Mont Sainte Anne moves up in venue rankings

Speaking of World Cup venues, the Mont Sainte Anne, Canada World Cup moved up from second in 2005 to third in the 2006 rankings of important mountain bike gatherings world-wide. The rankings are done by IMTTO or International Mountain bike Teams, Technical support companies and Organizers.

The Mont Sainte Anne World Cup is part of Velirium, Canada's biggest mountain bike festival, the only site in North America to have hosted a World Cup every year since 1991. The festival is spread out over three weekends, culminating in the World Cup. From June 9-24, the festival has included cross country, downhill, 4X, the Vélo Mag and Apéro raids, the Cycles Lambert Freeride Cup, Véli-Slope Jam, BMX demonstrations, kids competitions, Vélo-Arto, and the Bleu Nuit party.

The only venue to top Mont Sainte Anne was Fort William, Scotland, which has previously hosted the 2006 World Cup and will host the 2007 World Championships in September.

Ranking IMTTO 2006 (2005 rank in parenthesis where applicable)

1.(1) Fort William, Scotland - World Cup
2.(3) Mont-Ste-Anne, Canada - World Cup
3.(8) Schladming, Austria - World Cup
4.(12) Vigo, Spain - World Cup
5.(17) Roc d'Azur, France
6.(9) Crankworx, Canada
7.(2) Sea Otter Classic, USA
8.(4) UCI World MTB Championships
9.(7) Camboriu Beach, Brazil - World Cup
10.(-) Bundesliga XC, Heubach, Germany
11.(15) Madrid, Spain - WorldCup
12.(6) Spa Francorchamps, Belgium - World Cup
13.(10) Swisspower Cup Bern
14.(19) LaBresse, French Cup Finals
15.(-) Cape Epic, South Africa
16.(-) European XC Championships
17.(-) Fontana, California, USA - NORBA
18.(-)Bundesliga XC,Offenburg,Germany
19.(-) NKMTB Noorbeek.
20.(20) Swisspower Cup, Reinach