July 28, 2006 (São Paulo, Brazil) — Canada placed 8 of the 11 riders in attendance with the national team in mains last weekend at the final pre-Worlds tune up event in São Paulo, Brazil. This event, which was held on the Worlds track, gave our athletes the opportunity to ride the course before the BMX World Championships which begin today.

Samantha Cools (Airdrie, AB) led the way finishing second in the elite women’s event. James Brown (Airdrie, AB) finished fourth in the junior men’s event. Christine Miller (Airdire, AB) and Layne Nyhaug (Port Coquitlam, BC) finished fourth and sixth respectively in the junior women’s event while Patrick Lebel (Calgary, AB) finished sixth in the elite men’s event.

In the cruiser category, Nyhaug and Kaila Sweeney (Calgary, AB) finished second and third in the junior women’s cruiser category while Kevin Hill (Vernon, BC) placed fourth in the elite men’s cruiser.

“This was an all round solid competition for the team” said National BMX Coach Tanya Dubnicoff. “We were able to ride the track and get used to the bumps and jumps on the course. Everyone is ready for the big competition.”

Canada has 13 riders competing in challenge class at the world championships and many of them were in competition last weekend.

Ilana Just (Red Deer, AB) was second in the 10-year-old girls’ class; Michilla Negenmann (Calgary, AB) finished seventh in the 16 girls; Dillon Sweeney (Calgary AB) finished sixth in the 14 boys’ cruiser; Alex Sailer (Airdire AB) finished eighth in the 15 boys’ 20 inch after sitting second early on and crashing, and later finished third in the 15-16 cruiser class. Finally, Erick Nicol (Calgary AB) finished sixth in the 14 boys.

“It was a good weekend for the kids and a good warm up for the worlds,” said challenge manager Sue Morrow.
The 2006 UCI BMX World Championships get under way today Friday July 28 in Ṣo Paulo with junior and elite championship class Рwhere Canada has 11 riders competing Рand continues on Saturday with the cruiser category, with six athletes representing Canada.

We were advised last night that the schedule was moved one day ahead as the forecast calls for rain on Saturday and Sunday in São Paulo. Official event web site and results: www.uci.ch/modello.asp?1stLevelID=LB&level1=0&level2=0&idnews=3947