A big day of hunting wins for the Canadians at Epic Israel

Stage 2 brings podiums, leaders jerseys and more grueling hard racing

Terry McKall September 27, 2019

It was an especially epic day for Canadians at the 2019 Migdal Epic Israel on Friday, with two pairs of Canucks ending on the days podium.

“Today was incredible because we had the chance to put forth a tremendous effort from the front of the race rather than chasing like we did yesterday,” said Canadian national champion Peter Disera, who ended the day in second with teammate Andrew L’Esperance. It was a unique experience racing with a helicopter around our heads all day and holding onto the lead for as long as we did. Hats off to the German team of Max and Georg, they have dominated this week and to come back from a mechanical to win the stage as they did to day was inhuman. Andrew and I gave all that we had and with tomorrow, Stage 3, being the final day we look forward to going hunting even more!”

More tough race conditions on Stage 2, this time with the live-feed helicopter circling above. Photo: SportPhotography / Epic Israel

Haley Smith and Catharine Pendrel, racing for Fast and Female, won the third day of racing. The pair, who raced together to great success last year at the Swiss Epic, continue to build steam at the four day Epic Israel. With Friday’s win, Pendrel and Smith move into the leaders jerseys, with just one day to go.

“The plan today was to put ourselves at the front from the start and put the pressure on early by attacking on the first climb. That set us up for the rest of the day,” Smith said after the race. “It put us in a strong position, and from there we just pushed on each climb, recovered on the downhills and made sure that we had enough left for the flat run in.”

Sandra Walter and Cindy Montambault, the second Canadian team in the pro women’s race, finished in fourth on the day.

It was a great day for Andrew L’Esperance and Peter Disera, as well. The pair quickly got in a breakaway with the GC leaders Max Brandl and Georg Egger, who come into 2019 as the defending Epic Israel winners.

When Brandl and Egger flatted on a descent, the Norco Factory Team duo found themselves alone on the front. “Lespy and I punched it and put as much space between them and us before hitting the long 20km flat section to the finish,” said Disera of the unexpected good fortune. After struggling with mechanicals on Stage 1, the Canadians efforts to stay in the race were paying off.

The defending champs weren’t quite ready to let go, though. Having recovered from the flat, Brandl and Egger slipped by the Canadians at the 7 km to go mark.

“As discouraging as it was we also knew that today was a huge break on GC for us and we drove it as hard as we could to the finish,” Disera said. “Finishing 2nd on today’s stage felt amazing and currently we sit in 5th in GC. Not too bad for all the trouble we went through in Stage 1.”

With one day of racing remaining, the pair will look to keep moving up the leader board, as well as chase another stage podium.

It’s L’Esperance’s second year at the Epic Israel, having raced the event last year with Raphael Gagne. The stage racing experienced paid off for the Norco Factory Racing team on Friday.

“Everyday is a new day at a stage race, you carry over tired legs and tired bodies but you get a fresh start. We went into stage 2, day 3 of Epic Israel hopefully we could put yesterday’s bad luck behind and see what we could do in the day,” L’Esperance said after Stage 2. “As it happened, on the first major climb, we were in the right spot, well positioned and had the legs and the fight to go with the race leaders. Through the first feedzone we we together riding well with the Germans before we took over in one of the single track descents and they suffered a tire puncture. So now we were off the front alone and leading the race, that was pretty fun. Pete and I worked really well together and had a blast riding the single track fast and blind. We worked hard to hold the lead all day but recently got caught with about 7 km to go. We finished second on the day and are super happy with our ride. We moves up well on GC, had a good time (and a hard time!) And are hoping to get another fresh start tomorrow to see what we can do.”

2019 Epic Israel – Stage 2 highlights

2019 Migdal Epic Israel – Stage 2

Pro Men

1. Georg Egger / Maximilian Brandl (GER) 3:33:54
2. Andrew L’Esperance / Peter Disera (CAN) +0:52
3. Karl Markt / Gregor Raggl (AUT) +4:08

Pro Women

1. Haley Smith / Catharine Pendrel (CAN) 4:12:10
2. Jovana Crnogorac / Sophie Von Berswordt-Wallrabe (SRB / NED) +4:38
3. Chloe Woodruff / Erin Huck (USA) +13:29
4. Cindy Montambault / Sandra Walter (CAN) +17:05

Full Results: 2019 Migdal Epic Israel Stage 2 – Sept 26, 2019

Provisional Overall Classifications (at end of Stage 2):

Men
1. Georg Egger / Maximilian Brandl (GER) 8:03:50
2. Karl Markt / Gregor Raggl (AUT) +6:33
3. Basil Allard / Antoine Philipp (FRA) +12:03
5. Andrew L’Esperance / Peter Disera (CAN) +

Women
1. Haley Smith / Catharine Pendrel (CAN) 9:38:40
2. Chloe Woodruff / Erin Huck (USA) +15:02
3. Sofia Gomez-Villafañe / Rose Grant (ARG / USA) +18:33