Pat Hickey

For Canada's top women cyclists, there's more than World Cup points on the line tomorrow when the world's best tackle Mount Royal for the 11th consecutive year. Canada's three-woman road team for the Beijing Olympics will be selected after the race.

"This is an important race for many of the cyclists, but particularly for the Canadians, and that's why we have a very strong entry this year," race organizer Daniel Manibal said.

The one woman who seems assured of a ticket to Beijing is Alex Wrubelski, a Regina native who trains in Victoria. She's 30th in the UCI world rankings, but seventh in the World Cup standings after a pair of recent fourth-place finishes. Two Canadian women would have to reach the podium to deprive her of one of the automatic berths.

"I didn't have a very good season last year, and in terms of results I guess this has been a breakthrough," Wrubelski, 24, said. "This is the first time I've raced extensively in Europe and I've had some good results."

Erinne Willock, Wrubelski's teammate on the Webcor Builders squad, holds the second automatic spot, which is based on World Cup finishes.

When asked if her teammates might help her ensure the Olympic berth, Whillock said: "I don't know, we haven't had our team meeting yet. This is a professional team and I have to follow the plan."

But Willock added that - team plan or not - she plans to keep an eye on the other Canadian contenders, including Montreal-based Anne Samplonius.

The Webcor team is down to four riders for this race because of injuries, and Wrubelski said that will put them at a slight disadvantage.

"We're competitive with the top teams, but I think everyone will be looking to High Road, Nurnberger and Menikini-Selle Italia to control the race," Wrubelski said.

High Road is women's cycling's version of an all-star team, with three riders in the top seven in the UCI rankings. Germany's Judith Arndt is second in the UCI rankings and No. 1 in World Cup points. Oenone Wood of Australia is sixth in the UCI rankings, while German Ina Teutenberg is seventh and Chantal Beltman of the Netherlands is 17th.

"I love this race," Arndt said. "It's difficult because it comes after the Tour de l'Aude, which is a 10-day race in France. I always feel tired, but when Saturday comes I'll be ready.'

Fatigue hasn't bothered Arndt in the past. She won this race in 2006 and was third in last year's race, which was won by Menikini's Fabiana Luperini.

The race gets under way at noon tomorrow and the cyclists will go over and around Mount Royal 11 times for a total distance of 110.66 kilometres. The race usually takes a little more than three hours and will finish on Park Ave. near the recently restored statue of George-étienne Cartier.

The same cyclists will be competing in the four-day Tour du Grand Montréal, which begins Monday. There will be road races Monday in Châteauguay, Tuesday in Granby and Thursday in Mont St. Hilaire. On Wednesday, there will be a midday time trial in Lachine and a 50-kilometre criterium through the streets of Little Italy in the evening.

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