June 22, 2007 (Mont-Ste-Anne, Quebec) — The Nissan UCI World Cup has jumped across the Atlantic to Mont-Ste-Anne, Quebec, where top racers will compete tomorrow on Canadian soil for the first of two weekends. The MSA venue is a fixture on the World Cup circuit and the popular five-kilometre course is in perfect shape, after the mud from rain earlier in the week has dried up and left the trails tacky. The loop is virtually the same as last year with only one short new section of singletrack.

The pressure will be heaviest on the shoulders of Marie-Hélène Prémont (Can) Rocky Mountain-Haywood, who will be going for a hat-trick on her home course. The defending women’s National Champion won the 2005 and 2006 World Cups here. Gunn-Rita Dahle FlesjÃ¥ (Nor) Multivan-Merida, who placed second both years, will be missing from the start line because of a viral infection. That won’t make Prémont’s job any easier – of the 75 starters, top-ranked Europeans such as Margarita Fullana (Spa) Spiuk-TAU Ceramica and Irina Kalentyeva (Rus) Topeak-Ergon have made the trip over to flex their muscles in North America. Prémont is currently ranked third in the series.

Kiara Bisaro (Can) Opus has the #10 start position and will be shooting for a podium. She has fond memories of Mont-Ste-Anne, with her best result being sixth place in 2004. “I love the course,” she said. “The crowd is great, so it’s always fun to race here.”

“Mont-Ste-Anne has always been a good course for me, so I’m really looking forward to tomorrow — making it the best Mont-Ste-Anne ever,” said Catharine Pendrel (Can) Norco Factory Team, who is third-ranked Canadian woman in the UCI standings and 32nd in the World Cup.

“I think it’s going to be fun, definitely,” said Mical Dyck (Can) Trek-Terrascape, who placed 15th here in 2005. “Even if it’s painful, it’s still fun.”

“I’m really excited to be back in Canada and racing here,” said Sandra Walter (Can) X.O-Felt Women’s MTB Team, who is ranked 27th in the World Cup. “It’s going to rock, no matter what.”

Other Canadians to look for are Wendy Simms (Can) Kona-Les Gets, Amanda Sin (Can) Scott-3 Rox Racing, Trish Sinclair (Can) Scott USA-Kenda and Emily Batty (Can) Team R.A.C.E. (who will be competing at her first World Cup).

The women’s race starts at 11:00 a.m. EST and they will complete one start loop plus five full laps.

The men’s race starts at 2:00 p.m. EST and will also be hotly contested. World and Olympic Champion and World Cup leader Julien Absalon (Fra) Orbea will start with plate #1. Christoph Sauser (Sui) Specialized and Jose Antonio Hermida (Spa) Multivan-Merida, ranked second and third respectively will also be putting up a fight for the top spot. With the World Cup being on North American ground, Canadian riders will have the home turf advantage. Geoff Kabush (Can) Maxxis with the #25 plate will be looking to better his third place finish from 2005.

Seamus McGrath (Can) Rocky Mountain-Haywood has the #40 plate after a strong 24th-place race at event #3 in Switzerland. Max Plaxton (Can) Rocky Mountain-Haywood will also be hunting for a top position after a 26th place at World Cup #2 in Germany despite shifting problems.

Ricky Federau (Can) Trek is looking forward to contesting his first World Cup of the season, after some valuable racing in Poland in May. “The course is unreal,” he said. “I am just going to have to dig down and bring a bag of hurt.”

“I like the course,” said Matt Hadley (Can) Rocky Mountain-Haywood. “It’s fun.”

Other top Canadians to cheer in the 101-rider field for include Neal Kindree (Can) Kona-Les Gets, Derek Zandstra (Can) Scott-3 Rox Racing, Raphael Gagne (Can) Rocky Mountain-Haywood, Mathieu Toulous (Can) Maxxis and Kris Sneddon (Can) Kona-Les Gets.

The men will be doing one start loop plus seven full laps.

The weather forecast is calling for a 40% chance of showers overnight and a 60% chance of showers tomorrow afternoon with temperatures in the teens.

World Cup Notes

– Pendrel has been issued the #79 plate at the back of the field because of a registration error. The UCI has fined the CCA, and has relegated Pendrel to the back of the pack for the start. Pendrel is currently ranked 32nd in the World Cup and 46th in the UCI standings, so she should technically be lining up in 24th position. “I’m pretty disappointed,” she said. “I invested a lot of energy and finances into getting a good position for this key event, so it’s really tough to be starting at the back.” Apparently, a dozen or so other riders are in the same situation and, despite significant protest at the manager’s meeting, the rulings stand.

– Alison Sydor (Can) Rocky Mountain-Haywood will not be competing in the XC World Cups or the National Championships. She will be focusing on marathon and multi-day races instead.

– German racer Ivonne Kraft (Ger), who tested positive for asthma medication that she hasn’t been cleared to use, is here and will be racing.