03.15.12 - MOUNTAIN BIKING WORLD CUP SERIES BEGIN THIS WEEK IN SOUTH AFRICA

Top Mountain bikers still fighting for their Olympic spot

(Pietermaritzburg, RSA – March 15, 2012) The 2012 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Tour begins this weekend with both cross-country and downhill races in Pietermaritzburg, Republic of South African, and Canada will have its top stars competing either for the Canadian team or for their respective professional cycling teams.

In the women’s cross country race, all eyes will be turned on 2011 UCI World Champion Catharine Pendrel of Kamloops, BC, who will be racing for Team Luna Pro. Pendrel will sport for the first time on the UCI World Cup the coveted Rainbow Jersey, awarded to the World Champion. Pendrel, a two-time defending Canadian Champion and 2010 UCI World Cup Champion, will be looking to start the season with a bang, but she will have stiff competition from other Canadian riders also fighting for an Olympic spot. Emily Batty of Brooklin, Ont. will be racing wearing the colours of Team Subaru-Trek, while Marie-Hélène Prémont of Chateau Richer, Que., will represent Team Rocky Mountain-Maxxis. Amanda Sin of Collingwood, Ontario, will also be in contention at the race with Team SCOTT-3Rox Racing.

Canada is ranked at top of the UCI Olympic rankings in women’s cross country, and ninth in the Men’s rankings. In 2011, three of Canada’s women finished in the Top 8 of the individual World Cup standings as the last season ended.

In the men’s cross-country race, Canada will have current Canadian Champion Max Plaxton of Victoria, BC wearing the Team Canada colours. Olympian and seven-time Canadian Champion Goeff Kabush of Courtenay, BC will race for the first time at a World Cup while representing Canadian-based Team SCOTT-3 Rox Racing, alongside his teammate Derek Zansdtra of Trenton, Ontario. Adam Morka of Toronto, ON will also take part in the South African race, with Team Trek Canada.

The event in South Africa is one of six events on the UCI World Cup calendar, and one of four remaining in the UCI Olympic rankings.

The UCI World Cup in South Africa will showcase the World’s top downhillers, including Canadian Steve Smith of Cassidy, BC, with Team DeVinci Global Racing Team.

The cross-country races will be held on Saturday, March 17, while the downhill races will be held on Sunday March 18.

Full program for the UCI World Cup in South Africa can be found here.