Deep fields for popular Canadian World Cup round

Marie-Hélène Prémont took top honors in 2005 (Image credit: Tour of Japan)

Saturday, professional riders from all three disciplines of mountain biking - cross-country, Downhill and four-cross - will take part in the Mountain Bike World Cup, in Mont Ste Anne, Quebec. This is the fourth round for the downhill and four-cross, and fifth for the cross-country. Mont Ste Anne is the only venue to have been part of the World Cup every year since the start of the series; proof of the high regard with which the venue and the organizers - Chantal Lachance and Patrice Drouin of Gestev - are held.

On Saturday the gravity riders are front and centre, starting with the downhill during the day and the four-cross in the evening. The downhill course is approximately 40 percent new, according to Lachance, with a long straight open drop section in the middle replacing some wooded portions. Riders are saying that the course is very fast, and that this in itself is making the run technical, since it requires complete concentration to avoid making mistakes at high speed. It has been raining consistently for the past few weeks, but the ground drains quickly at Mont Ste Anne, and the weather is currently sunny (and expected to remain so). The top men are expected to complete the 3.2 kilometre run in under five minutes.