Canada Cup BMX Series continues this weekend in Abbotsford, B.C.

As Canada’s road cyclists take to the streets of Quebec this weekend, Abbotsford, B.C., the back yard of the Canadian National BMX Team, will play host to the country’s biggest BMX series.

Previously the site of the 2012 UCI BMX Supercross World Cup series, the Abbotsford BMX track — the National Team’s training base — will be the site of two Canada Cup Series races this weekend. The Elite men’s race, notably, will use the BMX Supercross Hill, promising a high tempo of competition. Elevated eight metres above the ground, the starting ramp plunges at a steep 28% grade, allowing the race momentum to all but explode right from the outset.

“The track has hosted many large events,” said Michelle Landers, president of Abbotsford BMX, the host organization, “including Canadian championships, the 2012 SX World Cup, and provincial and western Canadian series in the past, and is looking forward to hosting this event.” Two consecutive UCI C1-level races will happen on the track, with a weekend prize purse of $12,950.

It’s the first Canada Cup series event since the June 13 and 14 races in Toronto — the first time the city has hosted national-level BMX events. After this weekend in Abbotsford, qualifying riders will then move on to Drummondville, Que. for the Championships from July 3 to 5, the fifth stop on the Canada Cup circuit and the Coupe du Québec’s host city since 2008. The last stop is in Calgary from August 28 to 30 for the finals, where this year’s champions will be crowned.

Last year, B.C.’s Jams Palmer and Alberta’s Eliane McAdam won the BMX Canada Cup Series Elite titles, while top Junior honours went to Hayden Michielsen and Cayleigh Van Staalduinen, also from B.C. and Alberta, respectively.