Pendrel on podium at the mountain bike World Cup in the Czech Republic
Catharine Pendrel proved to be in excellent form in her 2014 mountain bike World Cup debut at the race in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic. The Luna team racer finished in second place at the third round of the World Cup calendar.
Can’t quite describe how good it feels to be back on the World Cup podium! @lunaproteam @CanMTBcycling thanks for the cheers!
— Catharine Pendrel (@cpendrel) May 25, 2014
Pendrel missed the first two World Cup races of the season owing to a broken collarbone suffered in a crash earlier this year. “Mentally, this result was huge for me,” said Pendrel. “It was a confirmation of my form, training and ability to lead at an international level again. It is easy to doubt yourself when you have been out of the game or had some crashes or tough races, but I made a point of…clearing the mental clutter before I lined up and just focused on staying in every moment of the race knowing I had prepared hard to be fit here.” French rider Pauline Ferrand Prevot of Liv Pro XC took an early lead and went untouched, winning the race by more than two minutes. Despite a poor start position due to her absence from the first two events, Pendrel fought up through the field and was riding in fourth after two laps. One lap later, Pendrel had moved past Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesja (Norway/Multivan Merida Biking Team) to take over second place. “It was a fast start and I didn’t move up as quickly as desired,” said Pendrel. “I made positions moving to 15th, but lost over 50 seconds to the lead group by the end of the start loop due to single track congestion.” Canadian Emily Batty struggled to recover from a bad start, dropping as far back as 20th position before finishing 18th.
The bad days make the good ones twice as rewarding. Prepared well, executed the race well, just an off day. #nohiding
— Emily Batty (@emilybatty) May 25, 2014
Mikaela Kofman finished 36th while Andréanne Pichette finished 59th.
Nino Schurter (Switzerland) dominated the men’s race wearing his 2013 world champion kit. Nove Mesto marks Schurter’s return to the World Cup, having missed the race in Cairns, Australia. The Scott rider dabbled in road racing earlier this season, and has entered the mountain bike season on full form to win his 11th career World Cup race.
“It’s an awesome place, the spectators are so cool here,” said Schuter, who has won in Nove Mesto for the past three years. “My plan was to start fast because [Julien] Absalon [France/BMC]is always struggling then. Mid-race I was not feeling that good. I just gave my best and made it to the finish.”
“Tour de Romandie was a good experience, and was good for my motivation and training,” said Schurter, about his road racing experience.
Schurter quickly fought back from a poor start position to move into the lead by the end of the first lap. Martin Fanger (Switzerland/BMC) worked through the field to take over the lead on lap four. Fanger suffered a flat tire, relinquishing the lead and finishing 14th overall.
Stéphane Tempier (France/BH-Suntour-KMC) and Moritz Milatz (Germany/BMC) finished second and third, respectively. Dan McConnell (Australia/Trek Factory Racing) bettered Absalon in a sprint to the finish to take fourth place by just a second. Absalon retained the points lead overall in the World Cup standings.
Raphael Gagné was the top Canadian rider, finishing 23rd. Geoff Kabush and Derek Zandsrtra (Scott-3Rox Racing) both experienced a frustrating race, finishing 49th and 99th overall.
Another Canadian highlight of the weekend was the seventh place finish of Andréane Lanthier-Nadeau during the eliminator cross country races that opened the weekend. Riding in a Team Canada jersey, Lanthier-Nadeau advanced to the semifinals, where she finished third, and was slotted into the small final heat.
Lanthier-Nadeau placed third in the small final, earning a seventh position overall.
“I used what I learnt from last year and played it more strategically during the heats. It paid off really well, plus it was awesome to have Rachel [Pageau] with me during the first two heats. Our teamwork made it easier for me to work my way into the finals,” said Lanthier-Nadeau.
Pageau finished 12th overall. Andréanne Pichette finished 11th in the eliminator.
Léandre Bouchard was the only Canadian to advance in the men’s eliminator, finishing 23rd. A day later, Bouchard finished fifth in the men’s under-23 cross country race.
“I am very thrilled about the fifth place. I raced an impeccable race. The long and large start loop allowed me to position myself in the top 10,” said Bouchard. “That race had to be the best in my life. The fact that it is in Europe makes me even happier.”
