07.18.08 - Mont-Ste-Anne to host Tim Hortons Nationals mountain bike championships July 19-20

OTTAWA – Marie-Hélène Prémont and two other Canadian Olympic nominees in mountain biking are scheduled to compete this Saturday (July 19) in the elite races at the Tim Hortons Nationals cross country mountain bike championships at Mont-Ste-Anne, Que.

Prémont, the defending women’s national champion from nearby Chateau-Richer, Que., is the reigning Olympic silver medalist and is enjoying a strong season on the World Cup circuit this season. She has reached the podium at all five stops, including one victory, to stand first overall. She was also fourth last month at the world championships in Italy.

The other Olympic nominees in action are Catharine Pendrel of Kamloops, B.C., who has posted three top-10 World Cup finishes this season and Geoff Kabush of Victoria who looks to successfully defend his men’s crown.

‘’Marie-Hélène and Geoff are the favorites again this year,’’ said Rémi Bérubé, competitions coordinator for the Canadian Cycling Association. ‘’This is another important step in their Olympic preparation. The course at Mont-Ste-Anne has two big climbs and is very demanding.’’

All the races in the elite, under-23 and junior categories take place on Saturday. The women’s Elite and under-23 race goes at 11:45 a.m. and the men follow at 2:30 p.m. The age group races are on Sunday July 20.

Mont-Ste-Anne will also host the sixth stop on the World Cup circuit on Sunday July 27.

Visit competition website: www.velirium.com/ and Tim Hortons National Championships site : www.canadian-cycling.com/cca/racing/nat_champs.shtml