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Catharine Pendrel clinches fifth Canadian XCO title

July 19, 2014
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Catharine Pendrel leads Emily Batty at the 2014 Canadian XCO Championships (Nikola Novak/Nikpix.ca)
Catharine Pendrel leads Emily Batty at the 2014 Canadian XCO Championships (Nikola Novak/Nikpix.ca)

Team Luna racer Catharine Pendrel won a career-fifth Canadian XCO Mountain Bike Championship in the elite women’s race at Hardwood Ski and Bike, north of Barrie, Ontario on Saturday. Pendrel finished in a time of one hour, 34 minutes, 28 seconds.

“I like to ride off the front and dictate the pace,” said Catharine. “I knew she was still feeling pretty good, and on the third lap she took over the lead so I followed and rested a bit to get ready to make a move.

“I’ve had some great training, and a lot of racing coming into this. I hope to build on this through Commonwealth Games, teh World Cups and World Championships.”

The race was expected to be a show down between 2013 Canadian champion Emily Batty of Trek Factory Racing and Pendrel, and the race lived up to that expectation.

“I was riding really well and feeling good,” said Batty. “It was certainly a World Cup podium speed today. As much as I wanted to come out and win the national championship again, Catharine is in top form right now. We really pushed each other, so I’m still happy with how I felt – it seems like it would have been a top five finish at a world cup.”

Pendrel, Batty and Canada Cup points leader Sandra Walter of Liv/Giant Canada quickly formed the lead group and began to distance themselves from the rest of the field. Within a couple of laps, Walter dropped back from Pendrel and Batty, slotting into a comfortable third place.

“It was a little bit lonely,” said Walter. “It would have been great to ride with the top two for a while. My plan had been to stick with them to help establish the gap, and then ride my own race.”

Sandra Walter (Nikola Novak/Nikpix.ca)
Sandra Walter (Nikola Novak/Nikpix.ca)

Pendrel continued to set the pace for much of the pace before dropping to second to rest in behind Batty and save herself for a big move. Once Pendrel made her move, Batty was unable to respond, and the Luna rider expanded her advantage all the way to the finish line.

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Emily Batty (Nikola Novak/Nikpix.ca)

Batty had put forward a strong effort and was disappointed to lose out to Pendrel, acknowledging that she had been the one to crack under the speed of the race.

Walter held her position to the finish to pick up the final podium spot.

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2014 Canadian XCO Championship women’s elite podium (Nikola Novak/Nikpix.ca)

Mikaela Kofman of Scott-3Rox finished fourth place, ahead of teammate Amanda Sin in fifth.

The women’s U23 race saw an astonishing performance from Frederique Trudel, riding for Specialized Canada. Trudel struggled early this season, but has come on form at just the right time, winning a fourth consecutive Canadian title.

“I was calm at the starting line. I knew what I had to do, and I was ready for the event. I gave everything I could give,” said Trudel.  “I raced this race for myself. I needed a good race this year. I needed that feeling I felt at the finish line.”

Trudel had been trailing Haley Smith of Trek Canada for most of the race, dropping back nearly 30 seconds from Smith heading into the final lap.

But a huge effort combined with Smith crashing saw the tables turn to Trudel’s advantage. Smith was forced to accept a second place finish.

Catherine Fleury of Cycles d’Alma/Equipe du Quebec finished third.

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