June 24, 2010 – The Canadian Mountain Bike Team will be sending a squad of four U23 riders to the US Cup in Mt. Morris, Wisconsin for a set of races June 26-27. The team will be led by Ian Hughes, Québec’s Provincial Mountain Bike Team Coach. These four riders earned their selection to this project based on their overall performance at Canada Cup events held earlier in the spring.

The goal of the project is to provide U23 riders with a National Team project aimed at improving their success at 2010 UCI World Mountain Bike and Trials Championships held in Mont Sainte-Anne this upcoming September.

“We want the riders to do a rehearsal for the World Championships,” said Dan Proulx, Head Coach of the National MTB Team. “We want them to work through the process and to analyze the areas where they can improve. The speeds will be similar to what they’ll experience at World Championships, so this is a good opportunity to practice excellence in a competitive setting.”

The U23 riders will be racing in the Pro-Elite field for Wisconsin. This year’s National Team program has focused on providing stepping-stones in development for our U23 riders. There has been a system of progression that has allowed riders to experience World Cup competition while also practicing their skills at US Cup races.

In 2010, the U23 program has sent riders to the Pan American Championships, Fontana US Cup as well as the UCI World Cup events in Dalby Forest (GBR) and Houffalize (BEL). The program is developing considerable momentum with a significant number of U23’s competing at each Canada Cup qualification event, with the ultimate goal to represent their country on the international stage.

The 2010 Canadian Mountain Bike Championships downhill events will be held in Panorama, BC, July 10th and 11th, while the cross-country events will be held in Canmore, Alberta, on July 17th and 18th, 2010.

The National Mountain Bike Team’s is currently preparing for the 2010 UCI World Cup Tour stops in Champéry (SUI) and Val Di Sole (ITA) in July. These competitions will focus on Junior and Elite athletes.

U23 National Team Project – Mt. Morris, Wisconsin
– Francis Morin (Specialized) – Quebec
– Sébastien Cadieux-Duval (CVM Val-David) – Quebec
– Simon Lalancette (Devinci) – Quebec
– Rebecca Beaumont (Devinci) – Quebec

Staff
– Ian Hughes – Quebec
– Scott Kelly – Ontario