May 13, 2006 – The 2006 US National Mountain Bike Series opened in Southern California for the season opener on May 6 & 7. The focuses of the weekend for the Rocky Mountain Business Objects team were the Pro Cross Country race on Saturday and the Pro Short Track XC on Sunday, although there were numerous other mountain bike events that took place at the festival site for the thousands of recreational participants.

The races took place in hot and dusty conditions at a new course in Fontana, California, just a short drive from downtown Los Angeles. It was great to see the US host an event in an urban park so close to a major hub. Many events in Europe have been hosted in urban parks in major cities such as downtown Rome, Lisbon and Madrid. The result of creating this easy access for participants and fans, is the reward of a huge crowd, which always motivates the racers. Such was the case in Fontana.

In Saturday’s Cross Country race, 3 Time World Champion, Alison Sydor of Rocky Mountain Business Objects rode consistently to take second place behind 2005 series winner Shonny Vanlandingham of the US. Racing aggressively in the top 5 for the opening half of the men’s Pro race, was Alison’s team mate Max Plaxton. He suffered in the second half from some heat exhaustion, but held on to a solid 8th Place. Max is firmly establishing that he is a force to contend with as he starts this season at barely 21 years old and is one of the young riders to watch from North America.

The following day, Sydor would once again display her incredible prowess in short track cross country racing, which covers multiple laps on a short course at a pace only possible in an event that takes 30 minutes. A very painfully, fast 30 minutes. Alison has won every US Norba short track race that she has entered as a Rocky Mountain Business Objects racer since 2003. Her victory was once again a fine display of her patience and tactical savvy in the sport, as she covered every threat until one final crushing attack was required to leave the competition in the dust.

Max Plaxton had a terrible start position in the men’s race, after being called up to the start line last. Max made the best of it, charging through traffic to almost connect with the front breakaway group. It was just a bit too far away, and Max finished a creditable 7th place. Andreas and head mechanic Jamie ran a great show along with Nora, the Rocky Mountain So Cal sales rep. The trio hosted a BBQ at the team hospitality tent on Saturday evening.

It was a great weekend for the team . The next US Norba National will be attended by Alison Sydor, Max Plaxton, and the entire start studded young Pro Am squad. Canadian junior national champion, Raphael Gagne, and national espoir women’s champion, Jean Ann McKirdy will be joined by top espoir riders Marty Lazarski, Matt Hadley and Fred Bussieres . This event will take place on June 17 and 18 in Mount Snow, Vermont.

Over in Europe, Rocky Mountain Business Objects Pro racer and Finnish Olympian, Pia Sundstedt, raced the first World Cup Marathon of the season. The race took place in Naoussa, Greece. Pia continued with the fine form she showed in the Sea Otter cross country in early April where she had a podium finish.

Sundstedt lead the World Cup race the majority of the distance, and was narrowly beaten to take second place. A former World Cup winner in road cycling, Pia started racing on the mountain bike circuit in 2005. Since quickly making her mark in winning the European Championships in 2005, she is showing the same potential to be a World Cup champion on the mountain bike, as she was previously on the road circuit.

Back on Canadian soil, on Vancouver Island, Micayla Gatto won her first pro downhill race in Canada for 2006 at the annual Rat Race Downhill. Micayla was the 2005 bronze medal winner from the World Championships in junior women’s downhill.

On May 14 Marie Hélène Prémont will be back in action at the World Cup Cross Country in Madrid along with team mates Alison Sydor, Pia Sundstedt,Marty Lazarski and Karl Platt. The same weekend Max Plaxton, will race at the first Canada Cup in Bromont Quebec. He will be joined by Raphael, Jean Ann, Matt and Fred.