May 20, 2007 (Bromont, QC) — The Canada Cup downhill season gets underway today under a mix of sun and cloud on a muddy course at Bromont, Quebec, the opening venue for Canada DH Cup #1. As usual at this time of year, the weather is looking grim for race day, with an 80% chance of heavy rain today.

The course itself should hold up well under any conditions, as 2007 sees a return to the old World Cup route. The trail is well bedded in and has been around for 7+ years now. Dirt is missing on much of the trail, leading to a rough, rocky ride. Good tires, a well setup suspension and new brakes pads will be keys to a successful performance. Staying upright on the bike will be another key issue, one that will be harder to accomplish on this rougher.

The best men in Canada have all made the trip out East – Luke Kitzanuk (Giant), Geoff Pendrel (Primary/Daredevil), Eric Goss (Giant), Jeff Beatty (Orange/Mojo), Andrew Mitchell (Cove), Connor McLeod (Cove), Jamie Biluk (Cove) etc. Locals Dominick Menard (Giant), Alexandre Dube (Cove), Mathieu Laurin (Marin) – and more are also here to try to make their mark.

However Canada’s best women are not here for this Canada Cup DH opener – Claire Buchar (Specialized), Danika Schroeter (Cove), Michelle Dumaresq (nsmb.com) and Adrienne Miller — which has raised a few eyebrows and left the door open for local riders to cash in.

The DH racing begin early Sunday morning, stay tuned for coverage and photos at pedalmag.com