May 26, 2007 (Offenburg, Germany) — Tomorrow, the world’s top riders will challenge for victory in Germany’s Black Forest at the second World Cup XC of the season. All the big guns are here, including the men’s and women’s winners of the first event, Jose Anotonio Hermida (Esp) Multivan-Merida and Ren Chengyuan (Chn) Chinese Cycling Association. Fans will also look to the defending men’s and women’s Olympic and World Champions, Julien Absalon (Fra) Orbea and Gunn-Rita Dahle (Nor) Mulitvan-Merida to put up a good fight on the technical 5.1-kilometre loop. Germany’s Sabine Spitz (Ger) Ghost International is undoubtedly the crowd favourite in the women’s competition, as she is native to the region.

The women’s race starts at 11:00 a.m. local time / 5:00 a.m. EST with two 1.1-kilometre start loops followed by six full laps of the challenging course. 110 women are on the start list, including Marie-Hélène Prémont (Can) Rocky Mountain-Haywood, Alison Sydor (Can) Rocky Mountain-Haywood, Kiara Bisaro (Can) Opus, Catharine Pendrel (Can), Wendy Simms (Can) Kona-Les Gets and Sandra Walter (Can) X.O-Felt Women’s MTB Team, who will all make up a strong Canadian contingent. Prémont will have an opportunity to excel here, as the course — with its tricky sections and rolling terrain favours technically strong and powerful riders. Also, the area has been in the midst of a humid heat wave, reminiscent of those that often hit the region near Mont Ste-Anne, Quebec where Premont has won two World Cups.

The Canadians seem to like the rooty, twisty course, that was slightly slick during this morning’s pre-riding from an overnight thunderstorm. “It’s like Hardwood Hills on steroids,” said Simms, explaining that the fast, swooping singletrack and steep chutes remind her of the famous Canadian course. The most challenging and spectator-friendly sections sport names like Dual Speed, Wolfsdrop, Snake Pit and Northshore Top Spots. Organizers are expecting around 30,000 fans to watch the best cross country riders on the planet go head to head.

The Elite Men burst out of the starting gate at 2:00 p.m. local time / 8:00 a.m. EST for one start loop followed by an eight-lap assault on the course. Canadian Men’s National Champion Geoff Kabush (Can) Maxxis has an ideal #12 starting position, which should put him ahead of the hang-ups and traffic jams that will likely result from a 208-man field. Seamus McGrath (Can) Rocky Mountain-Haywood, Max Plaxton (Can) Rocky Mountain-Haywood and Kris Sneddon (Can) Kona-Les Gets will also represent Canada tomorrow as well.

Thunderstorms and showers are still in the forecast for tomorrow, race day, and the humidity is expected to persist through the day, with high temperatures from the mid 20’s to low 30’s depending on cloud cover. Even if the possible thunderstorms materialize, the course is expected stand up, as it has been meticulously constructed to drain well and the majority of the loop is protected by forest canopy.

The region around Offenburg is famous for its wine, Riesling in particular. The countryside is crowded with vineyards clinging to steep hillsides with orchards strawberry plantations in the flatter areas.