Catharine Pendrel second, Emily Batty fifth at Mont-Sainte-Anne World Cup
Catharine Pendrel rode to a solid second place at the Mont-Sainte-Anne World Cup cross-country race. The Canadian had a decent start and picked her way through the top 10 to slot into position behind race winner Jolanda Neff.
Pendrel started strongly in the top 15 riders and worked her way through the field.
“I’m really fit right now from Commonwealth and Nationals,” said Pendrel. “I was able to ride that fitness out. I was hoping I would have a little bit more spark.”
Despite her work to cut through the field, Pendrel was unable to reel in Neff, who had more than a minute advantage over the Canadian.
“This confirms my form, because Nationals and Commonwealth were both smaller fields,” said the Luna Team rider. “What I felt in my training and the racing is really the legs that I have. Now the difficult thing will be difficult to balance that out to Worlds.”
Fellow Canadian Emily Batty of Trek Factory Racing worked her way up to third place overall, in a close battle with Specialized racer Lea Davison and Katerina Nash of Luna.
“We were all really redlining that last lap to get those podium spots,” said Batty.
Ultimately, Batty dropped behind both Nash and Davison who finished third and fourth, but hung onto the final podium spot.
“I felt strong out there today,” said Batty. “Racing with Catharine for the Nationals title and the Commonwealth title, I did take second both events. It’s hard to take second, but it’s also a great benchmark.
“Two Canadians on the World Cup podium here at Mont Sainte Anne is awesome. It was an amazing vibe from spectators and fans.”
Sandra Walter scored a career-high World Cup 14th place finish with a consistent ride from start to finish. At the finish, Walter crossed just ten seconds behind Irina Kalentieva, who won an Olympic bronze medal in 2008, and finished fourth at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
“I am really happy with this result. It was a hard race, but it was great to be so close to an Olympic medallist,” said Walter, with a smile. “And ahead of an Olympic champion.”
The champion in question was Julie Bresset, also defending World Champion. Bresset has taken a small break earlier in 2014 to relax and focus on her love of riding. Though off her usual pace, there’s no doubt she’ll be a force to reckon with in the coming years.
Mikaela Kofman finished 26th overall, riding for Scott-3Rox racing.
In the women’s U23 race, Ukrainian rider Yana Belomoina handily beat the rest of the field. Scott riders Margot Moschetti and Jenny Rissveds finished second and third overall.
Norco racer Haley Smith put in a strong ride to finish tenth overall as the top Canadian in the race.
“My fitness dropped off partway through the race, but my technical skills kept things going,” said Smith.
National team coach Dan Proulx explained that Smith had taken a great deal of time to analyze the new technical sections of the course. The effort clearly paid off.
Stoked to ride to 10th at the toughest @UCI_MTBWorldCup I’ve ever raced today at MSA! Big ups to @evanmcneely for 7th! #allstar
— Haley Smith (@hale_smith) August 3, 2014
Just behind Smith was Catharine Fleury, who finished 11th. Rachel Pageau slotted into 13th, while Laura Bietola finished 16th. Laurence Harvey finished 18th.
Canadian U23 women’s champ Frederique Trudel struggled with the pace and finished a lap down.
The next stop on the World Cup tour is Windham, NY, next weekend.
