May 23, 2003 – St. Wendel, Germany is hosting the first stop on the UCI/World MTB Cup circuit this weekend. Last year's World Champion, Canadian Roland Green, (Trek-Volkswagen) will be one of three Canadian men on the start line to compete against the 224 men registered in Sunday's race.

Finishing fourth overall in the Cup last year, Green will be one of the main riders to watch. However, the two other Canadians in the men's field will be gunning for a top ten finish this weekend as well. Ryder Hesjedal (Gary Fisher-Subaru) is coming fresh off a well-deserved win in the season opener of the NORBA National Championship Mountain Bike Series last weekend. Hesjedal won the last World Cup Race of the season last year – his first World Cup win ever – and will be set to do the same again on Sunday. Seamus McGrath (Haro Lee Dungarees) also had several top ten finishes last year and finished 12th overall in the series.

In the women's field four Canadian women will be giving the pack (96 rider start list) a run for their money. Alison Sydor (Trek-Volkswagen) who finished 5th overall last year will be riding hard to move up the ranks this year. Chrissy Redden (Gary Fisher/Subaru) and Marie-Helene Premont (Oryx) had several top ten finishes last season between them and will turn some heads this weekend. Martina Feldman, (a former Canadian National Junior Champ) who has previously rocked the international triathlon world as well, is set for some more world class results this season in the realm of mountain bike racing.

The UCI/MTB World Cup Downhill series will get started at the end of the month in Fort Williams, GBR. May 31-June 1, 2003 following this weekend's cross-country events.