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Pendrel, Gagné claim victory at the first round of the Mountain Bike Canada Cup cross country series

Under blue skies yesterday at Bear Mountain in British Columbia, just outside Victoria, Canada's national mountain biking champions claimed glory at the first round of the 2016 Mountain Bike Canada Cup.

March 6, 2016
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Under blue skies yesterday at Bear Mountain in British Columbia, just outside Victoria, Canada’s national mountain biking champions claimed glory at the first round of the 2016 Mountain Bike Canada Cup.

Riding for Luna Pro Team, Catharine Pendrel won for the women, while Cannondale 360fly presented by Sugoi’s Raphael Gagné prevailed in the men’s race.

Conditions were mostly ideal, with brisk temperatures greeting riders at the start line, but some steady Vancouver Island rainfall before competition kicked off left certain stretches of singletrack muddy, making for a slippery, interesting race. Elsewhere, the course was marked by steady descents punctuated with jumps, a combination of technical and natural terrain that challenged competitors on the mountain bike series’ opening day.

In the women’s competition, Pendrel—a two-time world champion on top of her national title—took the win in 1:29:54, 1:19 ahead of Emily Batty of Trek Factory Racing, who won the 2015 Pan Am championship in Ontario, also in direct competition with Pendrel. This time, the Luna Pro Team rider took an early advantage in the race by putting a gap of close to 20 seconds between herself and Batty, a lead she was able to maintain for the rest of the race. In third place was Erin Huck of the United States, riding for Scott-3Rox.

“The course was physically challenging and the slick conditions added to the technical element,” Pendrel told Canadian Cycling Magazine after competition was done and dusted. “I think everyone enjoyed the course and the great atmosphere created by having so many locals out to watch and cheer us on. I felt really strong in my race and I’m already looking forward to the next one.”

In contrast with the steady lead Pendrel held in the women’s race, the men’s race, on the other hand, was a much closer battle.

Gagné, Derek Zandstra of Scott-3Riox and Leandre Bouchard of Cyclone d’Alma formed that lead group, with Gagné at its head for much of the race, Zandstra on his wheel and Bouchard on Zandstra’s. Mechanical issues relegated Zandstra to third place, but before long, he had caught up with Bouchard once again, with both riders narrowing the daylight between themselves and Gagné to less than nine seconds. At the finish, the Ontario rider pulled ahead to finish in second, three seconds behind Gagné’s time of 1:31:06. Bouchard finished third, four seconds behind Gagné, while Evan McNeely of Norco Factory Team rolled in fourth.

For all riders, a big highlight of the day was the Bear Mountain venue of competition, which also hosted the gala later in the evening.

“Bear Mountain hosted a fantastic event,” Pendrel told Canadian Cycling Magazine. “After a week of rain, the sun came out and the racers were all smiles. They really did do a great job and are keen to do a lot more. I am hoping they host our 2017 Nationals.”

The Junior men’s and women’s races, meanwhile, went to Quinton Disera of Team Ontario/Angry Johnny’s and Emily Handford of Rocky Mountain Factory. Round two of the Canada Cup Mountain Bike Series kicks off along with the first round of downhill competition at Mont Tremblant, May 22 to 23.

Mountain Bike Canada Cup, Round #1: Cross country

Elite men
1) Raphael Gagné (QC) Cannondale 360Fly p/b Sugoi (1:31:06)
2) Derek Zandstra (ON) Scott 3Rox Racing (1:31:09)
3) Léandre Bouchard (QC) Cyclone d’Alma (1:31:10)

Junior (17-18) expert men
1) Quinton Disera (ON) Team Ontario / Angry Johnny’s CC (1:21:33)
2) Sean Fincham (BC) Cycling BC (1:23:34)
3) Max McCulloch (BC) Rumble Mountain CC (1:25:17)

Elite women
1) Catharine Pendrel (BC) Luna Pro Team (1:29:54)
2) Emily Batty (ON) Trek Factory Racing (1:19)
3) Erin Huck (CO) Scott 3Rox Racing (2:15)

Junior (17-18) expert women
1 Emily Handford (BC) Rocky Mountain Factory Team (1:17:54)
2 Sidney McGill (AB) Juventus (1:23)
3 Juliette Tétreault (QC) Équipe Du Québec / Skinouk-VDM (2:42)