Home > News

Catharine Pendrel finishes 2014 World Cup ranked second

August 26, 2014
Share on SMS

Canadian Catharine Pendrel closed out her 2014 World Cup season with a fourth place finish at the final event, in Meribel, France. The result was enough to preserve the second place ranking of LUNA racer Pendrel in the points standings, despite missing the first part of the season due to injury.

The World Cup season closed out much the way it began, with Liv/Giant rider Jolanda Neff leading the final race from start to finish. Neff had already mathematically clinched the World Cup title before the start of the final event.

Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa and Pauline Ferrand Prevot were nearly half a minute back from Neff heading into the second lap, while Maja Wloszczowska and Pendrel formed a second chasing duo five seconds further back.

Pendrel bridged up to join Dahle Flesjaa and Prevot, but couldn’t match the pace and dropped back to finish fourth overall.

Emily Batty finished just off the podium in sixth place, securing a fourth spot ranking in the World Cup points tally. The Trek Factory Racing rider struggled at two European World Cups, but her focus on consistency was rewarded with strong results through the rest of the season.

The World Cup finals featured a very deep field in the women’s race as riders prepare for the World Championships taking place in two weeks.

Maghalie Rochette finished 14th in the U23 women’s race, marking the best performance by a Canadian.

The men’s race came down to a battle between Nino Schurter of Scott-ODLO and BMC’s Julien Absalon. Each had managed three wins prior to the finals in Meribel.

As has become his pattern, Schurter started out by quickly taking the lead. Absalon was part of a six-man chase group, with only Cannondale rider Manuel Fumic able to match the Frenchman in the pursuit of Schurter.

Schurter crossed the finish line alone for his 14th World Cup victory. Absalon finished second, just 13 seconds back, having dropped Fumic, who in turn finished third.

Lukas Flückiger finished fourth, ahead of Gerhard Kerschbaumer.

No Canadians took part in the men’s race. Raphael Gagne finished out the season as the top ranked Canadian in the men’s points standings, in 31st place. Geoff Kabush finished 36th overall.

Fans of World Cup racing were stunned by the death of Annefleur Kalvenhaar following a crash in the Eliminator qualifying rounds. Kalvenhaar was rushed to hospital with head injuries, and passed away the next day.

Although not yet a household name worldwide, the 20 year-old was the European U23 cyclocross champion. She had also won the U23 mountain bike title in her home country, the Netherlands.

Categories: News |