July 15, 2006 - Sun Peaks, B.C. - Québec's Marie-Hélène Prémont and B.C.'s Geoff Kabush (both Elite) earned their National Champion title for a second consecutive year at Sun Peaks' Tim Hortons National Championships today.

Alberta's Cody Canning (Junior Expert Men), Ontario's Emily Batty (Junior Women), B.C.'s Philip Cairns (Under 17 Expert Men) and Manitoba's Leah Kirchmann (Under 17 Expert Women) have also been crowned National Champions in their respective category.

In the Women's Elite competition where riders had 4 laps of 5.5 km to go, Marie-Hélène Prémont (QC) took the first position with a time of 1:33:34.000, followed by Rocky Mountain Business Objects teammate Alison Sydor (North Vancouver, B.C.) at 00:02:57 and Kiara Bisaro (Courtenay, B.C.) in third, with a difference of 00:03:38.

"I went hard from the start, and even if I rode out of the race course by mistake at the beginning of lap 2 - she lost up to 30 seconds and dropped to 5th place -, I gave it all I had, especially in the climbing sections, as I knew Kiara Bisaro would be strong in the downhill parts with her full suspension bike, " said winner Marie-Hélène Prémont. It was a pretty hard course, technical and bumpy and you had no opportunity to get a pace," added the National Champion for the 4th consecutive year, and currently second on the UCI World Cup rankings.

Alison Sydor of North Vancouver, B.C., started really fast too: "It's true I had great starts in recent races. I really loved this course, and was fighting for second: I'm happy I reached my goal.The course conditions were great, the weather was not too hot, and I could feel at a moment that Kiara (Bisaro) was going slower uphill so I passed her. I took a chance and chase Marie-Hélène.I expected Kiara and Catherine (Prendrel) to ride strong as well and they proved to be perfect companions, very good in descending. I was just climbing a little bit faster than them", concluded the multiple champion, who will now be getting prepared for the upcoming World Championships.

In the Men's Elite competition, Geoff Kabush (Victoria, B.C.) also repeated his 2005 victory, with a time of 02:00:42.500, taking it over Rick Federeau (Abbotsford, B.C.), who performed a great and consistent race, and finished at 00:00:48, followed by junior Neal Kindree of Garibaldi Highlands, B.C., at 00:03:58, for the third position.

Mathieu Toulouse, from Montréal, QC, also reached a great performance, taking into account his bad start around the 20th position, as he encountered difficulties with his pedals, quickly moving up to 7th at lap 2, to finish in 4th. "I had something to prove today, as I had not been consistent recently, I've been sick and my aim was to finish in the top 4 to own a place to the Worlds. I really managed my race in the best possible fashion. "
Neal Kindree, 19, of Garibaldi Highlands, B.C., took the gold medal in the Espoir Men category, with a time of 02:04:40.900, which placed him third Men Overall as well! He was followed by Max Plaxton (Victoria, B.C.) and Martin Lazarski (Toronto, ON).

"It's shocking for me", confessed young Espoir Neal Kindree, his two medals around his neck - the Men Elite's bronze medal and the Men Espoir gold medal - "I'm so happy with that. I never had a National Champion title, it's quite a day for me!"

Our 2006 National Championships podiums in cross-country mountain biking:

Junior Expert Men

1. Cody Canning, Team Alberta, 2006 National Champion
2. Michael Mitchnick, Sportswap (ON)
3. Jeff Clarkson, B.C. Provincial Team

Junior Women

1. Emily Batty (ON), 2006 National Champion
2. Kaitlin Michener (ON)
3. Marie-Claude Surprenant (QC)

U17 Expert Men

1. Philip Cairns (B.C.) 2006 National Champion
2. Justin Middleton (AB)
3. Evan Guthrie (B.C.)

U17 Women

1. Leah Kirchmann (MB) 2006 National Champion
2. Katherine Short (B.C.)
3. Charlotte Batty (ON)

Espoir Women

1. Jean Ann McKirdy (Valemount, B.C.) 2006 National Champion
2. Catherine Vipond (Oshawa, ON)
3. Meghan Kindree (Garibaldi Highlands, B.C.)

Espoir Men

1. Neal Kindree (Garibaldi Highlands, B.C.) 2006 National Champion
2. Max Plaxton (Victoria, B.C.)
3. Martin Lazarski (Toronto, ON)

Women Elite

1. Marie-Hélène Prémont (Château-Richer, QC), 2006 National Champion
2. Alison Sydor (North Vancouver, B.C.)
3. Kiara Bisaro (Courtenay, B.C.)

Men Elite overall

1. Geoff Kabush (Victoria, B.C.) 2006 National Champion
2. Ricky Federeau (Abbotsford, B.C.)
3. Neal Kindree (Garibaldi Highlands, B.C.)* Junior

Senior Men

1. Geoff Kabush (Victoria, B.C.) 2006 National Champion
2. Ricky Federau (Abbotsford, B.C.)
3. Seamus McGrath (Victoria, B.C.)
4. Mathieu Toulouse (Montréal, QC)

Following to today's results, the Canadian Cycling Association committee will select the athletes who will represent Canada at the Mountain Bike World Championships in Rotorua, New Zealand, August 22-27. Selections will be announced on July 25th.

Full results available here

For more information about Sun Peaks Resort, please visit www.sunpeaksresort.com

Media contact

Canadian Cycling Association
Florence Bourg
Communications Manager
Cell.: 418-558-4559
florence.bourg@canadian-cycling.com