Nash wins career-first World Cup
Czech mountain biker Katerina Nash won the first World Cup race of her career Saturday in Mont Sainte Anne, Que. The 35 year old Luna Chix rider has finished on the World Cup podium many times, but had never been able to move to the top step of the podium.
“I’m 35 and I finally did it! I’m super excited,” said Nash to Redbull.tv after finishing. “It was hard, but I had a good, clean race and waited for the right moment to attack on the final lap. I got away.”
Nash’s teammate, Canadian Catharine Pendrel, returned to the World Cup circuit in Mont Sainte Anne after taking some time off to nurse a broken collarbone. Despite a slow start and having to battle through traffic, Pendrel moved into the top ten and claimed eighth place.
“I’m pleased that I got around the course and felt pretty normal. I never want to get eighth, I always want to finish on the podium. I thought that was a possibility here, but I didn’t know,” said Pendrel. “I went into this race a little unsure of myself today and not my usual ‘I think I’m going to be on the podium’…. This race was a good opener for me [coming back from injury], and felt very efficient and consistent out there.”
Pendrel finished as the top Canadian in the race. Trek Factory Racing rider Emily Batty was also returning to the World Cup, after a last minute decision to sit out the Andorra World Cup due to illness. Batty finished 10th. Canadian Sandra Walter of the Liv Giant team finished 16th, matching her career best World Cup result.
French mountain bike legend Julian Absalon claimed victory. Absalon and Swiss rider Nino Schurter were battling midway through the race when Schurter suffered a puncture, allowing Absalon to cruise to the finish.
Max Plaxton finished as the top Canadian, in ninth place.
“It was an exciting race. At first, with the shorter course, I was a little disappointed, but it made for some interesting racing. There was a lot of shuffling around, and with that one main climb, it was really tough to get positions,” said Plaxton. “I had a good start, and just moved my way up. I feel like I could have fought for a top five, but I made a few mistakes, and had a crash which kind of disrupted my momentum.”
Geoff Kabush of Scott-3Rox racing finished in 15th. Teammate and Canadian champion Derek Zandstra finished 25th despite a technical problem immediately after the start.
Some Canadians have elected to race the Canada Cup final next week as part of Whistler Crankworx before heading to South Africa for the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships. The World Cup final will take place in Norway to close out the international season.
