Events: Canberra, Australia World Cup

With only two more stops left in the World Cup race series, the heat has been turned up on the Canberra, Australia event happening this weekend. Many of the athletes leading the World Cup points chase are within striking distance of their opponents and are facing competition requiring them to perform their best. Sauser, Minnaar and also Jonnier will have to pull out all the stops in Australia.

Julien Absalon (Orbea) is the current leader of the cross-country points race, as well as the Olympic gold medalist, but he won't be attending the Canberra World Cup. This gives Christophe Sauser (Specialized) a slim chance to overtake Absalon, but Sauser will have to win Canberra and the Austrian final in Schladming, plus Absalon will have to finish 53rd or worse in Austria--not a likely scenario, but stranger things have happened.

Catherine Pendrel (Luna) is in a similar situation in the women's XC race. The Canadian is 473 points behind her compatriot Marie-Hélène Prémont (Rocky Mountain), who has decided not to make the trip to Australia. How much ground can Pendrel make up between now and the Austrian final?

In downhill, Sam Hill (Monster Energy Iron Horse) is riding on his home turf, but cannot afford to make a mistake. He only has a 46-point lead over South African Greg Minnaar (Santa Cruz Syndicate). It is likely to be an intense fight between these two, unless Gee Atherton (Animal Commençal) joins in the battle for the final victory?

Gee's little sister, Rachel, is close to an overall victory, but Sabrina Jonnier (Maxxis) is only 83 points behind and is a seasoned champion who cannot be discounted.

In the four-cross, Anneke Beerten (MS Intense Factory Racing) is almost assured of her second World Cup win in a row. But in the men's race, point leader Rafael Alvarez Luca has broke his wrist, and will not compete in the last two races. This leaves the way clear for his main rivals, the German Guido Tschugg and the French rider Cédric Gracia.