June 30, 2004 – Canada’s Alison Sydor will be among 500 of the world’s top mountain bike riders venturing to become the first athlete to claim the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup title when the world’s best battle it out on the slopes at Canada Olympic Park as part of the Bike Calgary Festival, July 1-4, 2004.

The 37-year-old Sydor, who claimed a silver medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, has firmly established herself as one of the legends in the sport of cross-country mountain biking and is arguably the greatest women’s cyclist of all time. In addition to her Olympic medal, the Victoria resident has a wealthy resume, which includes three UCI World Cup titles, 17 World Cup victories, and 12 World Championship medals – three of them gold.

“I spent my school years in Calgary and I know there is a strong spirit in the city when it comes to supporting Canadian athletes,” said Sydor. “Canada has some of the strongest cross-country athletes in the world and there are a number of us dreaming of a win on the Canada Olympic Park course. It’s very exciting to be coming back home for one of the major events on the 2004 mountain bike calendar.”

A strong crop of international talent will saddle up on their bikes in the Stampede city for the final World Cup race before heading to Athens, Greece for the Olympic Summer Games. Canada will be well represented on the men’s side of the cross-country draw as two-time World Champion Roland Green, of Victoria, will set the pace while wearing the maple leaf. Canadian veteran Andreas Hestler, of North Vancouver and newcomer Ryder Hesjedal, of Victoria, will also ride in the red-and-white colours with Sydor and Green in the cross-country event.

In addition to the cross-country mountain bike event, two other competitions will be held including the downhill and spectator-friendly Mac’s Froster four-cross. Cedric Gracia, of France, and current World Champion, Greg Minaar, of South Africa, will battle it out for top spot in the thrilling downhill event.

The Mac’s Froster four-cross downhill sprint will be an event that shouldn’t be missed. The four-cross launches four riders simultaneously into a high-banked slalom course complete with jumps and drops while heading downhill at top speeds. An event dominated by the United States, Brian Lopes, known as the best racer ever in the discipline, will match skills against teen phenom and countryman Kyle Strait.

While the top athletes from 23 nations around the globe will take centre stage during the three-day Bike Calgary extravaganza, there will be plenty of live entertainment, a beer gardens, product displays, bike demos, activities, races and cycling events for the entire family including:

World Challenge – The World Challenge is Bike Calgary’s amateur race, giving all levels of riders, ages 10 and older, the chance to compete on the world-class cross-country course at Canada Olympic Park, Sunday, July 4.

Sport For Life Cup – The Sport For Life Cup provides young riders, ages five to 12, with a FREE opportunity to race around a specially designed course in a welcoming, non-competitive environment. Participants in the race will discover the enjoyment found in mountain biking while gaining the health benefits of the sport.

Bike Calgary Expo – The Bike Calgary Expo will consist of a massive exposition area featuring a stage and vendor exhibitions from the industry’s elite mountain bike brands.

Canada Olympic Park KidZone – The KidZone will encompass a wide range of fun activities including BikeSmart safety clinics, non-competitive races, EuroBungee, inflatable jumping houses, climbing walls and a whole lot more.

“Planning for the this first-ever World Cup mountain bike stop in Calgary has gone exceptionally well and we are looking forward to staging this prestigious event at Canada Olympic Park, which is one of the most beautiful venues on this year’s World Cup calendar,” said Kevan MacNaughton, event manager, UCI Mountain Bike World Cup. “We hope Calgarians and visitors to the city will take in this international spectacle and participate in many of the exciting public events that will be held throughout the weekend.”

Weekend passes or daily tickets for the inaugural Bike Calgary Festival, July 1-4, 2004, can be purchased at Canada Olympic Park or Mac’s Convenience Stores in Calgary. Weekend passes for spectators 10 years of age and older are available for $30 at Canada Olympic Park, while day tickets are available for $12 at Mac’s . Canada Olympic Park will also sell daily tickets, however, spectators purchasing day tickets at Mac’s will also receive a free 550 ml Froster. Children under 10 years old are admitted free for the entire weekend.

The Bike Calgary UCI Mountain Bike World Cup is produced by TransRockies Inc., organizers of the toughest mountain bike race in the world. More than 100 two-rider teams have registered for the 2004 TransRockies Challenge, Aug. 8-14, a 600 km adventure race from Fernie, B.C. to Canmore, Alta. Travel Alberta is a major partner in the event, as well as the Bike Calgary UCI World Cup, to increase world wide awareness of Alberta as a primary Canadian mountain bike destination.