October 15, 2006 (Camburiu, Brazil) – The 2006 Pan American MTB Championships cross country races take place today, Sunday, October 15, in Camburiu, Brazil, with Canadian mountain bikers Catherine Pendrel (BC), Max Plaxton (BC) and Mathieu Toulouse (QC), aiming at collecting medals for Canada.

“It’s the most competitive Pan American MTB Championship to date. Our three athletes have been training for five days (since Tuesday, October 10). The course is a 4.5km circuit which is very muddy right now because of the rain we received in the last couple of days. It’s about 25°C and we hope the temperature will improve for Sunday’s race. The riders are in very good shape and should do well,” said Michel Leblanc, CCA mountain bike coach.

Catherine Pendrel of Penticton, BC, the only woman representing Canada at the event commented, “The field is very strong here and I am hoping for a top-five finish. We are expecting the tracks to dry off because right now there are quite a few sections to run, but I’ll stay on my bike as much as possible.”

“I’m feeling good on the course, there is a strong field of South Americans and I hope to win the U23 race,” said Max Plaxton from Victoria, BC, who had captured Pan Am bronze in 2005 in Mexico.

“I’m hoping to medal of course, but considering this year’s particularly strong field, a top-five finish would be acceptable. There are no long climbs, but the course is very slippery, muddy and technical,” added Mathieu Toulouse of Montreal, QC, Canada’s elite
men’s rider.