July 10, 2009 (St-Félicien, QC) – The Canadian National MTB XC Championships kick off on Saturday in St- Félicien, QC with the Junior Men’s and Women’s races starting at 9:00 a.m. The showcase elite and U23 races take place later in the day, with the elite and U23 women going at 11:30 a.m., and the elite and U23 men competing at 2:00 p.m.

The 6.5km course is very similar to the one used two years ago for the World Cup here. There is a ton of singletrack, lots of roots, berms, bridges, and rock structures, and even a waterfall to ride under. The track is currently in beautiful shape, as rain earlier in the week packed down the dirt and sunshine the last few days has dried it out and made it tacky. The weather forecast is calling for a very good chance of showers – even thundershowers – for the day, which could make some major changes in terms of tire choices and course conditions.

In the junior men’s ranks, Ontario’s Mitch Bailey (ON) Jetpower/Team Ontario is a definite favourite, with several Canada Cup wins this season. Evan Guthrie (BC) Rocky Mountain Factory usurped Bailey for the victory at Canada Cup #5 in Canmore and will be one to watch. Leandre Bouchard (QC) Cyclone d’Alma may be the dark horse, coming off a recent Canada Cup win in Bromont on July 5.

The junior women’s race will also be hotly contested, with Ontario’s Cayley Brooks (ON) Team Ontario and Laura Bietola (ON) 3 Rox Racing have both had strong seasons so far and will likely put Ontario onto the podium. Samantha Grover (AB) Hardcore Bikes has had some great Canada Cup results leading up to Nationals, so she appears to be on form. Representing Quebec, Kristina Laforge (QC) Cyclone d’Alma is coming off of a win at the Canada Cup in Bromont and may just use her home turf advantage to its fullest.

For the U23 women Emily Batty (ON) Trek Store Toronto is the obvious favourite, but rumour has it she will be racing up in the elite category. Rebecca Beaumont (QC) Cyclone d’Alma/Team Quebec and Mikaela Kofman (ON) 3 Rox Racing are the next in line, having consistently been on the podium at the Canada Cups.

The big story for the elite women’s race is the Prémont vs. Pendrel showdown. Marie-Hélène Prémont (QC) Maxxis-Rocky Mountain and Catharine Pendrel (BC) Luna are both duking out at the top World Cup ranks and this is the year Canada could very well see a new elite women’s National Champion. Other podium contenders, include Amanda Sin (ON) 3 Rox Racing and Mical Dyck (AB) Trek Store Toronto.

The U23 men’s competition looks like it will be eastern Canadian, with Raphaël Gagné (QC) Maxxis-Rocky Mountain, Léni Trudel (QC) Independent and Cameron Jette (ON) Team Ontario currently ranked top three in the Canada Cup series.

The elite men’s race could also become a nail-biter with a possible repeat of last year’s close battle between reigning champ Geoff Kabush (BC) Maxxis-Rocky Mountain and runner-up Derek Zandstra (ON) 3 Rox Racing. Max Plaxton (BC) Sho-Air/Specialized is also a definite possibility for a podium after his decisive win at the US Cup in Alabama recently. Seamus McGrath (BC) Jamis should never be underestimated as well, not to mention several of the “next generation” who have been riding nationally, like Andrew Watson (ON) Norco Factory Team, Matt Hadley (NB) Xprezo, and Julien Fillion (QC) Devinci.