Steve Smith and Rachel Atherton qualify fastest at Mont-Sainte-Anne

Canadian downhill star Steve Smith (Devinci Global Racing), has one goal on his mind as he enter his final preparations for the finals of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Mont-Sainte-Anne, on Sunday: to win his first ever World Cup race.

In the qualifying run on Friday, Smith proved that he has what it takes to accomplish this goal as he posted the fastest qualifying time of the group of 111 riders, which includes the reigning world champion Greg Minnaar (Santa Cruz) of South African, and the current World Cup Leader, Gee Atherton (GT Factory) of Great Britain.

Smith was impressed with the track here at Mont-Sainte-Anne. "It's a completely different track than what we normally see in the world. It's its own kind and completely amazing. It's so fast and the dirt is amazing. The rain we have received helped out quite a bit. Yesterday morning the track was pretty bad and slow. It allowed us to cut some ruts, but the rain helped out to pact it up. Now, we can hold speed through corners, and it’s as pretty good as it’s going to get right now."

Smith won the silver medal at the 2010 World Championships in Mont-Sainte-Anne, but the track changed and Sunday will offer new challenges. "There are some sections that are the same, but overall it changed quite a bit. It only evolved and it's getting better and better."

Smith recently won the Canadian Mountain Bike Downhill Championships in Panorama, British Columbia, and is now wearing the coveted Maple Leaf on his sleeve. "This my first time being the Canadian Champion. Its nice to race in Canada, even though I am not close to home. It feels really good to wear the sleeve."

For the race on Sunday, Smith is confident his equipment has the right components to go fast. "The suspension and geometry are going to stay the same for Sunday because the track is fast and I know what I need. What might change due to the sun or not will be the tire choice. Right now I have cut spikes, but we'll see what happens on Sunday."

In the women's race, Rachel Atherton (GT Factory) qualified fastest ahead of Emmeline Ragot (LaPierre) and Floriane Pugin (Gstad-Scott).

The current Canadian Champion Micayla Gatto of North Vancouver, BC, was the victim of a flat in the top section of the course, and finished last of the group. The flat didn’t deflate her spirit, and she'll be ready to perform on Sunday.

"I think [the track] is awesome here. The buffed out a lot of stuff so its less rough than most years. Unfortunately it rained so it roughed it up a little bit, but the dirt is perfect," said the unlucky Gatto, after her run. "I was having so much fun in practice. Today I happened to front flat near the top. I don't think I even run down a mountain that fast today. Despite the flat, I am really looking forward to race day. It's a smaller field since few of the girls are broken right now, but all the top girls are here so it should make for some tough competition."

Gatto was seen at the track wearing her Canadian Champion outfit. "It definitely feels good to have the Canadian Champion jersey again. Even though Mont-Sainte-Anne is a five hour plane ride, it still feels like home as I have been coming here for so long."

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