All three UCI Mountain Bike World Cup disciplines – cross country, four cross and downhill – converge in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada, for the first time since the opening round at Pietermaritzburg, South Africa back in April.

How it stands

Julien Absalon romped to a fifth straight Offenburg victory in the last World Cup round to leapfrog Jaroslav Kulhavy at the top of the overall standings.

But the Frenchman is absent in Canada, instead preferring to fine-tune his World Championship preparations, thereby opening the door for his rivals to reassert themselves.

Czech rider Kulhavy is just 40 points behind Absalon, while Nino Schurter lies third on 470 and both will have their eyes firmly fixed on top spot.

Meanwhile, Absalon’s compatriot Julie Bresset continues to dominate the women’s standings, topping the overall on 700 points, with Catharine Pendrel, looking to impress on home soil, 230 points adrift in second, while China’s Chengyuan Ren is a further 80 points back.

Marie-Helene Premont (Maxxis-Rocky Mountain), ninth overall, is a local girl and often performs well in front of the Quebec crowd.

Elite men

1. Julien Absalon (Fra / Orbea) – 650 points
2. Jaroslav Kulhavy (Cze / Specialized Racing) – 610
3. Nino Schurter (Swi / Scott-Swisspower MTB Racing) – 470

Elite women

1. Julie Bresset (Fra / BH-Suntour-Peisey Vallandry) – 700 points
2. Catharine Pendrel (Can / Luna Pro Team) – 470
3. Chengyuan Ren (Chn / Specialized Racing) – 390

What happened last year?

Mont-Saint-Anne did not feature of the World Cup circuit in 2010 – but only because it held the World Championships.

Jose Antonio Hermida finally ended his 14-year wait for a world title, crossing the line 29 seconds ahead of Kulhav, while South Africa’s Burry Stander completed the podium a further 41 seconds adrift.

“I can’t even talk,” said Spaniard Hermida at the time. “I’m full of emotions. I really wanted to win worlds this year. Last year I was close, in fourth.”

Maja Wloszczowska (Poland) took the women’s crown, ahead of Irina Kalentieva (Russia), while Willow Koerber (USA) made a late move past Pendrel to snatch bronze for the second successive year.

What else?

Away from the XC action, there’s also four cross and downhill this weekend. Jared Graves (Yeti Fox Shox) holds a 50 point advantage in the men’s four cross division, while Anneke Beerten (Milka Trek) is sitting pretty at the top of the women’s standings with a 120 point lead.

As for the downhill, Mont-Saint-Clare is renowned as one of the longest and toughest courses on the circuit. Trek World Racing duo Tracy Moseley and Aaron Gwin top the women’s and men’s standings with 90 and 46 point leads respectively.