trial race designed to showcase each of the 56 competing teams, the Prologue also determined each team’s placement at the starting line. Prologue winner and defending SPQ champions team Nike ACG-Balance Bar will begin with a 20-minute lead over the last place teams.

A fogged-in Orcas Island played host to this year’s debut time-trial event, which combined the primary race disciplines of paddling, running, and mountain biking. Dan Barger, Race Director, chose to introduce the Prologue event this year due to limited space at the SPQ starting line.

Barger, an accomplished adventure racer himself, has participated in similar prologue-style events and decided this year’s race would benefit from such a start. “The Prologue is going to help relieve many athlete’s pre-race jitters as well as provide an opportunity for spectators and media to capture some of the action first-hand,� said Barger at this morning’s press conference. “Of course, bragging rights are always an added bonus,� noted Barger.

The Prologue covered 22.3 miles and included over 3,800 feet of vertical ascent and descent. The longest section of the race, at 10.5 miles, was spent on bicks as racers circled Mt. Constitution, where low-level fog and clouds had just cleared - providing for breathtaking scenery. Still-slick road surfaces slowed some teams down, as none could afford a pre-race injury.

Team Nike ACG-Balance Bar crossed the finish line first to secure a placement in the initial wave of teams to start the SPQ. Following closely behind were teams Montrail, Seagate, Holofiber, Reebok Adventure, and AROC – all comprising the first wave of teams to begin with a 2 minute lead.

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