From July 12 to 27, mountain bike fans will be in their element at Mont-Sainte-Anne as Velirium returns for another year! Canada’s biggest mountain bike festival will play host not only to the 17th edition of the UCI NISSAN World Cup, but also the Canadian Championships, Québec Cups, and plenty of demos to keep the adrenaline pumping.
The world’s second best mountain bike festival Velirium has been building a reputation for itself in the mountain biking world. IMTTO (International Mountain Bike Teams, Technical Support, and Organizers) ranked the festival’s 2007 edition second in a list of 50 international events—the third time Velirium has made the podium in as many years!
Velirium? What’s that?
Three weekends at Mont-Sainte-Anne to celebrate mountain biking and the city. Velirium attracts 55,000 visitors, 2,500 athletes, and 150 journalists over three action-packed weeks. And it generates an estimated $4 million in economic spin-offs. But most of all it’s a fun time for all, from wide-eyed spectators to competitors of all stripes.
A program for young and old
Exceptionally, Velirium will take place in July this year. With it being an Olympic year, the UCI calendar has been altered, and World Cup racers will face each other at Mont-Sainte-Anne for the second last time before the Beijing Games. Mont-Sainte-Anne is the only venue in North America to have welcomed the prestigious competition every year since its inception in 1991.
First Weekend
Saturday July 12
- Velo Mag Raid
- Québec to Mont-Sainte-Anne raid featuring 2 courses: a 72km-race from downtown Québec City to Mont-Sainte-Anne, and a pleasant 32km-introduction to endurance cross country mountain biking
Sunday July 13
- Downhill Tim Hortons National Championships and Quebec Cup
- Freeride Cup - To determine Canada’s biggest daredevil!
- A 5-hour race inviting riders to rack up as many kilometers as possible
Second Weekend
Saturday July 19
- Cross Country Tim Hortons National Championships and Quebec Cup
- A classic since 1983, open to all, aged 10 to 50 and up
Sunday July 20
- Cross Country Tim Hortons National Championships and Quebec Cup
- Timbits Challenge
- A classic since 1983, open to all, aged 10 to 50 and up
- Kids from 4 to 9 years old and parents alike will keep on smiling!
Third Weekend
Thursday July 24
- Yop’ Urban Delirium
- Non-stop action & delirium in downtown Québec City!
Friday July 25
- Right Guard Xtreme 4-Cross World Cup
- Climb Mont-Sainte-Anne
- Qualifyers
- Mountain running or biking, it’s up to you!
Saturday July 26
- Right Guard Xtreme 4-Cross & Downhill World Cup
- Bleu Nuit Party
- Dark Dog Attaque
- Would you dare riding down Mont-Sainte-Anne in 5 minutes? All-night-long outdoor party to discover the dark side of Mont-Sainte-Anne… Extreme biking as you’ve never experienced yet!
Sunday July 27
- Cheese from Switzerland Cross Country World Cup
- Shimano Kids Race - Meet Marie-Hélène Prémont just before she goes to the Olympics
- In case you missed the kids’ race the weekend before… add some fun to your Velirium!
2010 MTB World Championships
On September 25, 2007, UCI gave Corporation de la Coupe du Monde de vélo de montagne Mont Sainte-Anne the green light to hold the Mountain Bike and Trial World Championships in 2010. Over 700 athletes from close to 50 countries are expected for the World Championships alone, along with 275 journalists from around the world and 75,000 spectators.
For more information, visit www.velirium.com
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