04.09.12 - BIGGER CANADIAN CONTINGENT AT MOUNTAIN BIKE WORLD CUP IN HOUFFALIZE

(Ottawa, ON – April 9, 2012) A bigger Canadian presence will be felt this weekend as more Canadian mountain bikers will partake in the second UCI World Cup race of the 2012 mountain bike season, in Houffalize, Belgium.

Max Plaxton of Victoria, BC will wear the Team Canada uniform in the men’s Elite race. Plaxton will be riding aside two other Canadians with professional teams in Geoff Kabush of Courtenay, BC and Derek Zandstra of Trenton, ON, both racing for the Canadian-based SCOTT-3RoxRacing team.

In the women’s race, Canada will once again be strong contenders for spots on the podium. Emily Batty of Brooklin, ON (Team Subaru-Trek) started the season on a high note in South Africa, capturing her career first elite podium (Top3), while World Champion Catharine Pendrel of Kamloops, BC (Team Luna Pro) will be looking for the victory after grabbing the third place in the opening World Cup race of the season.

Olympic medallist Marie-Hélène Prémont of Chateau-Richer, QC (Team Rocky mountain-Maxxis) will be looking for a strong performance after a tough start to the season. Other Canadians will be Amanda Sin of Collingwood, ON (Team SCOTT-3RoxRacing) and Catherine Vipond, the 2011 Canada Cup Champion, racing with Team Canada.

There will also be Canadian riders in the junior and U23 categories. Frédérique Trudel of Breakeyville, QC will race in the women’s junior race, while Marc-Antoine Nadon of Timmins, ON and Alexandre Vialle of Prévost, QC will race the men’s junior race.

The World Cup event in Houffalize begins on April 14th with the U23 and Junior women races, and ends on Sunday April 15th with the Elites races as well as the men junior race.

CANADIAN CONTINGENT – 2012 UCI MTB WORLD CUP – HOUFFALIZE, BEL
MEN ELITE
Geoff Kabush (Courtenay, BC/ SCOTT-3Rox Racing)
Max Plaxton (Victoria, BC/Team Canada)
Derek Zandstra (Trenton, ON/SCOTT-3Rox Racing)

WOMEN ELITE
Emily Batty (Brooklin, ON/Team Subaru-Trek)
Catharine Pendrel (Kamloops, BC/Team Luna Pro)
Marie Hélène Prémont (Château-Richer, QC/Rocky Mountain–Maxxis)
Amanda Sin (Collingwood, ON/Collingwood, ON)
Catherine Vipond (Oshawa, ON/ Team Canada)

WOMEN JUNIOR
Frédérique Trudel (Breakeyville, QC/ Team Canada)

MEN JUNIOR
Marc Antoine Nadon (Timmins, ON/ Team Canada)
Alexandre Vialle (Prévost, QC/Team Canada)