June 8, 2007 (Champéry, Switzerland) — The outdoor resort town of Champéry in the French-speaking part of Switzerland will host the world’s best mountain bikers this weekend for round three of the XC World Cup Series and round two for the DH/4X racers. The race site is set against an impressive backdrop of the towering Dents de Midi mountain range and green hillsides, and will allow spectators a good view of the action.

The XC racers take off on Saturday, with the women starting at 11:00 a.m. local time (5:00 a.m. EST) and the men going at 2:00 p.m. local time (8:00 a.m. EST). The course is a quick 5.25 kms that will start with a 2km half-lap which begins with a leg-searing 800-metre fire road climb that many will be churning up in their granny gear.

The rest of the route is a mix of rooty and sometimes awkward singletrack in the forest, punctuated by open road sections and a final descent on the 4X course.

“It’s a real mountain bike course. It’s awesome,” said Rocky Mountain-Haywood’s Seamus McGrath, comparing the course to the “fresh-cut B.C. singletrack” he’s so used to riding near his home on Vancouver Island.

Kiara Bisaro (Can) Opus added, “I like it,” but explained that on this course with its steep climbs and punchy sections, it will be vital to have good legs.

In the women’s field, the big news is the absence of World and Olympic Champion Gunn-Rita Dahle (Nor) Multivan/Merida, who has decided to take a mid-season break in order to clear up some nagging stomach issues. The Chinese women — including World Cup leader Ren Chenyuang (Chn) — will all be on the start line, as well as Irina Kalentieva (Rus) Topeak-Ergon, who won the World Cup in Offenburg, Germany two weeks ago. Canadian bets are on Marie-Hélène Prémont (Can) Rocky Mountain-Haywood. She is looking forward to the event, after her second-place ride in Germany.

The other Canadian women starting tomorrow are Catharine Pendrel (Can) Norco Factory Team, Wendy Simms (Can) Kona-Les Gets and Sandra Walter (Can) X.O-Felt Women’s MTB Team.

“I’m feeling strong,” said Pendrel “and I’m hoping to repeat the good ride I had in Offenburg,” where she finished 27th.

“Every time I ride the course, I feel more and more confident,” said Walter. “It’ll be fun out there tomorrow.”

“Bring it on,” said Simms, who endured the pain of tread in the face (resulting in a black eye) when her teammate Kris Sneddon’s (Can) Kona Les-Gets tire kicked up when he fumbled and she was riding too close behind.

One hundred women will start with a half-lap followed by six full laps.

“The forecast is for pain,” said Sneddon in anticipation of the men’s race. They will race a half-lap plus eight full laps. 168 riders will contest in the race, including current World Cup leader Julien Absalon (Fra) Orbea. Other serious contenders, including Jose Antonio Hermida (Esp) Multivan-Merida, Cedric Ravanel (Fra) Lapierre International, Christoph Sauser (Sui) Specialized and Kashi Leuchs (NZl) Cannondale-Vredestein will be primed and ready to go.

Canada’s McGrath and Max Plaxton (Can) Rocky Mountain-Haywood will make up the Canadian contingent. National Champion Geoff Kabush (Can) Maxxis will not be present. “I am hanging out in the U.S. of A doing some training this week,” he said, but intends to let it all hang out at the World Cup in Mont Ste-Anne, Que. on June 23, where he podiumed in 2005.

Plaxton is looking forward to a good race after having a disappointing ride at the first World Cup in Houffalize, Belgium, followed by a frustrating one in Germany, where he placed 26th, despite shifting problems.

The weather forecast has been threatening showers and thunderstorms for the past several days, with only a few showers materializing. It has been enough, however, to keep the course slightly damp and the many roots slick. If it does rain significantly overnight or on race day, things will get treacherous, and change the race quite drastically. Temperatures are expected to reach around 20 degrees during the race.