Amazing in Androra: Emily Batty 3rd in Vallnord World Cup
Three in top-10 as Canadians climb up the ranks at high elevation Andorra track
Emily Batty’s incredible World Cup run continued on Sunday in Vallnord, Andorra. The Canadian national champion fought back from an early race mechanical to finish third.
Batty’s medal placing makes it three World Cup podiums in a row for Batty who was second last weekend in Val di Sole, and fourth in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic in May.
The Ontario rider wasn’t the only Canadian having a good day at elevation. Haley Smith (Norco Factory Team) had her best ever World Cup result in 13th. After a great result in Friday’s short track XC, Sandra Walter (Liv / Team Canada) kept her speed through the weekend to finish close behind in 17th, landing three Canadian riders inside the top-20 high up in the mountains of Andorra.
Gunn-Rita Flesjå Dahle (Team Merida Gunn-Rita) used her extensive World Cup experience to win Sunday’s race. The Norwegian battled for much of the race with world champion Jolanda Neff (Kross Racing) before accelerating away from the Swiss rider on the penultimate lap.
The victory at the Vallnord round is Dahle’s 30th career World Cup win, becoming only the second rider to pass the 30 win mark. Dahle joins Julien Absalon, who had 33 career World Cup wins, in the exclusive club.
Canadian Women at World Cup cross country Round #5 – Vallnord, Andorra
With her third place finish, Emily Batty (Trek Factory Racing) was the top Canadian finisher in Andorra. Smith and Walter in 13th and 17th landed Canada three Women inside the top-20.
Cindy Montambault (Trek / Team Canada) was next, crossing the line 34th. Pendrel Racing’s Elyse Nieuwold followed close behind in 39th, followed by Catherine Fleury (Team Canada) in 43rd, and Rebecca Beaumont (Peppermint Racing) in 44th. Clif Pro Team’s Maghalie Rochette dropped out of the race after the first lap.
RELATED: Emily Batty and Sandra Walter speedy in Vallnord short track World Cup
Catharine Pendrel (Clif Pro Team) remains sidelined by injury. It is still uncertain when she will be able to return to racing.
Race Report – Women’s World Cup cross country Round #5 – Vallnord, Andorra
Jolanda Neff set her usual furious pace off Sunday’s start, taking the early lead in Vallnord. On her wheel was Specialized Kate Courtney, Maja Wloszczowska (Kross Racing) and Emily Batty in fourth. Sandra Walter crested the top of the opening climb in 11th with Haley Smith close behind in the 12th.
Neff attacked to open a lead through the first technical dissent while Batty worked to get past Courtney, who was unable to match the Swiss riders pace. The Canadian worked her way back up to the leaders wheel, and the two were eventually joined by Anna Tauber (CST Sandd American Eagle) and Courtney.
As the pace settled, the lead group of four became eight, as Annika Langvad (Specialized), Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå, Alessandra Keller (Thomus RN Racing) and Wloszczowska rejoined the front of the race.
Walter was in the third chase group riding for 11th. Smith was close behind in 19th, riding with American Lea Davison (Clif Pro Team)
RELATED: Results: Two Canadians inside top-20 at U23 World Cup in Vallnord
Batty was looking comfortable following the world champion’s wheel on the climbs and on the descents, and was looking well positioned to repeat, or improve on her second place from the previous weekend in Val di Sole, Italy.
Then, on the transition from a rocky downhill to a steep climb, Batty’s chain dropped off her front chainring. Batty remained calm, and fixed the problem quickly, but had lost the front group of six. At the next time check, she was a full 21 seconds back from the leaders.
Up front, Dahle briefly took the race lead from Neff. The younger Swiss rider was intent on setting pace and tried to pass, only to be deftly blocked by the savvy Dahle. The two had opened up a gap to the chasers, but Tauber was closing quickly in third. Neff finally made the pass, and continued her attack on the descent to quickly open up a seven second gap to Dahle.
Batty had moved past Courtney to sit sixth, and was quickly closing in on Wloszczowska and Langvad as the race entered the third lap. Sandra Walter continued to hold steady, sitting in 14th.
Neff led all through the third and fourth lap, with Dahle riding a steady pace behind her. Any time the Swiss rider would open a gap, the experienced Norwegian would slowly close it down. Batty had closed the gap to the chasing duo of Tauber and Wloszczowska. Langvad, who was still feeling the effect of a crash that forced her out of the Val di Sole race just a week earlier, had faded off the front of the race. Not far back, Smith had moved up to join Walter.
As the leading pair approached the start of the fifth lap in the six lap race, Dahle had again worked her way back to Neff’s wheel. This time she didn’t stay there, but surged past the Swiss rider to move to the front of the race.
Behind, Tauber led Batty and last weekend’s race winner, Wloszczowska. The trio were 39 seconds behind the leading pair with two laps to go.
RELATED: Emily Batty shines with silver medal in Val di Sole World Cup XCO
Having waited patiently for the right time to take initiative in the race, Dahle quickly stated opening gaps to Neff. Still riding a steady pace, Dahle looked calm and relaxed on course, while Neff appeared to struggle to limit her losses. In just half a lap, the Merida rider had opened a 20 second lead over the world champion in second.
Batty continued her fight back from the early mechanical, and was now 45 seconds back of Dahle. She had moved to the front of the chasing trio, and her pace was quickly splitting the chase apart. Wloszczowska faded off first, then Tauber drifted back to join her. Further back, Yana Belomoina (CST Sandd American Eagle) had passed Langvad to move into sixth.
At the next time check, Batty had closed to 39 seconds behind Dahle and was now just 16 seconds behind Neff. A repeat of last weekends second place was starting to look possible.
Dahle started the last lap alone, chasing her 30th career World Cup win. 29 seconds behind, Neff had found a second wind, and was holding the gap to Batty at 18 seconds. Another 15 seconds later, Tauber and Wloszczowska crossed the line. Excepting Dahle, the entire podium was was within sight of each other, and all five were riding within a minute of the lead.
While Dahle continued to build on her lead, Batty was working hard to close the gap to Neff in second. The Canadian was attacking every hill and pushing hard on the descents. She had reduced the margin to 11 seconds, but was running out of course to catch the Swiss rider in second. Behind, Anna Tauber had dropped Wloszczowska to make her own bid for a medal position and was riding within sight of Batty.
Gunn-Rita Dahle Fesjå crossed the line comfortably in first to win a record 30th World Cup. Dahle becomes only the second rider, and first Woman to reach 30 wins.
Jolanda Neff held on long enough to finish second, pushing Langvad further back in the series overall standings.
Emily Batty finished third in Vallnord, adding to her podium finishes in the previous two World Cup rounds. Having fought back from the early mechanical, the Canadian showed that she is on form to take her first World Cup win, but it will have to wait until another week. Her next chance comes when the series lands here in Canada for the Mont-Sainte-Anne round in August.
