Rochette rides breakthrough race at ‘cross worlds despite ‘horrible start’
Gunnar Holmgren top Canadian in junior men's race
Maghalie Rochette came back from a bad start at the 2017 UCI cyclocross world championships in Bieles, Luxembourg to finish fifth in the elite women’s race won by Sanne Cant of Belgium. The 23-year-old from St-Jerome, Que. had a breakthrough ride managing to make contact at times with the elite lead group that included seven-time world cyclocross champion Marianne Vos of the Netherlands, Katerina Nash of the Czech Republic, Lucinda Brand of the Netherlands and eventual winner Cant.
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“I had a horrible start,” Rochette conceded, “but I just kept paying attention to what was ahead and when there was a crash I was able to get around it and I was able to catch up to the front group. After that I just kept moving forward.”
The conditions on course were treacherous with ice and mud making the many off camber sections, descent and ascents extremely slippery. Mid-race, Cant and Vos hit out from the lead group but Rochette rode a technically strong race finishing 36-seconds down on the winner.
“I had a clean race and didn’t really crash, so it was pretty amazing and I’m really happy,” Rochette said about her breakthrough ride. “Personally, I thought the course was amazing; it was slippery but that was the same for everybody. You just had to keep clean and keep moving. We had similar conditions at nationals so I knew how to race it.”
The Canadian champion went into the race with tempered expectations and kept a cool head throughout. “I didn’t think about it (top-five) and I have a lot of people to thank – my boyfriend and coach, my family, my teammates and cyclocross Canada. I wasn’t expecting it, but I’m super happy and thrilled about it.”
The other Canadians contesting the elite women’s race were Mical Dyck of Victoria who finished 20th and Cindy Montambault of Val-David, Que. who crossed the line in 24th.
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The junior men kicked off the world championships with Gunnar Holmgren or Orillia, Ont. leading the way for the Canadians in 22nd, 4:15 being winner Thomas Pidlock of Great Britain. Brody Sanderson also from Orillia was 25th and Noah Simms of Barrie, Ont. was 46th. Canada’s only representative in the under-23 women’s race was Ruby West of Dundas, Ont. who finished 26th, 6:03 behind Annemarie Worst of the Netherlands.
On Sunday, Jan. 29 the under-23 men and elite men race for championship titles. Jeremy Martin, Mark McConnell and Michael Van den Ham will represent Canada in the elite men’s category and Trevor O’Donnell races with the U23 men.
