May 29, 2008 (Vallnord, Andorra) – After a two-week break, the UCI World Cup MTB series resumes again with the first triple event of the season at the ski resort of Vallnord in Andorra, a tiny country squeezed between Spain and France. The venue is at altitude (around 1,600m) and offers amazing views of the snow-topped Pyrenees.

The XC course is a 5.2km loop that reaches 1,950m at its highest point and includes a bit of everything: open switchback climbs, technical singletrack ascents and descents peppered with rocks roots and tight corners, steep chutes, and fast open sections. The terrain is quite a bit rockier than the first three World Cup courses, and the forests are composed of aromatic pines. The route has seen quite a bit of rain in the past week, but sun yesterday dried the course very quickly. The forecast is calling for sun and cloud, but there’s always a chance of showers in the mountains.

The XC fields are quite diminished from the early-season races, with only 62 women on the start list and 115 men. With the Olympics at the forefront, contesting the full World Cup circuit is not necessarily a priority for all racers. The women will start at 10:30 am local time / 4:30 am EST tomorrow and are expected complete six laps. The men go at 2:00 pm local time / 8:00 am EST, and will likely do seven laps.

Representing Canada are women’s World Cup leader Marie-Hélène Prémont (Can) Rocky Mountain, Catharine Pendrel (Can) Luna Women’s MTB Team, Kiara Bisaro (Can) Opus, Wendy Simms (Can) Kona, and Sandra Walter (Can) X.O-Felt Women’s MTB Team. On the men’s side, only three Canadians are competing: Geoff Kabush (Can) Maxxis, Mathieu Toulouse (Can) Maxxis, and Seamus McGrath (Can) Fuji.

The top players are on the start lists. Sporting the #1 plate in the men’s race is Julien Absalon (Fra) Orbea, who is the clear favourite. Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra) Orbea and Jose Antonio Hermida (Spa) Multivan-Merida will lead the pack from the front row. In the women’s ranks, Canada’s Prémont will get the first call-up, followed by Marga Fullana (Spa) Massi and Georgia Gould (USA) Luna Women’s MTB Team.

4X and DH
The 4X and DH races also take advantage of the Vallnord Bike Park’s trails and terrain to make a challenging set of courses. The downhill is short (1.2km), but has received positive reviews from riders for its variety of terrain. In the first section, riders pass through an open area, with banked corners and jumps before they hit the forest. Riders will navigate roots, rocks and steeps before reaching the finish line.

Claire Buchar (Can) Intense is the only Canadian woman to race the event. “I like it,” she said of the course, “it’s fun, but nothing spectacular.” She also commented, however, that with still two days to go before the big race on Sunday, the course is already quite chewed up. Sabrina Jonnier (Fra) Maxxis, World Cup leader, will give the ladies a run for their money. Tracey Moseley (GBr) Kona and Emmeline Ragot (Fra) Suspension Center have the #2 and #3 plates.

Several Canadian men are on the start list, including Steve Smith (Can) Team Cove Bikes, Jamie Biluk (Can) Mojo Orange, Jeff Beatty (Can) Mojo Orange, and Alex Prochazka (Can) Commencal/Marzocchi. World Cup leaders, Sam Hill (Aus) Monster Energy-Iron Horse, Matti Lehikoinen (Fin) MS-Intense Factory Racing and Steve Peat (GBr) Santa Cruz Syndicate will all be vying for the win on Sunday.

The DH finals are scheduled for 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm local time / 8:00 am – 10:00 am EST.

The 500m 4X track has been adapted for the World Cup by the top specialists in the field. The course runs next to the Carbonera chairlift, with the final section being the most spectacular, as there are three big jumps in a row, of 8’5 m and 9’5 m in height, followed by an impressive final jump of 12 meters, which leads to the last few meters before the finish.

The King of 4X, Brian Lopes (USA) Oakley-Ibis will take on other heavy hitters, including Romain Saladini (Fra) Sunn and Joost Wichman (Ned) Cannondale. Women’s World Cup leader, Anneke Beerten (Ned) MS-Intense Factory Racing will try to maintain her lead, while top ladies like Fionn Griffiths (GBr) Norco and Mio Sumesa (Jpn) MS-Intense Factory Racing will put in their best efforts to come out on top.

The 4X finals take place tomorrow evening from 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm local time / 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm EST.