Penultimate round of the XCO Canada Cup sees wins for Walter and L’Esperance
On a course described as rugged and technical, Round 5 of the XCO Canada Cup series hit the soil of Saint-Felicien, Que. on July 23.
On a course described as rugged and technical, Round 5Â of the XCO Canada Cup series hit the soil of Saint-Felicien, Que., on July 23, testing the skill and endurance of riders at a site that’s been host both to the World Cup and the national championships.
For the women, Sandra Walter of Liv-Giant took the win, while it was Norco Factor Team’s Andrew L’Esperance who prevailed in the elite men’s category.
Walter followed up her second-place finish at the previous week’s at the national championships by rounding all five laps of the elite women’s race in the Canada Cup with a time of 1:30:12, putting her one minute and 36 seconds ahead of Haley Smith from Norco Factory Team. Riding for Trek GPL, meanwhile, was Cindy Montambault in third place, 23 seconds back. In other categories, national under-23 champion Catharine Fleury (Cyclone d’Alma) took that division’s top ranking and fourth overall, while Sophianne Samson of Sigma Assurance was the junior expert winner.
In terms of overall classification, with competition at the Rio Olympics on the horizon, Emily Batty of Trek Factory Racing continues to lead the rest of the women’s field with two wins and a silver place finish, despite not starting at Saint-Felicien. Her lead is weaking, though, with only five points separating her 575 total from Montambault. Jena Greaser of the United States, riding for Women’s Pedal Project, is another 10 points behind Batty’s lead.
Riding for CVM de la Gatineau as the top under-23 rider was Florence Dostie-Menard, taking sixth overall. Emily Hanford of Rocky Mountain Factory held her lead in the junior expert category, holding 370 points.
Solid day! https://t.co/MqieHlR0hi
— Andrew L'Esperance (@andrewlespy) July 25, 2016
The six-lap elite men’s competition on the Saint-Felicien dirt saw a dramatic battle play-out between L’Esperance and two of his Norco compatriots, L’Experance took the win with a time of 1:31:27, just a second ahead of Evan Guthrie, who in turn led Evan McNeely by 0:413 of a second—a ranking that left little breathing room between the powerhouse competitors. In overall classification, McNeely, however, maintains a lead with 770 points, owning the field alongside three of his fellow Norco Factory riders: L’Esperance with 710 points, Guthrie with 650 points, and Peter Disera with 565 points. In the junior expert division, Quinton Disera of Team Ontario/Angry Johnny’s p/b Norco & Garneau holds the lead with 385 points.
The Canada Cup XCO series rolls to a finish on Aug. 19, when competition concludes in Whistler, B.C.
