September 12, 2009 (Champéry, Switzerland) – The Nissan UCI MTB XC World Cup makes its penultimate stop of 2009 in the ski resort village of Champéry in the French-speaking part of Switzerland. The last time Champéry held a World Cup it was a triple in 2007. This year, it only hosts an XC race for junior and elite riders.

The junior men and women race on Saturday afternoon (2:30 pm local time/8:30 am EST), while the elite women race Sunday morning (10:45 am local time/4:45 am EST) and the elite men take off at 2:30 pm local time/8:30 am EST. The course is very short – less than 4km – which means riders will do many laps. Elite men will likely do eight laps, while the elite women will probably complete six. The weather is beautiful at the moment, with stunning panoramic views of the Dents du Midi mountains, but the forecast is calling for a change as early as Friday night with a chance of showers over the next 48 hours, and cloudy with highs in the upper teens for the elite races on Sunday.

Canada has a massive contingent participating this weekend, with a total of 19 riders starting in the junior, U23, and elite categories. The National Team is fielding a 12-rider team, while the remaining seven racers will represent their respective trade teams.

All of the top World Cup contenders are on hand for this event. Series leader Julien Absalon (Fra) Orbea leads with a total of 1,272 points over second place, Jose Antonio Hermida Ramos (Spa) Multivan-Merida, who has 860 points. U23 World Champion Burry Stander (RSA) Specialized is currently in third, with 840 points. Canada’s Geoff Kabush (Can) Maxxis-Rocky Mountain has really stepped it up this summer. He’s currently ranked seventh in the series, but with his fifth at the MTB Worlds a week ago and his Bromont World Cup win last month, he has the potential to do very well. Newly crowned World Champion Nino Schurter (Can) Scott-Swisspower is sixth in the rankings, just ahead of Kabush, and it’s clear he’s on form.

Catharine Pendrel (Can) Luna Women’s MTB Team will be motivated for a strong result after the World Championships, where she placed sixth for the third year in a row. Marie-Hélène Prémont (Can) Maxxis-Rocky Mountain will also be gunning for the front, having she finally sorted out her breathing problems when she was diagnosed recently with exercise-induced asthma. Emily Batty (Can) Team Canada/Trek Store Toronto will be looking for redemption after a disappointing U23 Worlds marred by mechanicals.

Saturday’s junior races will be a test of the rooty, technical course. The junior men’s race will see 36 riders attacking the fast, rough route, including Canadian National Champ Evan Guthrie (Can) Team Canada/Rocky Mountain and Mitch Bailey (Can) Jetpower.

The junior women’s field is only 16 riders strong, but stacked with national champions and other high-level racers. Canada is fielding three junior women: National Champion Laura Bietola (Can) Team Canada/3 Rox Racing, Cayley Brooks (Can) Team Canada/Hardwood, and Samantha Grover (Can) Hardcore Bikes.

Junior Women
– Samantha Grover (Can) Hardcore Bikes
– Laura Bietola (Can) Team Canada/3 Rox Racing
– Cayley Brooks (Can) Team Canada/Hardwood

Junior Men
– Evan Guthrie (Can) Team Canada/Rocky Mountain
– Mitch Bailey (Can) Team Canada/Jitpower

U23 Men
– Leni Trudel (Can) Team Canada
– Cameron Jette (Can) Team Canada/Trek Store Toronto

U23 Women
– Emily Batty (Can) Team Canada/Trek Store Toronto
– Rebecca Beaumont (Can) Team Canada/Cyclone d’Alma

Elite Men
– Geoff Kabush (Can) Maxxis-Rocky Mountain
– Derek Zandstra (Can) Team Canada/3 Rox Racing
– Eric Batty (Can) Trek Store Toronto
– Peter Glassford (Can) Trek Store Toronto
– Andrew Watson (Can) Team Canada/Norco Factory

Elite Women
– Catharine Pendrel (Can) Luna Women’s MTB Team
– Amanda Sin (Can) Team Canada/3 Rox Racing
– Marie-Helene Premont (Can) Maxxis-Rocky Mountain
– Jean Ann McKirdy (Can) Team Canada/Local Ride Women’s MTB
– Sandra Walter (Can) Local Ride Women’s MTB