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Catharine Pendrel and Geoff Kabush win at 2014 Manitoba Grand Prix

Catharine Pendrel (Luna Pro) followed up winning her second consecutive Canadian cyclocross champion Saturday with a victory in Sunday's Manitoba Grand Prix, while Geoff Kabush (Scott-3Rox) triumphed on the men's side, outsprinting Michael van den Ham (Trek Red Truck) and Aaron Schooler (Focus).

Catharine Pendrel
October 26, 2014
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Catharine Pendrel (Luna Pro) followed up winning her second consecutive Canadian cyclocross champion Saturday with a victory in Sunday’s Manitoba Grand Prix, while Geoff Kabush (Scott-3Rox) triumphed on the men’s side, outsprinting Michael van den Ham (Trek Red Truck) and Aaron Schooler (Focus).

The UCI C2 races featured several Americans who raced in Saturday’s Wannabe competition early in the day. In the women’s race Pendrel’s main competitor was Gabby Durrin (Neon Velo) of Massachusetts, who had the early lead before the national champ closed the gap. Nationals runner-up Maghalie Rochette (Luna Pro) fell back from the two on the third lap and while Pendrel surged ahead of the fourth, she and Durrin entered the final lap together. In the final sandpit Pendrel opened a crack which she levered wide and had time to celebrate in the maple leaf jersey. Rochette finished third.

On the first of eight laps in the men’s race, an elite group of nationals bronze winner Van den Ham, Schooler, Kabush, new Canadian champion Mike Garrigan, American Jeremy Durrin (Neon Velo), Andrew L’Esperance (Norco) and Craig Richey (Trek Red Truck) shook the others loose. Garrigan suffered from his efforts Saturday and fell back. Further streamlining found Van den Ham, Kabush and Durrin in the lead.

A flat tire on the fourth lap saw Durrin drop back, allowing Van den Ham and Kabush carrying on together for three laps, switching the lead, with Schooler chasing in third. Schooler, who crashed early in Saturday’s contest, caught the leading duo on the last lap. Kabush opened up the sprint in the final 200 metres and Van den Ham couldn’t close it.

Manitoba Grand Prix Women
1) Catharine Pendrel (Luna Pro)
2) Gabby Durrin (Neon Velo)
3) Maghalie Rochette (Luna Pro)

Manitoba Grand Prix Men
1) Geoff Kabush (Scott-3Rox)
2) Michael van den Ham (Trek Red Truck)
3) Aaron Schooler (Focus)