(Barrie, ON) – The top cross-country mountain bikers of Canada will compete this week for the ultimate domestic prize, the coveted Red and White jersey. In the last Olympic cycle, the Canadian mountain bike program has significantly improved under the leadership of Head Coach Dan Proulx, and today the program has become very competitive, with strong riders in each age categories.
In the women’s elite category, all eyes will be turned on Ontario cyclist Emily Batty (Trek Factory Racing), of Brooklyn, who has an open door to win her first Elite title with the absence of reigning Canadian Champion Catharine Pendrel, who has recently been sidelined with a fractured collarbone, and Marie-Hélène Prémont, who is on a maternity leave. Certainly, other top riders such as Sandra Walters, which has been perfect so far this season on the Canada Cup tour, Amanda Sin, Andreanne Pichette, Mikaela Kofman and many others.
Batty, a four-time Canadian U23 Champion, rebounded this season after recovering from a broken collar bone while training at the Olympic Games, and stepped once on the World Cup podium this campaign. Batty, along with Pendrel, represented Canada at the last Olympic Games in London.
In the men’s Elite race, Max Plaxton of Victoria, BC, (ShoAir-Cannondale) will be looking to win his third straight title, having won back-to-back titles in the lead up of the Olympic Games. Racing with Canadian-based SCOTT-3RoxRacing team, Geoff Kabush of Courtenay, BC is coming to Barrie with the ambition to regain the title and win back the jersey he owned for six consecutive years. Both Kabush and Plaxton represented Canada in London at the Olympic Games last summer.
Derek Zandstra is always a rider to watch for at Canadian Championships, as he’s very consistent. Other young riders such as Raphael Gagné and Evan McNeely will be providing some stiff competition, which will make this race very exciting to watch.
The reigning Canadian Champions in the U23 categories, Mikaela Kofman and Léandre Bouchard, will both be defending their titles.
The 2013 Canada Cup Series leaders entering the Canadian Championships week are Antoine Caron and Sandra Walter in the elite categories, and Felix Burke and Rachel Pageau in the junior category.
Eliminator Debuts at Canadian MTB Championships
The week of Championships activities at Hardwood start on Thursday with the presentation of the Cross-Country Eliminator (XCE) race, which is held of the first time at Canadian Championships. The Eliminator is presented for its first season on the UCI World Cup Tour, and Canadians fared well in the short-race, elimination format.
Super Saturday
Racers will enjoy a break in the schedule on Friday, with a training session, followed by all the championships races for Elite, U23, Junior, and Cadet to be held on Saturday. Masters will hit the course on Sunday to close out the event.
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The 2013 Canadian Cross-Country Mountain Bike Championships is Canada’s top domestic cross-country mountain bike event. The event annually attracts some of the country’s best mountain bikers challenging for the Red and White Jersey awarded to the Canadian Champions. Organized by the Pulse Racing Club at the Hardwood Ski and Bike Resort near Barrie, ON, the event is governed by the Cycling Canada, a member of the International Cycling Union (UCI).
The 2013 Canadian Cross-Country Mountain Bike Championships is made possible thanks to the close collaboration between the Cycling Canada, the Ontario Cycling Association, and the Pulse Racing club. The event will be held from July 17th to 21th and showcases racing in junior and elite categories.
Schedule – 2013 Canadian MTB Championships
Thursday – July 18
– 4:00 pm : XCE Canadian Championships Eliminator Qualifying
– 6:00 pm : XCE Canadian Championships Eliminator Heats and Finals
Friday – July 19
– 3:00 pm: Canadian Mountain Bike Team Information Session
– 4:00 pm: Coaching Information Seminar – Gold Medal Profile
– 5:00 pm: Race Manager’s Meeting
– 6:00 pm: Parent Information Seminar: Best Practices in Athlete Development
Saturday – July 20 “SUPER SATURDAY”
– 9:00 am : Junior Men, Cadet Men, Junior Women, Cadet Women
– 10:30 am : Elite Women, Espoir Women
– 12:30 pm : Elite Men, Espoir Men
Sunday – July 21
– 11:30 am : Team Relay
– 1:30 pm : Masters Men (30-39)(40-44)(45-49)(50-59), Masters Women (30-39) (40-49)
Challenges
– 8:30 am : U17 Sport Men, U15 Boys, U13 Boys, Squirt Boys, Jr/U17 Sport Women, U15 Girls, U13 Girls, Squirt Girls
– 9:30 am – SingleSpeed Men, Jr Sport Men, Sr Sport Men, Master Sport Men (30-34)(35-39)(40-44)(45-49)(50-54), Master Men (55-59)(60+), Sr Sport Women, Master Sport Women (30-39)(40-49)(50+)