World Cup podium for Pendrel
Catharine Pendrel finishes second at MTB world cup in Offenburg
Canadian Catharine Pendrel, of Kamloops, BC, riding for the Luna Pro Team rode to the second place in the cross country race at the 2011 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Offenburg, Germany, her best result of the season. Pendrel was closely followed by Marie-Hélène Prémont of Chateau Richer, QC riding for Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain, who finished fourth. It was the first podium finish of the season for Pendrel, the 2010 World Cup Champion. “I had a great race today. I felt comfortable and fit. It was a tactical race and I’m working hard to improve that aspect of my racing. I’m focused on winning and this race was a good step in the right direction,” Pendrel said. French rider Julie Bresset won the race with a time of 1:28:59. Pendrel was 41 seconds back.
“Catharine, Marie-Hélène and Emily were so strong today. We still have some work to do, but we’re on course to become the strongest women’s national team in the world,” said Dan Proulx, head coach of the Canadian Mountain Bike Team. “Catharine’s ride showed a new level of maturity and composure in terms of tactics and strategy. She’s worked really hard and I think she’ll continue to improve as the season progresses.”
In the elite men’s race, Derek Zandstra finished 26th, making him the top Canadian and top North American. “It was a dusty and fast start. Everyone was really fighting for position. I had a slow leak on my rear wheel in the first lap that required a wheel change, but still managed to get into a good group,” he said. The next cross country race of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup will be held July 2-3 in Canada, at the Mont-Sainte-Anne resort near Québec city.
Elite women
2. PENDREL Catharine (CAN) LUNA PRO TEAM +00:41
4. PREMONT Marie-Hélène (CAN) TEAM MAXXIS – ROCKY MOUNTAIN +01:48
15. BATTY Emily (CAN) SUBARU – TREK +04:18
44. SIN Amanda (CAN) +10:55
48. DYCK Mical (CAN) +11:59
Elite Men
26. ZANDSTRA Derek (CAN) +04:56
68. WATSON Andrew (CAN) +11:10
73. KABUSH Geoff (CAN) TEAM MAXXIS – ROCKY MOUNTAIN +11:54
112. GAGNE Raphael (CAN) -2LAP
