CamelBak Products, LLC has inked an agreement with Bobby Julich, U.S. Olympic Bronze Medalist in Athens 2004 in the men’s time trial event. Julich, who spends his time living between 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. 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 with CamelBak, Julich will be a spokesperson for the brand, meeting retailers, industry professionals and the media. He will provide the company with feedback on his usage and testing of the CamelBak® Hydration System and new products, and how they can best be developed to fit a road cyclists’ needs. 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. Finally, Julich will exclusively use CamelBak’s Hydration System in this year’s time trial events, such as in the Tour de France and Protour Team Time Trial, as well as in his training or participation in other sports.

“We believe the credibility and experience Bobby has with the cycling community will inspire retailers and consumers to look to CamelBak as the newest and best option for road cycling hydration,” explains Woody Scal, Executive Vice President at CamelBak. “Bobby is not only an incredible athlete, but a smart, well-spoken and respected individual with whom we’re very excited to expand our relationship this year.”

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. 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 Charleville-Mezieres, France. This is the second time in his cycling career that Julich has won the Criterium International.