Canada’s cross-country titans at the Pan Am Games
Canada's representation at the 2015 Pan Am Games is a who's-who of the nation's cross-country greats. Here's a look at the four riders carrying Canadian colours as the races kick off.
On the morning of Sunday, July 12, the cross-country mountain bike events of the 2015 Pan Am Games begin, happening amid forests far from Toronto in Oro, Ontario. At 10:05, the Women’s XCO Finals event rides out, followed at 2:05 pm by the Men’s XCO Finals. This year, Canada’s representation is a who’s-who of the nation’s cross-country greats.
Here’s a look at the four riders carrying Canadian colours as the races kick off.
MEN
Raphael Gagne
Most recently, 27-year-old Raphael Gagne took first at the US Cup in Colorado Springs. Before that, it was the men’s cross-country competition at the UCI World Cup in Albstadt, Germany, where Gagne finished 22nd in general classification. A week earlier, he finished the cross-country event at the UCI World Cup in Nove Mesto na Norave, Czech Republic, with an overall finish of 26. Competitions on soil closer to home, it seems, are those where the Canadian rider performs the strongest, having added a first place to his record at the UCI Junior Series XCO event of the Canada Cup in Mont Tremblant, on May 17, and a second place finish at the US Cup Bonelli Park. Gagne is currently 36th in UCI rankings.
Derek Zandstra
Born in 1984, Derek Zandstra knows the terrain of Ontario’s back country, the site of Sunday’s race, particularly well. On June 14, Zandstra competed at the Trek Store Canada Cup + UCI Junior Series XCO event, where he finished first. Shortly thereafter, on June 27, Zandstra finished 5th at the US Cup in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Throughout this year, Zandstra has managed to stay in the single digits of classification, also ranking 4th at the US Cup Bonelli Park + UCI Junior Series XCO in April, 5th at the American Continental Championships in Colombia, and 7th at the Bonelli Park US Cup in March. Currently 34th in UCI rankings, Zandstra rides for Scott-3Rox Racing.
WOMEN
Emily Batty
Born in 1988, Batty has made headlines throughout her career in cross-country competition. Most recently, she finished 7th in women’s Elite race at the Lenzerheide, Switzerland XCO World Cup, took first at the Trek Store Canada Cup + UCI Junior Series XCO race, 4th at the UCI World Cup in Albstadt, Germany, and first at the Canada Cup + UCI Junior Series XCO race in Mont Tremblant, Quebec. In past years, other career highlights include a Canadian National Championship in 2013, placing 3rd at the 2013 Val Di Sole Italy World Cup, and representing Canada at the 2012 Olympics in London. Sitting at 7th in UCI rankings, Batty currently rides for the Trek Factory Racing Mountain Bike Team.
Catherine Pendrel
Born in 1980, Catherine Pendrel has had a season that reflects her competitive experience. Beginning in March with a second-place finish in the women’s elite category at the US Cup Bonelli Park in San Dimas, Calif., Pendrel’s cross-country season in has yet to sink below a score of 5. After the US Cup Bonelli Park, she went on the following week to the US Cup Fontana + UCI Junior Series XCO event in Fontana City, Calif., again placing second, with the same result on April 11 at the US Cup Bonelli Park + UCI Junior Series XCO competition. Pendrel has placed first in the Elite category a couple of times: first at the US Cup Sea Otter on April 18 and again in Colorado Springs on June 27. On July 5, Pendrel placed third at the third installment of the UCI Cross-Country World Cup in Lenzerheide, Switzerland. Pendrel currently rides for Luna Pro Team, and is 2nd in UCI rankings.
