Catharine Pendrel (Luna Pro Team) of Kamloops, BC, won the 12th Mountain Bike World Cup of her career on Sunday at Mont-Ste-Anne, Quebec, in the Elite Women’s competition. She was joined on the podium by Emily Batty (Trek Factory Racing) of Brooklin, Ontario, who finished third. It is Pendrel’s fourth win at Mont-Ste-Anne, setting a record in the women’s field. Pendrel and Batty will represent Canada at the Olympic Games on August 20th.
Pendrel went to the front of the race on the first lap opening a gap on Norway’s Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa that the 2004 Olympic champion was never able to close. World Cup leader Annika Langvad of Denmark initially joined Dahle Flesjaa in the chase, but could not keep up the pace and was overtaken by Canadian champion Emily Batty in the final lap.
“On this course it’s just super important to get out in front,” said Pendrel. “A lot of people make mistakes in front of you so at least if you make a mistake you’re in control. It was awesome there are so many people out on course … it was amazing out there, trying to keep focused and not get distracted by what was going on.”
“It’s great to be having a consistent season, with top-5s and top 3s,” said Batty. “Having all the Canadian spectators coming out to cheer for us was pretty wild, and help me have a burst of energy towards the end. I’m not starting quite as hard as the rest, but making sure I’m still in contention position. I’ve always been a strong finisher in races.”
Langvad continues to lead the overall standings with 926 points and one race remaining, but her lead over Pendrel has shrunk to 56 points. Czech rider Katerina Nash remains in third at 630 points, with Batty moving up to fourth from seventh, only five points further back.
In other competitions, Canadian champion Derek Zandstra (Scott-3Rox) of Trenton, Ontario, was the top Canadian finisher in the Elite men’s race, finishing in 32nd place. In the Under-23 categories, Canadian men’s champion Peter Disera of Barrie, ontario, was the top finisher in 14th place, and Catherine Fleury of Alma, Quebec, the top Canadian in the women’s race, finished seventh.
Original post by Cycling Canada.