April 18, 2007 – Mical Dyck (Trek-Terrascape) is the three-time and reigning Canada MTB Cup elite women’s XC winner. Last weekend, she competed in her second race of the year, riding for the third time at the Sea Otter Classic, the festival of cycling at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California.

Dyck, 25, of Alberta, Calgary, is relatively new on the women’s elite circuit. In 2005 she was selected to Canada’s MTB Worlds team competing in Livigno, Italy.

This was her first time at the MTB World Championships, and she wrote about her experiences at pinkbike.com. The 82-rider field was twice as large as in any other race in which she’d competed. She finished a “satisfied” 49th, 21 minutes behind 3-time MTB Worlds Champ Gunn Rita Dahle of Norway.

Like an increasing number of athletes, Dyck has a blog (www.micakldyck.blogspot.com). She writes often about her experiences racing as well as about traveling and her on-the-road adventures to races around the globe.

This season, Dyck has specific goals. While gaining more experiences against more advanced pro riders, Dyck hopes to gain her fourth Canada Cup title, but she also has more lofty goals. She wants to “podium” at the Canadian National Championships in three cycling disciplines “” mountain biking, road racing and cyclo cross. She also longs to compete again at the MTB Worlds.

We caught up with her a few minutes prior to the start of pro women’s cross country race, the Sea Otter Classic’s marquee event.

Dyck has had mixed fortunes at Sea Otter, riding strongly, but has been beset by mechanicals, one of cycling’s great dilemmas.

On day one at Sea Otter this year she finished second in the Super D, the downhill-cross country hybrid that was held for the first time in the race’s 17-year history. The next day she finished 7th in the TT and then 14th in the Short Track XC event. (she finished 14th in cross country women’s finale.)

How long have you competed at Sea Otter and what’s the experience been like?

Mical Dyck: I’ve raced here three times now. My first year was really good. I was really surprised with my results. Last year, everything was going really good. I was feeling really strong for the cross country race, but I broke my derailleur. I ended up walking for the last half of the first lap, so I didn’t finish.

How has the event gone for you?

MD: It’s been fun. It’s tough because it’s the first big race of the year. It’s good to get going and it’s a good atmosphere.

With a strong race yesterday (Saturday), did you pre-ride the course, and what are the conditions like?

MD: Yes, it’s nice and it’s fun. The sand is wet and the racing will be fast.

What’s your schedule like this year?

MD: I’m going to do more races on the NORBA circuit this year and the get back to the World Cups.

You’re the three-time Canada MTC Cup title holder. Are you gunning for a fourth win?

MD: I’d like it to be, but I want to ease more into the NORBA scene a little bit and I’m going to try and do more of those races this season. But if I can maintain my Canada Cup status, too, then I will do it again for sure.

You were selected to compete at the MTB Worlds for Canada in 2005. What about this year?

MD: It’s a goal to go again of course as I now have more experience.