The fourth edition of the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic in Hood River, Oregon, starts Wednesday with NRC recognition for the second year despite the fact that the event is a jewel won annually by regional talent since its inception in 2003.

As in years past, the race is sponsored by Full Sail Brewery, which is headquartered in Hood River, about 50 miles west of Portland on the Columbia River George. The quaint mountain-river town with a population of 20,000 is regarded as a Mecca by sailboarders worldwide and is a pushing-off point for skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, backpacking and climbing in the nearby Mount Hood National Forest.

However, it is the one-lane logging roads, steep mountain pitches and more than 23,000 feet of climbing that attract cyclists from around North America. The six-stage race is predominantly contested on the roads of the national forest in the shadow of the volcanic, snow-capped, 11,245-foot behemoth for which the forest is named. The final and often pivotal Three-Summit Road Race features more than 7500 feet of climbing in 75 miles and a mountaintop finish at the Cooper Spur Ski Area.

Last year was the event's first NRC designation, but, as in all the years past, it was regional riders from the Northwest who delivered victories. Svein Tuft from the British Columbia-based Symmetrics team defeated Colorado's Andy Bajadali of the Vitamin Cottage squad. This despite the presence of the Health Net-Maxxis team and its perennial stage-race favorite Scott Moninger. The Colorado resident, who won five NRC stage races in 2005, broke a chain in the second time-trial stage and thus took on a support role for the team.

One the women's side, Leah Goldstein from the British Columbia-based Trek-Red Truck Beer squad was victorious, defeating Chrissy Ruiter of Ford Basis.

Goldstein will return to defend her title. Tuft will not, though Symmetrics will send a top-caliber squad, including Andrew Pinfold and Jacob Erker. Moninger returns with support limited in numbers -- only three -- but not in talent. Commonwealth Games time-trial champion Nathan O'Neill of Australia along with world track champion Greg Henderson of New Zealand will play support roles and likely vie for stage wins.

The Navigators will send Burke Swindlehurst, third at this year's Tour of Gila in New Mexico, and Phil Zajicek, who won two NRC time trial stages earlier this year. Vitamin Cottage will send Jonathan Baker. Broadmark Capitol will send U.S. elite national road champion Carl Decker, supported by seven riders. The 2004 champion, Russell Stevenson, who finished sixth in 2005, is slated to race with his Seattle-based Benaroya Research squad.

Goldstein returns with Symmetrics this year. She will be supported by three teammates. Runner-up Ruiter is not slated to return, but the third-place finisher from last year, Irene Mercer, will come back with the JR Engineering squad. Fourth-place Ashley Lion returns with the Webcor-Platinum team. Velo Bella-Kona sends a diverse group headed by Kele Murdin, who placed ninth last year. And Dotsie Bausch from Colavita/Cooking Light, which currently leads the NRC team competition, is also slated to race. She is presently third on NRC points for the season.

The Mt. Hood Cycling Classic also attracts the best masters riders west of the Mississippi. Last year saw Excel Sports top the podium with Mark Southard and runner-up David Zimbleman. Both are slated to return.