July 19, 2009 (Massif du Sud, QC) – The 2009 National MTB DH Championship finals kick off today on the slopes of the Massif du Sud ski resort, located an hour south of Quebec City. The feature national championship categories – elites and juniors – start their final runs at 2:00 p.m., while the cadet and master categories take to the hill at 10:30 a.m., along with the Quebec Cup racers.

Last year’s elite women’s National Champion, Sheila Morris (ON) Angry Johnny’s, is not on hand to defend her jersey, and the top Canadian on the World Cup circuit, Claire Buchar (BC) Chain Reaction Cycles goes into the contest as the clear favourite. But Micayla Gatto (BC) Commencal/Oakley, who has also logged a top-10 at a World Cup this year, and Anne Laplante (QC) Xprezo, leader of the Canada DH Cup series, cannot be discounted.

The elite men’s race should be a nailbiter, with 2008 defending champ Andrew Mitchell (BC) Devinci in the mix while Canada’s top World Cup contender, Steve Smith (BC) MS Evil Racing is not competing. Last year’s junior men’s national champ Yann Gauvin (QC) Xprezo/Novatec/Impact Design set the pace topping the seeding runs, while Canada DH Cup leader Hans Lambert (QC) Norco Factory is seeded in the top 10.

The 2008 junior men’s runner-up, Dylan Morley (QC) DHRacer.com/Intersport, qualified fifth while Kyle Marshall (BC) Pinkbike/ Devinci DH took the top seed, followed by Remi Gauvin (BC) Arrowsmith Bikes and Trenton Zoobkoff (BC) Devinci. There’s a hotbed of talent in this field of young guns, so the competition should be tight and fierce.

Race Schedule here.
Start Lists here.