&TaalCodeMarch 30, 2009 – Canada’s Catharine Pendrel (Can) Luna Women’s MTB Team leads the women’s UCI MTB rankings as the competitive season heats up after her victory at the PanAm Championships in Chile on March 22. Marie-Hélène Prémont (Can) Maxxis-Rocky Mountain is in second spot. On the men’s side, it’s Olympic champion Julien Absalon (Fra) Orbea at the top of the list, with top Canuck Geoff Kabush (Can) Maxxis-Rocky Mountain in sixth.

UCI MTB XC Rankings as of March 23, 2009

Women

1. Catharine Pendrel (Can) Luna Women’s MTB Team 1,928 points
2. Marie-Hélène Prémont(Can) Maxxis-Rocky Mountain 1,870
3. Sabine Spitz (Ger) Ghost 1,847
4. Marga Fullana (Spa) Spiuk-Tau Ceramica 1,750
5. Irina Kalentieva (Rus) Topeak-Ergon 1,740

29. Emily Batty (Can) Trek Store 653

For full rankings, click here

Men

1. Julien Absalon (Fra) Orbea 2,065 points
2. Christoph Sauser (Sui) Specialized 1,920
3. Florian Vogel (Sui) Scott-Swisspower 1,588
4. Nino Schurter (Sui) Scott-Swisspower 1,508
5. Jose Antonio Hermida (Spa) Multivan-Merida 1,446

6. Geoff Kabush (Can) Maxxis-Rocky Mountain 1,424
32. Seamus McGrath (Can) Jamis Factory 635

For full rankings, click here.