25th Group Health Seattle-to-Portland —STP— Bicycle Classic; 8,000 Riders Will Make 205-Mile Trek, Celebrate 25-Year Tradition
Group Health STP:
WHAT: 25th Group Health STP — The largest multi-day bicycle ride in the Pacific Northwest
–205.4 mile ride on mostly rural roads in Western Washington and Oregon, beginning at the University of Washington and ending at Portland’s Holladay Park
–The Group Health STP is open to anyone with a set of wheels.
WHO: Nearly 8,000 riders of all ages
–Oldest: 83; nine riders over 75
–Youngest registered: One-year-old; 16 riders under 10
–Riders from 42 states — plus British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario
-32 doctors from Group Health will ride along to provide medical assistance.
–Group Health medical providers will also staff 16 first-aid booths.
–More than 700 volunteers, as well as law enforcement agencies, support the event.
WHEN: July 17-18, 2004
–Start (north of Husky Stadium — Lot E1): 4:45 a.m. to 7:30 a.m., July 17
–Finish (Holladay Park, Portland): most riders finish around 2 p.m., July 18
ROUTE: University of Washington (north of Husky Stadium) to Holladay Park, Portland: The carefully marked course passes through the Washington communities of Tukwila, Kent, Algona, Pacific, Sumner, Spanaway, Yelm, Tenino, Centralia, Chehalis, Napavine, Winlock, Vader, Castle Rock, and Kelso; and the Oregon communities of Rainier, St. Helens, and Scappoose.
MORE FACTS:
–First event held in 1979 as a U.S. Cycling Federation-sanctioned time trial from Seattle City Hall to Portland City Hall; 187 riders participated and 70 finished
–The eruption of Mount St. Helens led to the event’s cancellation in 1980.
–In 1992, a team of cycling firefighters from Spokane dashed into a burning house along the route near Chehalis and rescued an elderly woman. They went on to complete the ride.