CamelBak has inked an agreement with Bobby Julich, Team CSC rider and U.S. Olympic bronze medalist in Athens 2004 in the men?s time trial event. Julich, who lives in Reno, NV/Lake Tahoe, CA and Nice, France will be working with CamelBak during the 2005 cycling season as the company?s newest ambassador for the brand.

Julich is one of road cycling?s first to utilize a hydration system other than the typical plastic water bottle. Some readers are likely to recall Julich riding Tour de France time trials of the late 1990es wearing a Camelbak AeroBak hidden under his time trial suit. In both the 2004 Tour de France and Olympics time trials, Julich wore CamelBak?s RaceVest under his skin suit with the hose and bite valve punched through the skin suit. Julich explains, ?Anything that causes you to sit up, out of your most aerodynamic position, could cost you the race. Being able to simply sip from the hose, situated just under my chin, keeps me in the most efficient position, and not to mention keeps me hydrated and energized to ride my best.?

In his new position as spokesperson for CamelBak, Julich will be meeting retailers, industry professionals and the media. He will provide the company with feedback on his usage and testing of the CamelBak hydration systems and new products, and how they can best be developed to meet the needs of road cyclists. Julich and his endorsements will appear on CamelBak?s marketing collateral and in various promotional efforts. He will also be present at trade shows and media events on behalf of the company ? as already witnessed during the 2004 Interbike trade show. Finally, Julich will exclusively use CamelBak?s Hydration System in this year?s time trial events, such as in the Tour de France and the ProTour Team Time Trial, as well as in his training.

Julich?s most recent accomplishments include making American cycling history on March 13 by becoming the first American to win the Paris-Nice race, the first leg of the 27-race International Cycling Union (UCI) Professional Tour ? the ProTour. His team, CSC, also won in the team?s category. On March 27, Julich continued his strong early season by also winning the time trial and overall GC at the Criterium International three-stage race in and around Charleville-Mezieres, France. This is the second time in his cycling career that Julich has won the Criterium International. Yesterday Julich placed 5th in the final overall rankings at Vuelta al Pais Vasco.

Stay tuned to Roadcycling.com for a review of the CamelBak RaceVest.

Visit CamelBak online at www.camelbak.com.