Marie-Hélène Prémont
Encyclopedia
Marie-Hélène Prémont is a Canadian
cross-country
mountain biker with the Rocky Mountain Bicycles factory team for 2012. For the 2009-2011 seasons she rode for the Maxxis-Rocky Mountain Team. From June 2004 through 2008 she rode for the Rocky Mountain Bikes race team. She rode for Oryx/Procycle from 1999–2004, and Mont-Velo/Liken prior to that. She's been a member of the Canadian National team since 2000.
She has won the Canadian National Elite Women's Championship in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008.
She won a bronze in the 2003 World Cup circuit in Kaprun, Austria. At the 2004 Summer Olympics
she won a silver medal. She won three silver medals in the 2004 World Cup Circuit in Mont-Sainte-Anne
, Quebec, Fort William, Scotland
and Livigno, Italy. She won two gold medals in the 2005 World Cup circuit in Spa Francorchamps, Belgium and Mont Sainte Anne, Quebec. She won two gold medals in the 2006 World Cup circuit at Mont Sainte Anne, Quebec and Schladming, Austria, and a bronze medal in the 2006 World Championships in Rotorua, New Zealand. At the 2006 Commonwealth Games
in Melbourne
, she won the gold medal. She won 3 silver medals in the 2007 World Cup season at Offenburg, Germany, St.Felicien, Quebec, and Maribor, Slovenia, and finished the 2007 World Cup season in 2nd place overall.
She had her best season ever in 2008 with two gold medals at Fort William and Mont-Sainte-Anne
, three silver and three bronze medals and claiming first place overall after eight of the nine races of the 2008 WC season. She was the only woman to win a medal in every World Cup race she entered. At the 2008 Beijing Games, she was forced to retire from the race due to hyperventilation.
She decided to postpone retirement and race again in 2009. By Madrid she was back to her usual pace, finishing second just 4 seconds back after swapping the lead with Marga Fullana throughout the race. At Mont-Sainte-Anne
in the 5th race of 2009, Marie was the victim of a flat and a fork lockout problem that resulted in a 10th place finish, and a 13th place in XCO#6 at Bromont after some breathing difficulties limited her climbing ability. Marie finished on the podium again in 5th at the final 2009 World Cup Race in Schladming, finishing the World Cup season in 6th place overall.
After a battery of breathing tests in early August 2009, Marie was diagnosed with exercise induced asthma, first occurring at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 (likely ozone induced since the onset was sudden), and continuing to be a problem through most of the 2009 season. She now has a therapeutic use exception for the use of a Ventolin inhaler in competition.
2010 was a season that combined good fitness and performance with bad luck. There were podium finishes with a 4th at Offenburg and a silver medal in a tightly contested battle at Windham, NY.
At an April 2011 Rocky Mountain Bicycles press conference in Quebec City, Marie-Hélène announced that she will continue to compete on the World Cup circuit through the 2012 season with a goal of competing at the 2012 London Olympic Games.
2011 has seen three podium finishes so far in Offenburg, Mont Sainte-Anne and Windham.
She currently lives in Chateau Richer, QC
.
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
cross-country
Cross-country cycling
Cross-country cycling is the most common discipline of mountain biking. While less publicized than downhill cycling as it is more difficult to televise, it garners the highest levels of participation both recreationally and competitively....
mountain biker with the Rocky Mountain Bicycles factory team for 2012. For the 2009-2011 seasons she rode for the Maxxis-Rocky Mountain Team. From June 2004 through 2008 she rode for the Rocky Mountain Bikes race team. She rode for Oryx/Procycle from 1999–2004, and Mont-Velo/Liken prior to that. She's been a member of the Canadian National team since 2000.
She has won the Canadian National Elite Women's Championship in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008.
She won a bronze in the 2003 World Cup circuit in Kaprun, Austria. At the 2004 Summer Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
she won a silver medal. She won three silver medals in the 2004 World Cup Circuit in Mont-Sainte-Anne
Mont-Sainte-Anne
Mont-Sainte-Anne is a ski resort in the city of Beaupré, Quebec, Canada, located about northeast of Quebec City. The mountain has a summit elevation of 800 metres above sea level and a vertical drop of 625 m . There are 66 trails covering on three different sides of the mountain...
, Quebec, Fort William, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and Livigno, Italy. She won two gold medals in the 2005 World Cup circuit in Spa Francorchamps, Belgium and Mont Sainte Anne, Quebec. She won two gold medals in the 2006 World Cup circuit at Mont Sainte Anne, Quebec and Schladming, Austria, and a bronze medal in the 2006 World Championships in Rotorua, New Zealand. At the 2006 Commonwealth Games
2006 Commonwealth Games
The 2006 Commonwealth Games were held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia between 15 March and 26 March 2006. It was the largest sporting event to be staged in Melbourne, eclipsing the 1956 Summer Olympics in terms of the number of teams competing, athletes competing, and events being held.The site...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, she won the gold medal. She won 3 silver medals in the 2007 World Cup season at Offenburg, Germany, St.Felicien, Quebec, and Maribor, Slovenia, and finished the 2007 World Cup season in 2nd place overall.
She had her best season ever in 2008 with two gold medals at Fort William and Mont-Sainte-Anne
Mont-Sainte-Anne
Mont-Sainte-Anne is a ski resort in the city of Beaupré, Quebec, Canada, located about northeast of Quebec City. The mountain has a summit elevation of 800 metres above sea level and a vertical drop of 625 m . There are 66 trails covering on three different sides of the mountain...
, three silver and three bronze medals and claiming first place overall after eight of the nine races of the 2008 WC season. She was the only woman to win a medal in every World Cup race she entered. At the 2008 Beijing Games, she was forced to retire from the race due to hyperventilation.
She decided to postpone retirement and race again in 2009. By Madrid she was back to her usual pace, finishing second just 4 seconds back after swapping the lead with Marga Fullana throughout the race. At Mont-Sainte-Anne
Mont-Sainte-Anne
Mont-Sainte-Anne is a ski resort in the city of Beaupré, Quebec, Canada, located about northeast of Quebec City. The mountain has a summit elevation of 800 metres above sea level and a vertical drop of 625 m . There are 66 trails covering on three different sides of the mountain...
in the 5th race of 2009, Marie was the victim of a flat and a fork lockout problem that resulted in a 10th place finish, and a 13th place in XCO#6 at Bromont after some breathing difficulties limited her climbing ability. Marie finished on the podium again in 5th at the final 2009 World Cup Race in Schladming, finishing the World Cup season in 6th place overall.
After a battery of breathing tests in early August 2009, Marie was diagnosed with exercise induced asthma, first occurring at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 (likely ozone induced since the onset was sudden), and continuing to be a problem through most of the 2009 season. She now has a therapeutic use exception for the use of a Ventolin inhaler in competition.
2010 was a season that combined good fitness and performance with bad luck. There were podium finishes with a 4th at Offenburg and a silver medal in a tightly contested battle at Windham, NY.
At an April 2011 Rocky Mountain Bicycles press conference in Quebec City, Marie-Hélène announced that she will continue to compete on the World Cup circuit through the 2012 season with a goal of competing at the 2012 London Olympic Games.
2011 has seen three podium finishes so far in Offenburg, Mont Sainte-Anne and Windham.
She currently lives in Chateau Richer, QC
Château-Richer, Quebec
Château-Richer is a small town situated in the Capitale-Nationale region of Quebec, Canada. Located on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River east of Quebec City, Château-Richer is the seat for the Côte-de-Beaupré Regional County Municipality....
.
Major achievements
2000- 59th in World Cup MTB XCO#1, Napa Valley, CA
- 33rd in World Cup MTB XCO#2, Mazatlan, Mexico
- 9th in Canada Cup MTB XC#1, Hardwood Hills, ON
- 5th in Canada Cup MTB XC#2, Mont Treblant, QC
- 33rd in World Championships, Sierra Nevada, Spain
- 21st in World Cup MTB XCO#6, Mont Sainte-Anne, Quebec
- 16th in World Cup MTB XCO#7, Canmore, AB
- 5th in National Championships MTB, Camp Fortune, QC
- 1st in Women's, Raid Pierre Harvey, MTB Marathon, Quebec
- 1st in Pan American Championships, MTB, Puerto Rico
- 4th in Canada Cup MTB XC#5, Silverstar, BC
2001
- 23rd in World Cup MTB XCO#1, Napa Valley, CA
- 1st in Camp FortuneCamp FortuneCamp Fortune is a commercial alpine ski center. It is located in the Gatineau Hills north of Gatineau, Quebec, approximately 15 minutes from Downtown Ottawa, Ontario....
/Quebec Cup #3, Camp Fortune, QC - 2nd in Canada Cup MTB XC#1, Hardwood Hills, ON
- 2nd in Canada Cup MTB XC#2, Mont Tremblant, QC
- 13th in World Cup MTB XCO#4, Grouse Mountain, BC
- 1st in Canada Cup MTB XC#3, Fernie, BC
- 2nd in Canada Cup MTB XC#4, Calgary, AB
- 5th in National Championships MTB, Kamloops, BC
- DNF in Canada Cup MTB XC#5, Sun Peaks, BC
- 15th in World Cup MTB XCO#8, Mont Sainte-Anne, Quebec
- 1st in Quebec Cup, MTB XC, Bromont, QC
- 1st in Pan American Championships, MTB, Brazil
2002
- 29th in World Cup MTB XCO#1, Madrid, Spain
- 16th in World Cup MTB XCO#2, Houffalize, Belgium
- 1st in Canada Cup MTB XC#2, Hardwood Hills, ON
- 5th in Canada Cup MTB XC#3, Mont.Tremblant, QC
- 2nd in National Championships MTB, Kamloops, BC
- 7th in World Cup MTB XCO#3, Mont Sainte-Anne, Quebec
- DNF World Cup MTB XCO#4, Grouse Mountain, BC
- 4th in Commonwealth GamesCommonwealth GamesThe Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
MTB, Manchester, UK - 16th in World Championships MTB, Kaprun Austria
- 9th in World Cup MTB XCO#5, Les Gets, France
- 3rd in Canadian Championship Cyclo-CrossCyclo-crossCyclo-cross is a form of bicycle racing. Races typically take place in the autumn and winter , and consists of many laps of a short course featuring pavement, wooded trails, grass, steep hills and...
, Elite Women, St.Augustin, QC
2003
- 1st in Canada Cup MTB XC#1, Bromont, QC
- 22nd in World Cup MTB XCO#1, St.Wendel, Germany
- 9th in World Cup MTB XCO#2, Fort William, Scotland
- 1st in Canada Cup MTB XC#3, Mt.Tremblant, QC
- 5th in World Cup MTB XCO#3, Mont Sainte-Anne, Quebec
- n/a in World Cup MTB XCO#4 Telluride, CO, (event cancelled)
- 4th in World Cup MTB XCO#5, Grouse Mountain, BC, Canada
- 1st in National Championship, MTB, Whistler, BC,
- 5th in World Championships MTB, Lugano, Switzerland
- 3rd in World Cup MTB XCO#6, Kaprun, Austria
- 4th in World Cup series overall, Elite Women MTB
2004
- 10th in World Cup MTB XCO#1, Madrid, Spain
- 6th in World Cup MTB XCO#2, Houffalize, Belgium
- 2nd in World Cup MTB XCO#3, Fort William, Scotland
- no entry in World Cup MTB XCO#4, Schladming, Austria
- 2nd in World Cup MTB XCO#5, Mont Sainte-Anne, Quebec
- 1st in National Championship MTB, Mont Sainte-Anne, QC
- 4th in World Cup MTB XCO#6, Calgary, Alberta
- 2nd in Olympic Games, MTB, Athens, Greece
- 4th in World Championships MTB, Les Gets, France
- 2nd in World Cup MTB XCO#7, Livigno, Italy
- 2nd in World Cup series overall, Elite Women MTB
2005
- 1st in World Cup MTB XCO#1, Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium
- 1st in Canada Cup MTB XC#1, Bromont, QC
- 2nd in World Cup MTB XCO#2, Madrid, Spain
- 4th in World Cup MTB XCO#3, Houffalize, Belgium
- 3rd in World Cup MTB XCO#4, Willingen, Germany
- 1st in National Championship, MTB, Mont Sainte Anne, QC
- 1st in World Cup MTB XCO#5, Mont Sainte-Anne, Quebec
- no entry in World Cup MTB XCO#6, Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2nd in World Cup MTB XCO#7, Angel Fire Resort, USA
- 4th in World Championships MTB, Livigno, Italy
- DNF in World Cup MTB XCO#8, Fort William, Scotland (illness)
- 3rd in World Cup series overall, Elite Women MTB
2006
- 4th in World Cup MTB XCO#1, Curaçao
- 1st in Commonwealth GamesCommonwealth GamesThe Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
, MTB, Melbourne, Australia - 10th in World Cup MTB XCO#2, Madrid, Spain
- 3rd in World Cup MTB XCO#3, Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium
- 2nd in World Cup MTB XCO#4, Fort William,Scotland
- 1st in Canada Cup MTB XC#3, Hardwood Hills, ON
- 1st in World Cup MTB XCO#5, Mont Sainte-Anne, Quebec
- 1st in Canada Cup MTB XC#4, Whistler, BC
- 1st in National Championship, MTB, Sun Peaks Resort, BC
- 3rd in World Championship, MTB, XC Elite, Rotorua, New Zealand
- 1st in World Cup MTB XCO#6, Schladming, Austria
- 2nd in World Cup series overall, Elite Women MTB
2007
- 6th in World Cup MTB XCO#1, Houffalize, Belgium
- 1st in Canada Cup MTB XC#1, Baie St.Paul, QC
- 1st in Canada Cup MTB XC#2, Bromont, QC
- 2nd in World Cup MTB XCO#2, Offenburg, Germany
- 3rd in World Cup MTB XCO#3, Champery, Switzerland
- 4th in World Cup MTB XCO#4, Mont Sainte-Anne, Quebec
- 2nd in World Cup MTB XCO#5,Saint Félicien, Quebec
- 1st in National Championship, MTB, Mt.Washington, BC,
- 4th in World Championships MTB, Fort William, Scotland
- 2nd in World Cup MTB XCO#6, Maribor, Slovenia
- 2nd in World Cup series overall, Elite Women MTB
2008
- 3rd in World Cup MTB XCO#1, Houffalize, Belgium
- 2nd in World Cup MTB XCO#2, Offenburg, Germany
- 2nd in World Cup MTB XCO#3, Madrid, Spain
- 3rd in World Cup MTB XCO#4, Vallnord, AndorraAndorraAndorra , officially the Principality of Andorra , also called the Principality of the Valleys of Andorra, , is a small landlocked country in southwestern Europe, located in the eastern Pyrenees mountains and bordered by Spain and France. It is the sixth smallest nation in Europe having an area of...
- 1st in World Cup MTB XCO#5, Fort William, Scotland
- 4th in World Championships MTB, Val di Sole, Italy
- 1st in National Championship, MTB, Mont Sainte Anne, QC
- 1st in World Cup MTB XCO#6, Mont Sainte-Anne, QC
- 2nd in World Cup MTB XCO#7, Bromont, QC
- DNF in Olympic Games, MTB, Beijing, China (asthma)
- no entry in World Cup MTB XCO#8, Canberra, Australia
- 3rd in World Cup MTB XCO#9, Schladming, Austria
- 1st in World Cup series overall, Elite Women MTB
2009
- no entry in World Cup MTB XCO#1, Pietermaritzburg, RSA
- 14th in World Cup MTB XCO#2, Offenburg, Germany
- 6th in World Cup MTB XCO#3, Houffalize, Belgium
- 2nd in World Cup MTB XCO#4, Madrid, Spain
- 2nd in National Championship, MTB, Saint Félicien, Quebec
- 10th in World Cup MTB XCO#5, Mont Sainte-Anne, QC
- 13th in World Cup MTB XCO#6, Bromont, QC
- 12th in World Championships MTB, Canberra, Australia
- 11th in World Cup MTB XCO#7, Champery, Switzerland
- 5th in World Cup MTB XCO#8, Schladming, Austria
- 6th in World Cup series overall, Elite Women MTB
2010
- 8th in World Cup MTB XCO#1, Dalby Forest, Yorkshire, UK
- DNF in World Cup MTB XCO#2, Houffalize, Belgium (mechanical)
- 4th in World Cup MTB XCO#3, Offenburg, Germany
- 13th in World Cup MTB XCO#4, Champery, Switzerland
- 8th in World Cup MTB XCO#5, Val di Sole, Italy
- 2nd in World Cup MTB XCO#6, Windham, New York
- 8th in World Cup series overall, Elite Women MTB
- 9th in World Championships MTB, Mont Sainte-Anne, QC
2011
- 9th in World Cup MTB XCO#1, Pietermaritzburg, RSA
- 11th in World Cup MTB XCO#2, Dalby Forest, Yorkshire, UK
- 4th in World Cup MTB XCO#3, Offenburg, Germany
- 5th in World Cup MTB XCO#4, Mont Sainte-Anne, QC
- 4th in World Cup MTB XCO#5, Windham, New York
- 2nd in National Championship, MTB, Canmore, AB
- 9th in World Cup MTB XCO#6, Nove Mesto Na Morave, CR
- 11th in World Cup MTB XCO#7, Val di Sole, Italy
- 4th in World Cup series overall, Elite Women MTB
- 9th in World Championships MTB, Champery, Switzerland