Invermere (BC), Canada – Panorama Mountain Village will host the finals for the Canada Cup and BC Cup downhill mountain bike races next week for the third consecutive year.

On Saturday and Sunday, July 28-29, riders from across Canada and beyond national borders will converge on Panorama to compete in this highly technical and exhilarating cycling discipline.

This major cycling event is expected to attract over 200 riders. Starting at the top of the Mile 1 Quad chairlift, racers will be individually timed as they descend 1,200 vertical feet over the three-kilometer (1.86 mile) course. Racers can reach speeds of over 50 mph through various sections of the Panorama Bike Park including the trails Punisher, Insanity, Quadzilla and the infamous section known as the Cliffs of Insanity. This event will be great for racers and spectators alike.

To compete at the Canada Cup level requires years of training. Top riders have learned to calm their nerves and have acquired the technical skills to control their bike and body position to be able to react quickly to the varying terrain.

Riders can compete in both the BC Cup and the Canada Cup race in one of 24 categories, depending on their UCI license. There is also a class in the BC Cup that allows for non-licensed riders to purchase a one-day permit and compete in the “Citizen” category. With encouragement from spectators this race series helps riders prepare for national and international competitions.