Pendrel, Kabush repeat as national champs

Both Catharine Pendrel and Geoff Kabush successfully defended their Canadian titles Saturday at the 2010 Mountain Bike Canadian Championships in Canmore, Alberta. In the elite women’s race, Catharine Pendrel, of New Brunswick, dominated by winning with a time of 1:37.41, a lead of five minutes over her closest competitor, Amada Sin, of Collingwood, Ontario. Mical Dyck, of Victoria came third.

“I gave it all because I wanted to show myself I had the form. I have a World Cup next weekend,” said Pendrel. “I wanted to feel things out in the start loop, and then try and go, push as much as I could. I wanted to race this race like I would a World Cup.”

“National Championships are always important. To wear your National Champ jersey is a source of pride. It’s a special race for everyone, no matter what level you are at,” continued Pendrel, the current leader on the UCI MTB World Cup standings.

Notably absent from the women’s elite race was Marie-Hélène Prémont, a seven-time Canadian champion, who decided to rest in order to bounce back from bronchitis before resuming the UCI World Cup tour next week.

The Men’s elite saw a much closer race with Kabush, of Courtney, B.C., winning his seventh-consecutive title. Kabush crossed the finish line at 1:45.15, just 45 seconds in front of second-place Max Plaxton, of Victoria and third place Derek Zandstra of Trenton, Ontario.

“I waited for the right moment to create some separation. In the fourth lap I decided to push over the top of the big climb and put on the pressure and squeeze out some daylight. Then I was able to set in my rhythm,” said Kabush.

“It’s great to be representing Canada around the world. Winning the national title is definitely a goal of mine every season. The younger guys are pushing harder and harder every year, but I hope I get to keep it for a few more years,” Kabush said.

Emily Batty, of Brooklin, Ontario, took her fourth Canadian title in the women’s U-23 category with Mikaela Kofman, of Toronto and Rebecca Beaumont, of Alma, Quebec in third. Jarred Stafford, of Newmarket, Ontario won the men’s U-23 race with Francis Morin, of Magog, Quebec, second and Simon Lalancette, also from Quebec, in third.

Quebec’s Kristina Laforge and Kingston’s Evan McNeely won the junior titles and Amanda Wakeling, of B.C. and Queec’s Antoine Perreault, of Quebec, won the under-17 titles.

The 2010 Mountain Bike Canadian Championships is used by the Canadian Cycling Association as a qualifying event for the selection pool to the Canadian delegation for the 2010 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Mont-Sainte-Anne Aug. 31-Sept. 5.