May 29, 2011 (Baie-St-Paul, QC) – Round two of the Canada Cup XC series takes place on Sunday in Baie-St-Paul, Quebec, on a short and twisty course strewn with slippery roots and rocks. Last weekend’s elite Mont Tremblant winners, Catherine Vipond (ON) Norco Factory Team and Matt Hadley (NB) Xprezo-Borsao, will face strong competition and a very different course as they attempt to achieve repeat victories.

Junior series leaders Frédérique Trudel (QC) Specialized Quebec and Marc-Antoine Nadon (ON) Team Ontario/3 Rox Racing will also be in the hot seat. Organizers are hosting additional non-UCI events, including an off-road time trial and an XC eliminator event.

The 4.7km XC loop contains a relatively small amount of vertical, with the longest sustained climb being about 1.5km with a gain of approximately 100m. This ascent is broken up by changes in terrain and some short transitions, so the extended climb is not recognizable as such until fatigue begins to set in partway through the race.

Riders will do a modified first lap with a wide initial 567m section bypassing a portion of the standard loop’s narrow singletrack, which will allow fields to sort themselves out. The lap does not contain any one feature that is incredibly technical or difficult, but its challenge comes from its virtually unbroken series of roots, rocks, twists, and turns that require focus, control, and skill to ride cleanly.

A few short wide open doubletrack transitions offer the only areas of respite and ideal passing opportunities. The large amount of rain that has fallen – and that continues to fall – on the course in the last few days will work to make the many off-camber roots even more slippery and developing muddy sections longer and deeper.

The elite and junior expert categories will take off at noon on Sunday. The 19-rider elite women’s field is slated to complete five laps, the 62 elite men will do six, junior expert men will likely race four laps, while the junior women are expected to do three laps.

Canada MTB Cup Mont Tremblant report, results and photos here.