Canadian Mountain Bikers in Travel Limbo

The volcanic ash hanging over much of the international air space is still causing problems for travelers. Among those held up, are Canadian mountain bikers trying to get to England for this weekend’s season opening World Cup. The World Cup in the Dalby Forest of Yorkshire is a key event for elite mountain bikers. Amongst the Canadian athletes trying to get to the event this weekend, are Andrew Watson (Norco Factory Team), Mical Dyck (Trek Canada), and Geoff Kabush (Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain).

Kabush posted on Twitter this afternoon, “Flight canceled. As of now the earliest flight I can get is Apr. 28th to Geneva. Pretty much screws whole season if I miss first World Cup,” and “Looking for someone rich and famous with private jet heading to Europe in the next couple days with room for me and a couple bikes? Anyone?”. Kabush followed these two posts up with a third that reads, “Currently seeing if it is possible a support/staff member to take one for the team, sacrifice ticket, and do a ticket name change…”.

Dyck is also struggling to get to Dalby, and has been forced to change her racing schedule, and is now skipping the first World Cup of the season. Dyck who was in Sea Otter racing last weekend managed to get to Vancouver, but is now stuck there. She wrote on here web site, “My ticket to UK has been canceled, with the only possibility to get there potentially after the World Cup. Air Canada has rebooked me on a pretty ridiculous flight to make the second world cup in Houffalize. Fly into Brussels on May 1 , race May 2, fly home May 3….right. I’m going to spend the week trying to call them and get that sorted out because I wouldn’t even make it in time for registration.”

For Watson, the travel appears to be falling into place, he is currently booked on a flight out of Toronto tonight. But he says, if this flight does not work out, he will have to skip the Dalby World Cup and focus on getting to Belgium for the second World Cup of the season. Watson says he is trying to take a relaxed approach to these travel issues, but all the same, he’d just like to get to Dalby and race his bike. When asked what his strategy is for the Dalby World Cup, Watson, says “Just to get there…”.

(Updated)

Watson just sent me an email with the latest travel news:

“The flight out was canceled. The UK doesn’t look like it is going to open up anytime soon. And going overland/water, there just isn’t enough time to get there rested and ready to race. So the First world cup is out, Derek Zandstra, Amanda Sin, Raphael Gagne, and myself are on a waiting list for Monday to Brussels. Zach Hughes was booked onto that flight earlier today.

So now its off to what is becoming known as the Mansfield World Cup. Invites are being sent to all stranded North Americans.”