07.28.11 - STAR-STUDDED FIELD TO REPRESENT CANADA AT MOUNTAIN BIKE WORLDS
2011 UCI Mountain Bike and Trial World Championships held in Champéry, SUI from Aug 31-Sep 4

(Ottawa, ON – July 28, 2011) The world’s best Mountain bikers will be competing in the ultimate event of the 2011 calendar at the UCI Mountain Bike and Trial World Championships in Champéry, Switzerland from August 31-September 4, 2011.

Once again, Canada will bring to the start lines some of the best riders in the world, including all of its newly-crowned Canadian Champions and Canada Cup Champions, in all categories.

Amongst the star-studded line up in women’s Elite category, we find notably three-time Canadian Champion and 2010 World Cup Champion Catharine Pendrel of Kamloops, BC (Team Luna Pro), five-time Canadian champion and 2009 World Cup champion Marie-Hélène Prémont of Chateau Richer, QC (Maxxis-Rocky Mountain) and Emily Batty, a four-time U23 Canadian Champion now racing in the Elite category.

Canada’s Pendrel and Prémont currently sit second and third in the UCI World Cup rankings. Thanks to the performances from Pendrel, Prémont and Batty notably, Canada is ranked #1 in the world in the Women’s Elite UCI Olympic Qualification rankings.

Six-time Canadian Champion and Olympian Geoff Kabush of Courtenay, BC (Maxxis-Rocky Mountain) and the new Canadian Champion and Pro XCT series champion Max Plaxton of Victoria, BC (Specialized Factory Team) will be Canada’s top riders in the Men’s Elite category.

“The World Championships in Champery will be another great chance for our athletes to fine tune their performances before the 2012 Olympic Summer Games London," said Dan Proulx, Head Coach of the Canadian Mountain Bike program. “Our women’s program is very strong right now and we have some talented young riders coming up through the ranks. Our men’s program is also increasing in strength and depth from the elite level down to Junior. We saw some very intense battles in every category at Canadian Championships in Canmore earlier in July.”

Proulx adds: “We have some fantastic role models and leaders in our elite team. They are eager to see the program succeed at the international level. Their success at the top of the sport has raised the bar for our younger riders. Every member of the team seems more and more driven to be the best. It's an honor to work with such an ambitious group. It's a very exciting time for the mountain bike program."

Both Canada Cup Champions will be racing at the 2011 UCI World Championships with the wedded couple of Matthew Hadley of Mount Hope, NB and Catherine Vipond of Oshawa, ON making the trek oversee to wear Canada’s maple leaf on their back.

New faces to the World Championships include the Juniors Canadian Champions and 2011 Canada Cup Champions Frédérique Trudel of Breakeyville, QC and Marc-Antoine Nadon of Timmins, ON.

The downhill riders selected to represent Canada will be named next week.

CANADIAN TEAM – 2011 UCI MOUNTAIN BIKE AND TRIAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

ELITE WOMEN

Catharine Pendrel (Kamloops, BC) Canadian Champion, Olympian
Marie-Hélène Prémont (Château Richer, QC) Olympian
Emily Batty (Brooklin, ON)
Amanda Sin (Collingwood, ON)

ELITE MEN

Geoff Kabush (Courtenay, BC) Olympian
Derek Zandstra (Trenton, ON)
Max Plaxton (Victoria, BC) Canadian Champion
Matthew Hadley (Mount Hope, NB) 2011 Canada Cup Champion

ELITE WOMEN DEVELOPMENT TEAM

Catherine Vipond (Oshawa, ON) 2011 Canada Cup Champion
Jean Anne Berkenpas (Maple Ridge, BC)

ELITE MEN DEVELOPMENT TEAM

Adam Morka (Fonthill, ON)
Neal Kindree (Garibaldi Highlands, BC)

U23 WOMEN

Mikaela Kofman (Toronto, ON) Canadian U23 Champion
Rebecca Beaumont (Alma, QC)
Laura Bietola (Greenwood, ON)

U23 MEN

Evan McNeely (Kingston, ON)
Léandre Bouchard (Alma, QC) Canadian U23 Champion
Mitchell Bailey (Barrie, ON)

U23 WOMEN DEVELOPMENT TEAM

Andréanne Pichette (Québec, QC)

U23 MEN DEVELOPMENT TEAM

Jérémy Martin (Boischatel, QC)
Evan Guthrie (Peachland, BC)
Antoine Caron (Stoneham, QC)

JUNIOR WOMEN

Frédérique Trudel (Breakeyville, QC) Canadian Jr Champion; 2011 Canada Cup Champion
Hayley Smith (Uxbridge, ON)
Andréanne Lanthier-Nadeau (Québec, QC)
Lauren Rosser (Squamish, BC)

JUNIOR MEN

Marc-Antoine Nadon (Timmins, ON) Canadian Jr Champion; 2011 Canada Cup Champion
Thomas Néron (Québec, QC)
Alexandre Vialle (Prévost, QC)