Emily Batty battles to second in wild World Cup finals

After a wild hour and a half race, Emily Batty added another second place finish to her incredible World Cup season on Sunday in La Bresse, France.

The only rider ahead of Batty at the finish line was reigning world champion, Jolanda Neff. The Swiss phenom had fought through two flat tires to make her way back to the front of the race. With a win and a World Cup title on the line, it wasn’t until Neff pushed to the point of complete exhaustion to finish the final World Cup of the season in first. For her effort, Neff earned her third World Cup series title.

It wasn’t until the final metres before the finish that the Canadian’s result looked secure, though. Heavy rain on Saturday had made the already technical course treacherous in places, and impossible to ride in others. In the four-way battle for the win with Batty were Jolanda Neff and Annika Langvad. Two of the brightest stars in cross country racing were in their own private battle for the World Cup champion title. Every position at the finish crucial to deciding who would be the 2018 World Cup champion, forcing both to fight to hold on to the front of the race all day. In the end, it wouldn’t be Langvad’s day. The Dane fought all race, but finished third in La Bresse.

Batty was on her own mission to capture her first World Cup win. After a steady string of podium placings and seconds, the Canadian was once again in position to take the elusive win.

RELATED: Schurter seizes World Cup win number 30 in La Bresse

Pauline Ferrand-Prevot, the fourth rider contesting for the win all race, had her own motivation. The former world champion was racing for the French crowd, just miles away from her home town. Ferrand-Prevot had been on the podium already this year, and was looking to step back on the top step at her home World Cup. In the end, the French rider brought home fourth for a massive, and very appreciative home crowd.

With so much on the line, and course conditions adding to the challenge, La Bresse was destined to be an all out brawl.

Canadians show strong results going into Lenzerheide world championships

Emily Batty’s incredible battle for second wasn’t the only great Canadian result in La Bresse. Haley Smith added another top-15 finish to her breakout World Cup season, racing to 13th in La Bresse. That follows her first ever top-10 result, when the Norco Factory Team racer earned eighth in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Quebec.

RELATED: Under-23 Results: Fincham 17th at La Bresse World Cup finals

Catharine Pendrel (Clif Pro Team) showed more progress in her second race back, finishing eights second behind Smith for 15th in France. The Canadian Olympian has made a quick recovery from a broken arm sustained during mid-season training at home in Kamloops, B.C.. Her results in La Bresse show she has the potential to be even farther forward in the field when world championships land in Lenzerheide, Switzerland in two weeks.

After several top-20 performances this year, Liv Canada’s Sandra Walter was 35th at La Bresse, and Cindy Montambault (Trek) 45th.

A wild ride: World Cup finals – La Bresse, France

With so much on the line and a series of close races leading into finals, La Bresse promised to be an exciting race. What unfolded over the next hour and a half was one of the most exciting World Cup races in recent memory. Constant lead changes, tight racing, a finals worthy course, and a fair bit of luck all contributed to six action packed laps of racing.

As expected, Jolanda Neff (Kross Racing) jumped out to a lead off the start. In place of the usual start loop, racers headed out onto two shorter laps followed by four full laps of the La Bresse track.

The course immediately swung up into a long, steep climb. With a massive crowd of French fans lining the course, Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Canyon Facotry Racing) quickly made her appearance at the front of the race. Emily Batty (Trek Factory Racing) sat just behind the front row, steadily working up through the field over the course of the climb. Neff crested over the top first, followed by Alessandra Keller (Ghost RN Racing), Ferrand-Prevot, then Batty in fourth. Annika Langvad (Specialized) had fallen back to seventh.

Neff’s fast start proved wise. The race entered the woods, which had turned into a muddy mess after the previous days rain. With a clear track in front of her, Swiss star quickly opened up a gap. Batty was held up as second place onward were forced off their bike to run much of the following rocky descent.

Half way through the first lap, Neff looked like she had blown the race apart. The technical, steep course seemed tailor made to suit her skills. Ferrand-Prevot and Keller chased, with a small gap back to Batty, and a huge gap back to fifth.

Just 2.7km into the race, Neff had opened a 31 second advantage over her chasing trio. Langvad was 51 seconds back, fighting not to lose contact with her chance at stealing the World Cup title from Neff.

La Bresse Lap 2 – Langvad rejoins the race, Neff’s luck runs out

Starting lap two, Langvad had caught the tail end of the chase group, bringing Anne Tauber (CST American Eagle) with her to form a five rider chase group, 29 seconds behind Neff. Haley Smith (Norco Factory Team) crossed the line in 13th at the end of one lap.

Knowing her chance at win was disappearing up the road, Langvad wasn’t waiting around. She quickly moved to the front, splitting the group of five on the opening climb. Only Batty could immediately respond to her acceleration. Any ground the Dane made up to Neff evaporated as the race turned back into the woods. Neff rode away, while Langvad ran through the rocks. Batty was collateral damage, forced off the bike with no room to pass Langvad who, with a potential title on the line, was not conceding any ground to the Canadian.

Batty finally found space to pass when Langvad opted for a B-Line around a steep, log staircase. Meanwhile, Neff had pulled off to in the tech zone with a flat rear tire. The change was slow, and Batty, Langvad, Ferrand-Prevot, Keller and Tauber all rode by as the Neff stood waiting. Batty took her first lead of the race, with Neff 22 seconds behind.

Half a lap later, Tauber suffered her own flat. The change was much quicker, but the Dutch rider still reentered the course behind Keller and Neff, back in fifth.

La Bresse Lap 3 – Langvad Attacks, as do flat tires

Entering the full lap for the first time, and sensing her chance to steal the World Cup title Langvad attacked on the first climb. Behind, Neff had caught Keller and was chasing Ferrand-Prevot. To hold onto her points lead, Neff could finish no worse than third should the Dane hold her advantage to the finish.

Langvad looked considerable smoother entering the woods than on the first two laps, but Batty was still close behind. Neff ran past Ferrand-Prevot on an unridably steep pitch, back into third and into a World Cup winning position. With her unparalleled descending skills, Neff caught Batty as the pair exited the woods. Feeling the pressure from the Swiss rider, the Canadian had a close call down the same muddy log staircase where she’d passed Langavd a lap earlier. Unclipping, then hitting a rock, Batty narrowly saved a bit over-the-bars. She recovered quickly, to catch Neffs wheel, and resume the chase.

At the next time check, Langvad held 18 seconds over the chasing duo. Neff had made up 20 seconds in under a lap since her flat tire.

Further back, Maja Wlosxcxowska had also suffered a flat. Smith and Catharine Pendrel (Clif Pro Team) both rode by while the Polish rider waited for a change. Bad news for the Kross rider, but for Batty it was one less rider in the four-way fight for third overall, with Keller and Tauber.

Batty had other goals on her mind than the overall, though. She had attacked Neff on the final climb before the lap point. Ferrand-Prevot wasn’t done either, and had closed the gap to the chasing pair. She soon passed Neff as well, who was struggling to control a flat front tire. Her second flat of the race, and a dangerous one on the descent to the tech zone.

If there’s such a thing as good timing for a flat, Neff had found it. As Neff entered the pits, Langvad was just leaving, having sufffered a flat of her own. Neff looked emotionally drained by her luck as her coaches tried to update her on the race situation. Ferrand-Prevot and Batty, though, had gone off the front.

Lap 4 – Batty in the lead.

Starting the second half of an action packed race, Batty had eight seconds over Ferrand-Prevot. Keller sat third, with Langvad at 28s in fourth, and Neff in fifth at 48s.

The Dane was looking strong, though. By the end of the opening climb, Langvad had caught and passed Ferrand-Prevot to retake second. The effort had to be costing her, but only Batter remained out front, with Ferrand-Prevot holding her wheel behind in third.

Through the technical woods section, Batty extended her lead. Langvad continued to struggle on the slippery descent, holding up Ferrand-Prevot until the French woman could repeat Batty’s pass down the log staircase. Langvad continued to ride the B-line.

La Bresse Lap 5 – Langvad attacks, again.

Starting the penultimate lap, Langvad was back within six seconds and closing hard on Batty. Neff was back to within 24 seconds.

As before, Langvad was flying up the opening climb. She passed Batty to take the lead, but the Canadian stayed glued to the Dane’s wheel.

The race entered the woods again, and Langvad’s struggle against the technical section got worse. Again, she was not letting Batty past, and it was costing the Canadian more than the lead. Ferrand-Prevot and Neff both rejoined the front of the race.

Langvad finally ran out of ways to block Batty, who re-assumed the race lead. Ferrand-prevot and Neff soon followed, passing again on the log staircase. With one climb left to go before the final lap, the race was all together again.

Ferrand-Prevot attacks up a short climb, bringing Neff with her around Batty. Langvad struggled to close the gap.

It briefly looked like the Dane would hold contact, but it wouldn’t last. The Dane appeared to be completely done, quickly letting out an 11 second gap between the top of the climb and the finish line.

La Bresse Final lap – all together again

The leading trio traded leads several times over the course of the opening climb. Ferrand-Prevot buoyed by the huge French crowd, Batty chasing her first World Cup win, and Neff set on her third World Cup title.

On the second climbs the leaders spread across the gravel climb, three across trying to gain the lead. As the road narrowed, it was Batty and world champion Jolanda Neff shoulder to shoulder. The course narrowed again and Neff, inches ahead of the Canadian, moved into the lead. Langvad, finding another reserve of energy, just barely passes Ferrand-Prevot for third.

Going back into the woods, Langvad attempted to pass Batty. Knowing the Dane had struggled in that section ever lap, Batty was fighting hard to hold position, and the two clashed bars. Langvad was in front, briefly, before Batty found a way to pass. Neff, though, had already created a gap over Batty, then Langvad and Ferrand-Prevot.

As expected, the gap proved decisive. Neff opened space between herself and Batty. Behind, a huge gap had appeared to Langvad and, stuck behind her, Ferrand-Prevot.

With just one small climb remaining before the finish Neff had a seven second lead over a hard charging Batty. Ferrand-Prevot and Langvad were now 30 seconds behind.

Batty is chased hard all the way to the line, but it was Neff that crossed first. Fighting through two flat tires, the second of which seemed especially emotionally draining, Neff has won a wild World Cup final and the World Cup overall championship. Batty crosses second, taking another second place finish and third overall in the World Cup. Exhausted from her effort, Neff collapsed off her bike in the finish area.

Langvad has passed Ferrand-Prevot again to take third. The French woman still celebrating her fourth place in front of the home crowd.

Keller arrived a short time later to claim fifth. The Under-23 rider had landed another podium result before having to drop back down to race her age category at home in Switzerland in two weeks.