Canadians to Watch at Stellenbosch World Cup XC this Saturday

XC Season gets started in South Africa, here’s the Canadians to keep an eye out for

Terry McKall March 9, 2018

Pendrel - Pendrel was on a mission here on home soil. — Photo: Matt Stetson

Canadian cross country racers are gearing up for an exciting start to the World Cup season this weekend on fast, dry course in Stellenbosch, South Africa. Catharine Pendrel and Emily Batty continue to be Canada’s top ranked racers, but there’s been a steady movement up the rankings from a growing Canadian contingent. Here’s who to watch, and cheer for when the dust starts flying at this weekend’s World Cup season opener.
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Hailey Smith focused and on pace for her best season ever.
Photo: Matt Stetson

Elite Women
Olympic bronze medalist Catharine Pendrel (Cliff Pro Team) and multiple World Cup medalist Emily Batty (Trek Factory Racing) are perennial podium threats any time they take to the start. Both can be counted on to make an appearance at the front of the race this weekend. Haley Smith (Norco Factory Racing) showed impressive improvement last year during her second season in the elite ranks, and is feeling confident and comfortable in the chaotic world of World Cup racing. Smith had a breakout 16th place performance at world championships last season in Cairns, so look for her to carry momentum forward into this year. Cindy Montambault (Trek Racing) and Rebecca Beaumont (Marin Peppermint) will also be in the elite women’s race.
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Peter Disera Raphaël Gagné — Raphaël Gagné took a hard fall on the last lap after riding with Disera for most of the race. Hewas still all smiles covered in dust after finishing second. Photo: John Gibson

Elite Men
After winning the maple leaf jersey at Canadian national championships in Canmore, Alta. last summer, Peter Disera, the elder of Norco Factory Racing’s Disera brothers will be looking to make inroads in the elite ranks this year, starting in Stellenbosch. He’ll be joined by 2016 Olympian, Raphaël Gagné, who will make his first appearance for the new Silverback OMX Pro Team. Gagné, the 2016 Canadian national champion, will no doubt be looking to impress in his first time out in the new team kit. Léandre Bouchard (KMC-Ekoi-SR Suntour), will be looking to build on some strong results from last season, when the Rio Olympian finished 16th at the Albstadt World Cup round. Rounding out the Canadian contingent will be Forward Racing’s Andrew L’Esperance, who improved every World Cup round last year, a trend he’d like to continue into 2018.

With 99 men scheduled to take the start, Canada’s elite men will be battling dust and crowds from the word ”Go.” Look for them to use their technical skills to move forward through Stellenbosch’s multiple A and B line sections.

Quinton Disera on his way to a podium fourth place finish in the U23 category at MSA. Photo: Matt Stetson

U23 Men

Quinton Disera, Norco Factory Racing’s younger Disera brother, will be starting his second year in the U23 field ranked 11th in UCI points. The high position on the start grid should be an advantage when the field hits the many pinch points early in the Stellenbosch course. Along with Disera, a three man squad from Pivot-OTE are in South Africa this weekend. Marc Andre Fortier, Raphael Auclair and Felix Belhumeur have been working together sorting out lines all week. Keep an eye out for the boys in blue to work their way up through the cloud of dust as the race progresses.