(Ottawa, ON – March 30, 2012) The Canadian Cycling Association (CCA) is thrilled to announce the nomination of Ian Hughes as Mountain Bike National Development Coach. From now on, the former Quebec Team Head Mountain Bike Coach will work within the National Team programs.

Hughes will be tasked to develop a national strategy aiming at facilitating the athletes’ arrival on the international scene. This facilitating process will notably be through training camps and competition projects. In addition, Hughes will also have to elaborate talent detection tools, as well as contribute to the expansion of the mountain bike athletes’ pool.

In his new functions, Hughes will work with provincial cycling associations, and in particular with regards to the implantation of the Long Term Athlete Development model (LTAD). In addition, he will pursue his implication in the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) and closely collaborate with all provincial and personal coaches. Finally, he will assist the National Team Head Mountain Bike Coach in order to establish fluid transitions between Development and High Performance programs.

“We are very happy to have Ian among us. We are also grateful to the Quebec Cycling Federation (FQSC) for having allowed us to use Ian’s services as Mountain Bike National Development Coach. Because of his experience in mountain bike, his teaching approach and his training methodology, Ian is a great addition to our National Coaches team,” said Jacques Landry, High Performance Director and Head Coach at the Canadian Cycling Association.

“I am extremely happy about the challenges this new job will provide. It was an opportunity I had to seize,“ said Hughes.

Starting April 1st, Hughes will officially become a CCA employee, even though he will continue to work with the FQSC during a short transition period.

Batty second and Pendrel third as Canada’s women send a clear message

(Pietermaritzburg, RSA – March 17, 2012) The 2012 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Tour kicked off today, and Canada’s women sent a strong and clear message: they are ready.

Ontario’s Emily Batty of Team Subaru-Trek opened the season with her career first World Cup podium in the elite category, finishing in second place. Ranked 8th in the individual UCI World Cup standings in 2011 in her first season as elite, Batty has shown today she is a serious contender, finishing only four seconds behind race winner Maja Wloszczowska of Poland.

2012 World Champion and three-time Canadian Champion Catharine Pendrel, from Kamloops, BC and racing for Team Luna Pro, took the third place of the race.

“Today’s race was very competitive. It was a battle to the end. It definitely showed that we are on the right track. Both Emily and Catharine work well together, in training and in racing. Emily was impressive. She showed a lot of determination today. Catharine’s ride was solid and a good early-season performance. We expect to see the form improve a lot as we enter the next World Cup in Houffalize,” said National Team Head Coach Dan Proulx.

Marie-Hélène Prémontof Chateau Richer, Que., representing Team Rocky Mountain-Maxxis, finished in 21st place, while Amanda Sin of Collingwood, Ontario, racing with Team SCOTT-3Rox Racing, placed 46th.

Canada is ranked at top of the UCI Olympic rankings in women’s cross country. In 2011, three of Canada’s women finished in the Top 8 of the individual World Cup standings.

In the men’s cross-country race, Derek Zansdtra of Trenton, Ontario posted Canada’s top results in 29th place. Olympian and seven-time Canadian Champion Goeff Kabush from Courtenay, BC and racing for SCOTT-3Rox Racing took the 37th place, while Canadian Champion Max Plaxton of Victoria, BC wearing the Team Canada colours placed 43rd.

The UCI World Cup in South Africa continues tomorrow with Canadian Steve Smith of Cassidy, BC, with Team DeVinci Global Racing Team racing in the downhill race.

RESULTS – UCI WORLD CUP – MOUNTAIN BIKE – WOMEN ELITE
1. WLOSZCZOWSKA Maja (CCC POLKOWICE) 1:34:01
2. BATTY Emily (SUBARU – TREK) +0:04
3. PENDREL Catharine (LUNA PRO TEAM) +0:23
=====
21. PREMONT Marie-Helene +6:12
46. SIN Amanda (SCOTT-3ROXRACING) +11:56

RESULTS – UCI WORLD CUP – MOUNTAIN BIKE – MEN ELITE
1. SCHURTER Nino (SCOTT – SWISSPOWER MTB RACING TEAM) 1:30:38
2. STANDER Burry (SPECIALIZED RACING) +0:11
3. FUMIC Manuel (CANNONDALE FACTORY RACING) +0:59
=====
29. ZANDSTRA Derek (SCOTT-3ROXRACING) +6:40
37. KABUSH Geoff (SCOTT-3ROXRACING) +8:06
43. PLAXTON Max (TEAM CANADA) +8:46
92. JETTE Cameron (SCOTT-3ROXRACING) -1LAP
105. MORKA Adam -3LAP

Full results from the World Cup races in South Africa can be found here:
http://www.uci.ch/templates/BUILTIN-NOFRAMES/Template1/layout.asp?MenuId=MTYzODg&LangId=1

World Champion Catharine Pendrel pleased with support and training camps

(Ottawa, ON – March 05, 2012) Canada’s mountain bikers are ready for another exciting season, headlined by the 2012 UCI World Cup Tour, 2012 UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships and the 2012 Olympic Games in London, UK.

After a series of three training camps held in January and February in Palm Springs, California, and Victoria, British Columbia, the Canadian Mountain Bike Team is ready to shine once more on the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Tour and at the 2012 Olympic Games.

In terms of the Olympic qualification process, Canada is currently sitting in first place of the Women’s UCI Olympic Ranking, while the Men are ranked in ninth place.

For the men, nations ranked first through fifth (1-5) will receive three spots, while nations ranked sixth to 13th (6-13) will bring two riders in London. For the women, the Top 8 nation will bring two riders to the Olympic start line.

Dan Proulx, Head coach of the Canadian Mountain Bike Team, has high expectations for the team this season, and feels confident of the team potential heading into the season.

“The team is definitely getting a lot stronger. They have been really working hard and training well together. We’ve been deliberately flying under the radar in terms of talking about our winter preparation program. It’s about getting the work done. There has been a lot of riding on terrain that is specific to the London course. We’ve also done a lot of mental preparation and rehearsal for the Games. We’ve been stressing all along that the Olympics are about grit, determination and hard work. We’re not expecting this to be easy.”

The current World Champion in women’s cross country, Catharine Pendrel (Kamloops, BC/Team Luna Pro) is excited for the season and acknowledged the support from partners of the Canadian Cycling Association: “Thanks to the support of Own The Podium, the Canadian Mountain Bike Team has been able to log some great training this winter. With both our road and Mountain bikes in tow, our goal has been to strengthen our already strong team on and off the bike. Everyone is looking great and excited for all the competitive challenges of this Olympic season!”

Geoff Kabush (Courtenay, BC/Scott-3Rox Racing Team), Olympian and seven-time Canadian Champion, was pleased with the atmosphere at the camps: “The camaraderie and atmosphere amongst the Canadian Mountain Bike Team has been building for several years now. Coming into the 2012 Olympic year, the confidence, support, and momentum behind the team seems to be at an all-time high. Every time we get together I feel like we are building the foundation needed and moving one step closer towards our Olympic goals.”

The 2012 Mountain Bike Season kicks off with a World Cup in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa from March 17-19. A month later, April 13-15, the UCI World Cup Tour moves to Houffalize in Belgium. Then, the world’s top mountain bikers will battle it out for the remaining two World Cups part of the Olympic qualifying period in Nove Mesto Na Morave, Czech Republic and La Bresse, France in May.

June will feature the North American leg of the tour, featuring Olympic-nominated athletes embarking on their final preparations as they participate in the World Cup races in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Quebec and Windham, New-York. In late July, the World’s top riders will go head-to-head for the final time before the Olympic Games, racing in Val d’Isère, France.

The Olympic Mountain Bike races are scheduled for August 11th for the women and August 12th for the men.