June 24, 2007 (Mont-Ste-Anne, Quebec) – The Mont-Ste-Anne World Cup downhill is legendary for beating up riders and making it hard to hang on by the time you get to the bottom. This year, the course has been manicured and landscaped to make the top as fast as possible.

Riders will be feeling less pain from the rocks and more pain from their lungs as they near the bottom this year, needing to make up as much time as possible by getting on the gas. The first long, rough rock garden has been removed and replaced with a Whistler-esque speedway complete with berms and small drops.

The forecast for Sunday is looking like rain, which will either tack up the dirt or make it as slick as can be, depending on how much rain falls.

Steve Peat (GBR) Santa Cruz/Syndicate , Matti Lehikoinen (FIN) Honda/GCross and Sam Hill (AUS) Monster/Iron Horse are all looking extremely fast for the men. Sabrina Jonnier (FRA) Monster/Iron Horse is looking quick for the women, and extremely confident on her bike as well.

Many Canadians are on the start list. Watch for Micayla Gatto (Rocky Mountain/Haywood) and Claire Buchar (Specialized) to do well for women and Tyler Morland (SRAM) Steve Smith (Cove), LP Leonard (Llama Cycles), Luke Kitzanuk (Giant), Dom Menard (Giant), Jamie Biluk (Cove) and Jeff Beatty (Mojo Orange) to be in contention for the men.

The course was starting to get rough yesterday, with roots and rocks really starting to show and it was taking it’s toll on the riders. Brendan Fairclough (GBR) Honda/GCross, who was looking extremely fast, took a tumble in the final rock section and had to take a 10-minute breather to compose himself. High speeds means riders are taking big chances staying off the brakes here in Quebec. The story of the day today was flats as rider after rider came down off course with a flat tire.

The 4X is a typical MSA affair. The standard allotment of jumps is here, in a slightly different order from last year. The first straight is once again short, which is a cause of contention among some riders who feel that a longer straight will allow for better racing.

Schedule

Sunday, June 24, 2007

Downhill

8:30am – 10:30am
– UCI world cup of downhill
– World Cup Downhill training (all riders)

11:00am – 1:00pm
– UCI world cup of downhill
– WORLD CUP DOWNHILL — Semi Finals

2:00pm – 4:00pm
– UCI world cup of downhill
– WORLD CUP DOWNHILL — Finals

4:05pm approx.
– UCI world cup of downhill
– Award ceremony — DOWNHILL

4X

5:00pm – 6:30pm
– UCI world cup of 4-cross
– World Cup 4-Cross Training

7:00pm – 8:00pm
– UCI world cup of 4-cross
– WORLD CUP 4-CROSS — Finals

8:05pm approx.
– UCI world cup of 4-cross
– Award Ceremony — 4-CROSS