Sea Otter Update: Kabush, Pendrel, Batty podium in short track
Geoff Kabush and Catharine Pendrel finished third in their respective short track races Saturday
Luna rider Catharine Pendrel and Maxxis-Rocky Mountain’s Geoff Kabush each took thirds in the pro short track races at the 20th Annual Sea Otter Classic Saturday while Trek World Racing’s Emily Batty finished fifth.
The men’s and women’s races both had all-star fields of some of the best cross country racers in the world. Luna’s Georgia Gould soloed to victory in the women’s event and Specialized rider Todd Wells took advantage of a late-race bobble on a technical part of the course by teammate Burry Stander to take the win.
That technical section was an off-camber mud pit early in the course and at the bottom of a long hill. Numerous riders went down in the section while others found a workable line and took advantage.
“It basically came down to that mud pit,” said Kabush. “It was a bit of luck of the draw trying to pick a line and make it through. It would have been pretty tactical, but that really just separated everyone. It was best just to have a clear line in front of you so you could ride it.”
Pendrel said she was happy with how she felt in her first major race of the year. “I wasn’t sure if my legs had it, but they felt good. Maybe they didn’t have the top end right now, but I had to take some time off for being sick so I’m happy. This weekend is the opener that’s going to set me up for the rest of the year.”
Emily Batty, who won last year’s short track race, rode most of the race by herself and was happy with the fifth.
“When you’re on your own, it’s pretty tough. It was a good opener for (Sunday) which hopefully will go a little better. It opened the legs quite well, and that’s what we wanted to do,” she said.
Also in the women’s race, Trek Canada’s Mical Dyck finished 10th and in the men’s race, Max Plaxton, from the Shoair-Specialized team was 12th.
With the short track race out of the way, today marks the final day of the Sea Otter Classic at Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway. The schedule wraps up today with the pro men’s and women’s cross country events. The course has been redesigned for this year to be more spectator friendly, but it includes about two kilometres of the race track itself on each lap, which brings team tactics into play. Â Â
“(Sunday) is going to be a difference course. It’s not your typical cross country,” said Kabush. “There are a couple of big teams with lots of guys and I’m kind of by myself, so I’ll have to be attentive if some of the Specialized and Cannondale guys get off the front.”
Pendrel said she’s looking forward to see how things unfold.
“I think the course will be good. We’ll be able to have so many people around that it’s going to be motivating. The course will be good. It’s going to be hard and rough, so I’m sure I’m going to suffer, but it will be good.”
TRAVEL ISSUES
An interesting side story developing here at Sea Otter is the European travel situation. With so many Europeans here for the racing at Sea Otter and dozens of North Americans needing to get to Europe by next weekend for the opening World Cup of the year in Great Britain, the travel restrictions have a lot of people concerned.
“It’s a little worrisome. There’s no positive prognosis yet. If we can’t make it over, it would be good if they could reorient it so it’s after Houffalize (May 1-2). Otherwise the North Americans might have to skip out, which would be a real shame,” said Pendrel.
