April 20, 2007 РMountain biker, Marie-H̩l̬ne Pr̩mont (Rocky Mountain/Haywood), will start her 2007 Sunday at the UCI World Cup XCO in Houffalize, Belgium after a winter of spinning, running and cross-country skiing. In 2006, Pr̩mont won two stages of the MTB World Cup, gold at the Commonwealth Games, and was named Canadian MTB cross-country champ for the fourth year running. Pr̩mont, 29, managed to do all this while studying pharmacology full-time at Laval University in Quebec City. To compete this Sunday, she had to request that one of her final exams be postponed.

“I know that I’m in good shape, but you never know what shape the competition is in,” explained the rider who won Olympic silver at the 2004 Games in Athens. “I’ll find out this weekend if my training (was effective) and where I should improve this season. My goal is to be among the top five this season.”

Regarding the inaugural UCI MTB World Cup XCO event in St. Felicien, Quebec on July 1 (moved from Angelfire, NM, after organizers cancelled the event), Prémont said, “The course at St. Felicien was modified since my last race there so I don’t know if I have an advantage there or not. On the other hand, the (competition will certainly not have an advantage there).”

She also intimated that she will spend some time getting to know the course well before the race starts. Prémont pointed to the Chinese as up-and-coming, formidable competitors.

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