Dirt World:

For defending Jeep® King of the Mountain World Champion Wade Bootes of Australia, an already deep line-up of contenders chasing the richest prize purse in the industry became even deeper with the announcement that Brian Lopes, mountain bike racing’s career victories leader, has been added to the U.S. squad for the 2005 Mountain Biking World Championships, beginning June 19 in San Luis Obispo, Calif.

The three-year-old Mountain Biking World Championships, sister event to the wintertime Skiing & Snowboarding World Championships, features the world’s top male and female mountain bike racers competing head-to-head to capture the King of the Mountain title for their country, as well as a cash payout that tops $100,000 and the keys to a 2006 Jeep Commander. A national audience will be able to view the King of the Mountain Series on CBS Sports and through nationally syndicated television.

I’ll be watching this!