Mixed Canadian fortunes at final day of Worlds
Things looked good for Canadian Steve Smith heading into the men’s downhill mountain bike race at the 2013 World Championships. Smith had set the fastest time in qualifying, but at the start of his race-day run, he crashed. Knowing he had no shot at the world title, Smith got up, and rode down the course, focusing on fun more than speed. Smith finished 63rd overall.
Tried to punish my self by pedalling this rig up hills after that pathetic performance. Too bad it… http://t.co/Pcz4Fnbzyb
— Steve smith (@stevesmithDH) September 1, 2013
Greg Minnar won the 2013 title in front of a home crowd. Australian Michael Hannah was just 0.4 seconds back to take the silver medal. Australian Jared Graves finished third.
The top Canadian in the men’s race was Sidney Slotegraaf, followed by Forrest Riesco in 44th and 45th respectively.
The Canadian women fared far better than the men. Casey Brown finished eighth overall, 18.5 seconds back from winner Rachel Atherton. The result is especially sweet for Brown, who broke her collarbone in mid July, preventing her from defending her 2012 Canadian title.
Went for a dip in the warm Indian Ocean today in Durban, on my way to Cape Town tomorrow, thanks… http://t.co/hrxojy6Zo8
— Casey Jayne Brown (@CaseyJayneBrown) September 2, 2013
Fellow Canadian Micayla Gatto claimed the final top ten spot a further 2.5 seconds back. Lauren Rosser finished 13th overall.
France’s Emmeline Ragot finished second overall in the women’s race, while Tracey Hannah rode to third place, her first race back from a broken collarbone.
Raphael Gagné top ten in Worlds Eliminator
New to the World Championships for 2013 is the cross country eliminator race. Using a heat format, top riders advance through the competition by finishing in the top two of any elimination heat, with the final four riders racing for the overall title.
Canadian Raphael Gagné posted the best result from the Canuck contingent, advancing all the way to the semi finals before dropping to the small final, where he and three others would race for fifth through eighth overall.
Gagné finished third in the small final to claim seventh place overall. Léandre Bouchard finished 14th overall. Geoff Kabush and Max Plaxton did not advance from the first heat.
Andreanne Pichette finished 17th in the women’s eliminator, marking the top Canadian result. U23 rider Laura Bietola and Junior racer Rachel Pageau took 21st and 24th respectively.
