Canada names team for MTB world championships

Cycling Canada has named the athletes that will represent the country at the 2013 mountain bike world championships in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, from Aug. 21 to 25.

Canadian champion Emily Batty has been named to race in the women’s elite cross country events. Catharine Pendrel, the 2011 world champion, is returning from injury and should be in top form for worlds women’s cross country competition.

Geoff Kabush, Max Plaxton and Derek Zandstra will all race for Canada in the men’s elite cross country race. Both Plaxton and Kabush are among the top racers in World Cup events. Zandstra proved his worth by winning the 2013 Canadian mountain bike championships earlier this month.

In downhill competition, Steve Smith will be Canada’s strongest contender. He finished second at the 2010 world championships and has been putting in strong performances at this year’s World Cup events. Mark Wallace will also race for Canada in the downhill event.

Canadian Holly Feniak will arrive at worlds as the defending junior women’s champion and aims to hold that title.

The full Canadian roster of 32 riders includes the following athletes:

DOWNHILL

Elite men
Remi Gauvin [Nanoose Bay, B.C.]
Forrest Riesco [Gibson, B.C.]
Kyle Sangers [Kingston, Ont.]
Sidney Slotegraaf [Hamilton]
Steve Smith [Cassidy, B.C.] *

Elite women
Casey Brown [Revelstoke, B.C.]
Micayla Gatto [West Vancouver, B.C.] *
Lauren Rosser [Squamish, B.C.] (2010 world junior champion)

Junior men
Hugo Langevin [Ste. Catherine, Que]
Mckay Vezina [Newbury Park, Calif.]
Mark Wallace [Duncan, B.C.] *

Junior women
Holly Feniak [Sechelt, B.C.] (reigning world junior champion)

CROSS COUNTRY
Elite women
Emily Batty [Brooklin, Ont.] *
Catharine Pendrel [Kamloops, B.C.] (2011 word champion)
Amanda Sin [Collingwood, Ont.]
Sandra Walter [Coquitlam, B.C.]

Elite men
Raphael Gagne [Quebec, Que.)
Geoff Kabush [Courtenay, B.C.]
Max Plaxton [Victoria]
Derek Zandstra [Trenton, Ont.] *

Under-23 women
Andreane Lanthier-Nadeau [Quebec, Que.]
Magalie Rochette [St-Jérome, Que.]
Frederique Trudel [Breakeyville, Que.] *

Under-23 men
Mitchell Bailey [Barrie, Ont.] *
Antoine Caron [Stoneham, Que.]
Evan McNeely [Ottawa]

Junior women
Haley Golding [Newcastle, Ont.]
Marine Lewis [St-Sauveur, Que.]
Rachel Pageau [Chicoutimi, Que.] *

Junior men
Felix Belhumeur [Quebec, Que.]
Felix Burke [Mont-Tremblant, Que.]
Peter Disera [Barrie, Ont.] *

* Current Canadian champions