Rewind: London 2012 Olympic mountain bike races

Terry McKall August 12, 2020

Today marks eight years since Hadleigh Farm hosted the mountain bike race at the London 2012 Olympics. While there’s no Olympics until 2021, full replays of the exciting men’s and women’s XCO events are here to tide us over.

Catharine Pendrel 2012 Olympic Games XCO — Catharine Pendrel rode into London carrying the weight of expectation after her 2011 world championships win.

Four Canadians lined up to take on the world on August 12, 2012. Geoff Kabush and reigning world champion Catharine Pendrel came in as the team’s veterans. They were joined by the rising stars Max Plaxton and, in her first Olympic appearance, Emily Batty.

Emily Batty 2012 Olympic Games — Emily Batty racing the 2012 Olympic games with a broken collar bone.

Men’s XCO – London 2012 Olympics

Geoff Kabush was riding at the height of his cross country World Cup career. Before you watch the replay, listen to the multi-time Canadian national champ share his thoughts on the race, and Hadleigh Farm course in his pre-Olympic interview with Canadian Cycling Magazine.

Watch: 2012 Men’s Olympic Cross Country Mountain Bike Race – Hadleigh Farms

Kabush would ride to a top-10 in the Men’s XCO race in London. Behind him, Max Plaxton withdrew due to a knee injury after a crash.

While he no longer races XCO, Kabush hasn’t slowed down too much since London. He’s still racing all year, normally, just with a more diverse event calendar including gravel, enduro and stage racing.

Catharine Pendrel London 2012 — Catharine Pendrel on course in London

Women’s XCO – London 2012 Olympics

Catharine Pendrel entered the 2012 Olympics as one of the favorites in the women’s cross country race, and the 2011 world champion. While the Canadian finished in the top-10, race day didn’t go as planned, and didn’t end with a medal.

Pendrel learned from the experience, coming back four years later to win a medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics women’s XCO.

For Emily Batty, it was her first chance at the Olympic dream. Her opportunity was cut short before the race started when, in a crash on course during training, Batty broke her collarbone. Showing Canadian grit and toughness, Batty pushed through to finish the race.

Watch: 2012 Women’s Olympic Cross Country Mountain Bike Race – Hadleigh Farms

Emily Batty during the London 2012 Olympics

Like Pendrel, Batty applied what she learned from London at the next Olympics. Batty was fourth, just seconds behind her fellow Canadian in the women’s XCO race in Rio.