2009 Canadian National Mountain Bike Calendar announced

The Canadian Cycling Association unveiled is 2009 National Mountain Bike Calendar with twelve events which will host top mountain bikers from Canada and elsewhere.

The Canada Cup cross country season will be one of the best in the recent years with six events on the calendar, five of which are UCI category one (C1) sanctioned. More than CAN$40 000 will be awarded during the series, making it one of the most lucrative domestic series in the world. The season will open in Baie-St-Paul on May 17 and the final will conclude in Bromont on July 5.

The Canada Cup downhill will feature three events, starting in Mont-Tremblant on May 24 and concluding in Sun Peaks on August 23.

Two World Cups will return in 2009. Mont-Sainte-Anne will host its usual round on July 25-26, and Bromont will return for its second consecutive running on August 4-5.

The Canadian National Championships will be held prior to the Mont-Sainte-Anne World Cup. New for 2009, 4X national titles will be presented for the first time in Bromont on July 4. The cross-country event will follow in St-Félicien, on July 11-12 and the downhill at a venue to be confirmed on July 18-19.

2009 Canadian National Mountain Bike Calendar
May 17: Canada Cup / Coupe Canada - Baie-St-Paul, Quebec, XCO (C1)
May 23-24: Canada Cup / Coupe Canada - Mont Tremblant, Quebec, XCO (C1)/ DHI (C2)
May 31: Canada Cup / Coupe Canada - Oro-Medonte, Ontario, XCO (C1)
June 13: Canada Cup / Coupe Canada - Edmonton, Alberta, XCO (C2)
June 20: Canada Cup / Coupe Canada - Canmore, Alberta, XCO (C1)
July 4-5: Canada Cup / Coupe Canada - Bromont, Quebec, XCO (C1)/ DHI (C2) / 4X (CN)
July 11-12: National Championships, St-Félicien, Quebec, XCO (CN)
July 18-19: National Championships, TBC, Quebec, DHI (CN)
July 25-26: World Cup, Mont-Sainte-Anne, XCO/4X/DHI (CDM)
August 1-2: World Cup, Bromont, Quebec, XCO/4X/DHI (CDM)
August 17: Canada Games, Brookvale, Prince Edward Island, XCO (NE)
August 23: Canada Cup / Coupe Canada , Sun Peaks, British Columbia, DHI (2)

For more information, visit www.canadian-cycling.com/cca/racing/nat_calendar.shtml.