June 3, 2006 — Canadian cross country riders are primed for the Sport Swap Canada Cup #3 at Hardwood Hills in Barrie, Ont., a regular fixture on the series calendar. Mical Dyck (AB, Terrascape) will be on hand to defend her series lead in the elite women’s category. Max Plaxton (BC, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects), who won the first two races of series, will apparently not be starting.

There will be a few new — but well known — additions to the women’s start list. The cream of the crop, Olympic silver medalist and National Champ Marie-Hélène Prémont (QC, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) will hit the twisty trails of Hardwood Hills tomorrow. Commonwealth Games Silver Medalist Kiara Bisaro (BC, Team R.A.C.E.) and X-Terra Champion Melanie McQuaid (BC, Orbea) will also be on the start line.

The elite women will attack four laps of the nine-kilometre course. “The course has changed a lot from last year,” said second-place overall, Catharine Pendrel (BC, Norco). “There is a pretty long open stretch with some small climbs before we hit single track.” The elite men will tackle five laps of the same course, which includes flowing fun trails through pine forest. The junior men will do four laps. The elite women, elite men and junior expert men start at 11:30 EST. The junior expert women start at 1:30 p.m. EST and will race three laps.

Environment Canada is predicting cloudy with sunny periods and chance of showers with a high of 22 degrees Celsius — ideal racing conditions in a place that can sometimes deliver unbearable heat and humidity. It has been raining today with up to 15 millimeters of precipitation expected. According to Pendrel, the course is in good condition, but the moisture has made everything a little bit slick.