Fincham finds under-23 World Cup podium in France

Laurie Arseneault, Raphael Auclair crack top-15 at Les Gets cross country

Terry McKall July 15, 2019

After moving his way up the under-23 standings steadily for nearly three seasons, Sean Fincham (Norco Factory Racing) landed his first World Cup podium in Les Gets on Sunday.

The Squamish, B.C. rider was fourth last weekend in Vallnord, Andorra. Fincham was sixth the round before that in Czech Republic.

In Les Gets, Fincham finally got to step onto the podium, finishing third.

It wasn’t the only excellent result in under-23’s, or for Canadians in Les Gets, either. National champion Laurie Arseneault was 14th in the under-23 women’s race, and Raphael Aucliar was 15th behind Fincham. Later on Sunday, Fincham’s fellow Norco Factory Team riders Peter Disera and Haley Smith were within reach of the podium themselves. Both Disera and Smith were sixth in the elite men’s and women’s races.

Fincham was the fastest under-23 Canadian in Les Gets, finishing third behind race winner Vlad Dascalu (Brujula Bike Racing Team) and Maximillian Brandl of Germany.

After cracking the top-5 last week, Sean Fincham finally got what he was after – a podium result!

? for this talented U23 this morning ?? #MBWorldCup pic.twitter.com/8gm3q3iCgP

— Cycling Canada (@CyclingCanada) July 14, 2019

Raphael Auclair (Pivot Cycles-OTE) moved up through the field to finish an impressive 15th in Les Gets. Quinton Disera (Norco Factory Team) was 33rd.

Ronja Eible (Corendon-Circus) won back-to-back under-23 women’s World Cup’s, adding a win in Les Gets to last weekend’s victory in Vallnord. Evie Richards (Tred Factory Racing) was second and Laura Stigger of Austria third.

Laurie Arseneault led the Canadians in 14th. Sophianne Samson followed in 23rd. Mackenzie Myatt, 41st, and Juliette Tetreault, 45th, rounded out the Canadian under-23 entries.