March 18/09 23:36 pm - Continental Mountain Bike Championship Teams Arrive in Chile

Posted by Editor on 03/18/09
 

Courtesy Cristóbal Sahr

The thirteenth Pan American Mountain Bike Championships will be held at Farellones, fifteen minutes from downtown Santiago, taking place on Friday (20th) for Downhill and Team Relay, Saturday for 4-Cross and on Sunday finishing with the Cross Country. The Pan American Mountain Bike Championships are the highest ranked continental event on the global calendar of the Union Cycliste International (UCI).

This event will bring together more than 200 riders from all of the countries of the region. In the Men's Cross Country the defending champion is the local rider Cristóbal Silva: "I run with all the pressure of defending the title, I hope that being local can go on my side". Among other prominent riders is the Colombian Leonardo Paez, fourth on the Marathon World Championship; Adam Craig, the U.S. rider and Paolo Montoya from Costa Rica, a former winner of the Ruta de los Conquistadores. Canada will be represented by Seamus McGrath, Max Plaxton, Derek Zandstra and Matt Hadley.

For the ladies, Francisca Campos, who represented Chile at the Beijing Olympics has to battle with strong riders such as Canadian Catherine Prendel, fourth at the Games in Beijing, and Americans Mary McConneloug and Georgia Gould. Canada will also have Amanda Sin (Elite) and Emily Batty (U23)

The delegations have begun arriving to the capital (Canada arrived yesterday). Thursday morning training will begin at the different circuits.