2011 Mont Sainte Anne World Cup Warm Up

How I spent the break between Leogang and MSA. Rides at home with Karen, art & more rides with Molly, watching Christoph Sauser win Marathon Worlds and then pack his bike in the new rainbow jersey and fly, fly, fly! Photos by Gary Perkin

The last two weeks have been a blast. Some riding in Italy at Alpi Bike Resort with the Athertons and Anka here. A must-visit for anyone wanting natural, flowing trails. Sauze d'Oulx, Italy. -Sven Martin

I pity the fool that comes here knocking for a carbon Trek. -Sven Martin

Justin and Christoph from Fox Racing Shox used the age-old remedy of a bike ride to clear their heads after their rig was stolen last night. You can rest assured the wheels are in motion to make sure it's situation normal by 1st practice! Photo by Gary Perkin

There is a tenuous link between this shot of a severely separated shoulder. Nine months ago Sam Hill won World Champs here and now he will be missed by all. I hope you appreciate the length we go to keep the photos relevant to the stories here on Vital. Start of MSA track. -Sven Martin

The track at MSA is a long one. Rachel takes notes up top. -Sven Martin

Mechanics just love the smell of new tools in the morning. Mark Maurissen from GT. Photo by Gary Perkin

If you go down to the woods today you're in for a big surprise, the midges will carry you away and the water left from the rains will cause many a moment of reflection. Photo by Gary Perkin

Greg 'High Roller' Minnaar fresh of a big win at the Triple DHip in Sol Vista checks out the MSA course with a $35 bottle of water...cuz he can. Photo by Gary Perkin

Ready for action say no more. -Sven Martin

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The track is leaking...

Mont-Sainte-Anne organizers think of everything. Here they are gearing up the biggest jump off contest on the fast open section under the lift. Photo by Gary Perkin

The soil and rock combination here always makes for an epic race weekend. Photo by Gary Perkin

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Stevie Smith on a prototype Devinci

Steve used to be on Evil but now he is kind of a saint here in Mont 'Sainte' Anne Canada, riding for locally based Devinci. -Sven Martin

Josh Bryceland of Santa Cruz Syndicate practices the escape line on the big double at the finish. If you don't make the take-off just take the stairs! Photo by Gary Perkin

Before...

After.

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Bikes, bikes and more bikes.

Twelve BIG bike boxes, a team managers nightmare and a check-in agents payday. YUL arrivals. Vital is there all the way. -Sven Martin

Two weeks off since Leogang. Time to relax, time to train, time for rehab, time for press camps and sponsorship commitments. Or in Peaty and Brendan's case, time to take care of all of the above at once. SRAM XO DH launch Les Gets last weekend. -Sven Martin

Mechanics favorite new tool or accessory. T-Rav, Spud, or Trevor as he is called, loves his iPhone case with compartments for cash, license and credit cards. He needs a bigger case for 10-percent of Minnaar's winnings from SolVista. -Sven Martin

SRAM's new big rig makes it's debut appearance this weekend at MSA. It's almost big enough to hide a Fox truck and trailer inside. -Sven Martin

DRD X-Fusion Intense are here at MSA. Going to be good to see more USA riders at these next two East Coast World Cups. Cody n Bubba Warren and Memmelaar. -Sven Martin

This is why it is compulsory in Quebec to take all coverage on your rental vehicles (Just ask Kovarik) Don't be gentle, off road your rental. -Sven Martin

Wimbledon is happening right now, and just like center court, they cover the track with tarps here when it rains. Gestev pull out all the stops as usual. -Sven Martin

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Scheduling is everything at a World Cup triple.

Like the Peaty shot from Vital Labresse coverage in '09 for those fans that can remember, Rachel jumps the finish line gap. -Sven Martin