May 11, 2006 — While cross-country riders appear in better shape than ever to challenge the second stage of the UCI Mountain Bike Cross-Country World Cup in Madrid (Spain) on May 14, Canadian women downhillers showcased their talent in the same country, during the Mountain Bike World Cup in Vigo last weekend. At the USA National Series (NORBA), cross-country mountain bikers also made it a Canadian sweep at the top of the podium.

UCI Mountain Bike Cross-Country World Cup in Madrid, Spain, Sunday May 14:

As National Team Coach Michel Leblanc pointed out from Madrid today, “Conditions are great. The course shall be fast, not too technical and the weather around 20C.” Add to these elements the fact that our cross-country riders are in top shape, and the event should be a success on both the women’s and the men’s side. A contingent of six Canadian riders will be participating: Québec’s Marie-Hélène Prémont and Mathieu Toulouse, and British Columbia’s Kiara Bisaro, Seamus McGrath, Alison Sydor, and Geoff Kabush.

On the men’s side, Geoff Kabush (Victoria, BC) just won the gold at the US National Mountain Bike Series (NORBA) short track and men’s cross-country events. He also took the ninth place at the US Sea Otter Classic and 11th at the Commonwealth Games, while team mate Seamus McGrath (Victoria, BC) took the bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games and ninth position at the Curacao Mountain Bike World Cup.
On the women’s side, Kiara Bisaro (Courtenay, BC) feels in great shape and is the current Canadian leader on the UCI rankings, followed by Marie-Hélène Prémont. Bisaro recently took the silver medal at both French and Swiss National Series (Coupe de France and Swisspower Cup), and the bronze medal at the Sea Otter Classic.

Marie-Hélène Prémont (Château-Richer, QC), who is flying to Spain today, is also very confident when starting the season at the European World Cup stages, as she won last year at Spa Francorchamps (Belgium). The beginning of the season has been good so far with a fourth place finish at the Curacao Mountain Bike World Cup and a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games.

Alison Sydor (North Vancouver, BC) recently placed second at the USA Cycling National Series (NORBA). She had placed 11th at both the Sea Otter Classic and Curacao Mountain Bike World Cup.

The cross-country mountain bikers are heading towards a series of European UCI World Cups: Madrid (May 14), Spa Francorchamps (Belgium) on May 20-21 and Fort William (Scotland) on May 27-28, the only place with Schladming in Austria and Mont-Sainte-Anne (CAN) to host all three disciplines of cross-country, 4-cross and downhill.

UCI Mountain Bike Downhill World Cup opener in Vigo, Spain:

Women’s results from the UCI Downhill World Cup in Vigo showed a strong start to the season for Canadian women downhillers, who posted two top 10s. Riding for Cove Bikes, Danika Schroeter of Maple Ridge (BC) was the top Canadian finisher and first North American in seventh place, only few seconds off the top three racers on the podium: Great Britain’s Tracey Moseley for the gold, and France’s Sabrina Jonnier and Emmeline Ragot for the silver and bronze respectively. This year, Danika Schroeter who is aiming at racing the World Cup circuit for Cove Bikes promises to deliver outstanding results if she goes on with the same passion she puts in her sport.

Claire Buchar of Whistler (BC) took a 10th place finish and Katrina Strand, of Vancouver (BC), 19th. “There were over 15,000 fans lining the track and filling the pits,” said Buchar. “The track had become very slippery and it would be who could stay on their bike. I hit all my lines and survived the steep and all of a sudden slippery rock pitches. I finished 10th with a pretty good time on the clock. Being up there on the results page with my heroes is a really good feeling. I hope that I can use this confidence and experience to continue cracking the top ten, a feat that is not as easy as it seems.”

“It was my first euro adventure,” added Katrina Strand, a Scott Bikes rider. “The course in Vigo was amazing and I was so stoked to be back on the bike after a long white winter. My qualifying went well but I got taken by the wet slick rocks on my race run and had a tumble that I am still surprised I survived!” Fans of these top Canadian downhill racers can find more info at: www.canadiandhgirls.com

The next downhill World Cups will take place in Fort William Scotland, on the weekend of May 27-28, followed by the Willingen stage in Germany, on June 3-4.

Results UCI Downhill World Cup # 1:

1 (GBR) MOSELEY Tracy 2:50.839
2 (FR) JONNIER Sabrina 2:52.604
3 (FR) RAGOT Emmeline 2:53.208
7 (CAN) SCHROETER Danika 2:56.388
10 (CAN) BUCHAR Claire 3:03.837
19 (CAN) STRAND Katrina 3:29.177