Live coverage replay: 2013 Canadian XCO mountain bike championships

Welcome to live coverage of the 2013 Canadian XC Mountain Bike Championships. We’re at Hardwood Hills, north of Barrie, Ontario, the sun is out, and it’s a breezy day.

The first race of the day is the women’s Elite and U23 race. Emily Batty is the favourite today. Catharine Pendrel is having to sit out the race after breaking her collarbone in a crash.

Both Mikaela Kofman and Amanda Sin of Scott-3Rox are here, and both have World Cup experience. Sandra Walter, who has been flawless on the Canada Cup circuit this year is also here, as is Wendy Simms, fresh from winning the BC Bike Race earlier this month.

Riders are getting all lined up at the start, and we expect the race to start within the next few minutes.

The course is approximately 6 kilometres long. Conditions have been pretty dry up here, but a big rainstorm blew through yesterday, leaving the trails tacky, and perfect for racing.

And the race has started.

Emily Batty has been riding her for the last few week, and she said she’s done about 20 laps of the course during training. She’s hungry to win her first elite title, but is disappointed that Catharine isn’t here to battle it out.

Batty is fastest through the feed zone, and is now climbing on a zig zag hill. MIkaela Kofman appears to be in second, just a couple of seconds back.

Pendrel had the following to say about racing at nationals. “I love nationals as much or more than any other race I get to do. I think all canadians do. Racing a big race at home gives you the opportunity to rise to the challenge.”

A fan favourite on this course is Boneshaker, a rough, switchback downhill right near the start/finish.

Last week, most of these racers were competing at the Canada Cup in Sudbury, Ontaro. Sandra Walter won the race, continuing what has been a perfect season. Batty was racing, but flatted on the first lap, far away from the tech zone. Once she got a fresh wheel, she was so far back in traffic that she decided to approach the race as a training ride.

Pendrel gave some of her thoughts on the women’s field, and who else should do well here today.

“I think Sandra and Mikaela are on great form right now and motivated so i expect to see them share the podium with Emily, but would never count out riders like Amanda Sin that are always in the mix. All four are looking for a personal best at Nationals. A lot of our young female racers basically started racing when they started riding so there is so much growth and development potential. Mikaela, Frederique, Andreanne-Laterne Nadeau and Rachel are just a few of the promising up and comers.”

On the second pass through the feed zone, Batty continues to lead, and has built up a 20 second advantage over Amanda Sin in second. Andreanne Pichette is in third.

A total of 18 Elite women and 19 U23 riders are on the course this morning.

Who do you think will finish on the podium today?

Hi Dan, the Elite women are doing 5 laps, while the U23 are doing four.

While the ambient temperature is cooler than it has been recently, many of the climbs our out in direct sunlight.

Batty is through Boneshaker, followed by Sandra Walter.

Julie Lafreniere crashed through the Boneshaker, but is continuing.

Passing through the feed zone on the second lap, Batty has opened up a 30 second margin over Walter. Amanda Sin is third, another 10 seconds down.

Andreane Lanthier Nadeau is leading the women’s U23 race, by a small margin.

It’s a great atmosphere here today. You can here fans all over the course, hidden in the hills. Lots of cheering, sort of like surround sound.

Batty is continuing to open up her lead. Walter holding second. If this continues, we should have a good battle for third place.

The riders are heading through boneshaker for the second time.

Amanda Sin is leading Pichette and Kofman in a battle for third place in women’s elite. Kofman is riding in the Ontario jersey, rather than her usual 3Rox kit.

As riders come through the feed zone, many are opting for a “shower.” Essentially a full bottle with no lid, they just douse themselves to help cool off.

Quebec athlete Lanthier Nadeau continues to lead the U23 division, followed closely by Laura Bietola of Ontario.

Batty is on her third lap, passing through the feed zone and picking up a bottle and a gel.

Sandra Walter is holding station at about 40 seconds back.

The battle for third is starting to open up. Amanda Sin has a ten second lead over Pichette and Kofman had to stop for a mechanical.

Checked in with the mechanics, Kofman crashed and had to get her handlebars straightened out. She was charging hard once the repair was complete though.

The challenge for Batty now is to keep her focus as she holds her lead. Without a rival close by, it can sometimes be a challenge.

Pendrel had to face the same issue in 2010. Here’s her memory of what she did.

“In 2010 when Marie-Helene had bronchitis and couldn’t race nationals I was really disappointed. I had been amping myself up for that challenge and thought that without her I would not have as strong of a race. I set myself the challenge of racing the most perfect race I could. To push myself to race my best. It was probably one of the best, most complete races I have ever done. I had to keep myself focused while off the front and my coach was setting time challenges for me to meet every lap. It was fun and really rewarding.”

Margins are continuing to open up. Batty now leads by over a minute, with three laps to go. Walter is second, with a 20 second gap back to third place, Amanda Sin

Sam, we’ve been noting the top few riders in U23. Last time they passed us, Andreane Lanthier Nadeau is leading over Laura Bietola. Which rider were you looking for?

Scratch that, Lanthier Nadeau and Frederique Trudel are side by side in Boneshaker!

I’ll try to get that for you Sam. Standby.

We just caught up with Adam Morka, Batty’s coach. Prior to today’s race, they discussed her approach in event of having a big lead. He told us…

“She has to focus on doing the perfect race. On this course, in the technical sections, it’s important to not try too hard. There are tricky bits and you have to be careful. Some descents in the World Cup, you can kind of turn off your mind and point and shoot, but you can’t do that on this course.”

In U23, the top five appear to be Lanthier Nadeau, Maghalie Rochette, Cayley Brooks, Haley Smith, Laurence Harvey.

Lanthier Nadeau has a lead of about 30 seconds, while the rest of the top five are spread over 15 seconds.

Coming through Boneshaker, Batty has a 1:20 margin over Walter.

Amanda Sin is holding third, with Pichette behind.

Jean Ann Berkenpas of BC is in fifth in women’s elite.

Trudel is leading U23, by a margin of about 30 seconds.

Batty is through the first pass of the feed zone on lap five. A reminder, the elite women are doing six laps.

Sandra Walter is now through, as is Amanda Sin. There’s still a big gap between the two, but Sin is looking stronger heading up the Zig Zag climb.

And a correction, elites are doing five laps, not six.

unofficial U23 results: Trudel, Lanthier Nadeau, Rochette.

We will have comments from the riders following the podium. But first, the men’s elite and U23 races are getting set to start.

The men’s race is underway.

Raphael Gagne is leading the elite field, ahead of Derek Zandstra, Max Plaxton and Geoff Kabush.

Mitchel Bailey is leading Leandre Bouchard in the U23. Jeremy Martin is riding in third.

The men’s Elite field is 43 riders strong, while 42 men are racing in U23.

Cameron Jette has moved into the lead in men’s elite, but it’s all very bunched up right now.

Catharine Pendrel had this to say about the men’s race.

“On the men’s side I think you’ll see Zandstra join Plaxton and Kabush on the podium with Cam Jette and Raphael nipping at their heels. We have a very promising group of u23 guys that if they keep pushing each other to become faster have the potential to be top world cup riders.”

Evan McNeely has moved into third in men’s U23, behind Bailey and Bouchard.

Earlier in the week, we caught up with Kabush who said the following.

“I raced in Canada Cups at Hardwood several times when I was younger but last years event was my first time returning in about ten years. It is really nice to have a big event like Nationals so close to SCOTT-3Rox Racing’s HQ and I’m excited that everyone on the team looks ready to challenge for the jersey.”

Max Plaxton has won the title for the last two years.

“There’s a bit of pressure, but it doesn’t affect me much. The second year, when you have to defend your title, seemed harder.”

With a bunch of short, punchy climbs, and a strong field, it will be interesting to see who can take advantage on the technical course to open up a lead.

Speaking of gaps, Mitch Bailey has opened up a small lead over Bouchard and McNeely. Jeremy Martin and Antoine Caron are a little further back in fourth and fifth.

Coming through the feed zone on the second lap, Kabush put on a big move to take the lead in the men’s elite. Gagne is in second with Plaxton and Zandstra mixing it up for third. Cameron Jette has dropped back a little.

In U23, Bailey has opened his lead while Bouchard and McNeely are right beside each other coming through the feed zone.

With the sun directly above, there’s no shade on teh climbs now, and the temperature has risen as well. Everyone is grabbing shower bottles in the feed zone.

Kabush has opened up a 15 second lead.

Max Plaxton in second, with Zandstra right behind. Gagne and McNeely are starting to drop back from the leaders.

For some of these top guys, it’s been a while since they’ve raced here. Kabush and Plaxton both say it’s been about 10 years.

Meanwhile, in U23, Bailey has continued to build his lead.

Plaxton and Zandstra appear to be gaining on Kabush, slightly. Gap is about 13 seconds.

Jette edges Gagne in the feed zone. They’re in a race of their own, well back from top three, well ahead of the rest.

Bailey is leading U23, about 15 seconds ahead of McNeely.

Kabush is still leading by about 15 seconds. Plaxton and Zandstra battling hard.

Bailey still leading McNeely. Bouchard and Caron are battling for third in U23.

A BOOM in the woods. Someone just flatted!

Coming through the feed zone, Kabush’s lead is down to six seconds. Plaxton is in second, with Zandstra right behind him. If they reel in Kabush, will the Kabush and Zandstra work together? Will we see a sprint finish?

Jette has moved ahead of Gagne, a bike length between the two.

Andrew Watson, riding in seventh, sadly just bobbled his shower bottle. It’s going to be a hot lap in all the wrong ways.

Heading into Boneshaker, Zandstra has taken the lead, with Kabush in second, Plaxton third.

Coming into second pass of the feed zone, Zandstra washes out in a tight pinch zone, blocks Plaxton and Kabush behind. All three get going quickly, but lost momentum.

Some riders are really hurting now. pumping through the climb in the feed zone, with a steeper climb ahead.

Zandstra now leading Kabush by six seconds. Plaxton in third, another six seconds back.

U23 riders are on their final lap, while Elite have one more following their present lap.

Jette still leading Gagne, but it’s close. U23 leader Mitch Bailey has almost caught them, riding sixth overall.

Evan McNeely comfortable in second within U23.

Mercifully, the one lone cloud is blocking the sun.

Zandstra worked his way through lap traffic and has a 30 second advantage over Plaxton and Kabush. Just over a lap left for these guys.

U23 Unoffical results, Mitchell Bailey, Evan McNeely, Antoine Caron

Elite riders are into their first pass through the feed zone on the final lap. Zandstra up by 40 seconds. Just needs to focus and ride clean and he’ll have the title. Plaxton leading Kabush, but barely. Looks like a sprint for second between them.

Zandstra has come through the feed zone for the final time. He’s got over 40 seconds on Kabush, with Plaxton another 10 back. Zandstra has been with 3Rox for a long time. As an Ontario guy, this will be a great win for him and the team. Just has to keep cool to the finish.

unofficial results in men’s elite. Zandstra, Kabush and Plaxton.

thanks very much for joining us today. we hope you enjoyed the coverage. For a full story with quotes, check back later today.