09.08.07 - Mountain bike – world championships - Three Canadians in the top-15

Montreal, September 8, 2007 – Three Canadian riders cracked the top-15 in the women’s cross country race on Saturday at the world mountain bike championships being held at Fort Williams, Scotland.

Quebec’s Marie-Hélène Prémont posted the best result finishing fourth while Catherine Pendrel and Kiara Bisaro, both of B.C., were sixth and 11th respectively.

Irina Kalentieva of Russia won the gold medal completing the four-lap 34.2 kilometre race in one hour and 44 minutes and 08 seconds. Sabine Spitz of Germany was second, 39 seconds behind the winner, and Jingjing Wang of China third 1:42. back.

Prémont, the bronze medallist at last year’s worlds, was 3:16 behind the Russian. Pendrel and Bisaro were respectively 4:11 and 6:23 from the winning time.

‘’It’s my best ever performance at the world championships,’’ said Pendrel, a Kamloops resident. ‘’My goal was a top-10 finish but I was confident I could make the top-five. I was fourth from the middle of the second lap to the start of the fourth lap.’’

Pendrel experienced leg pains on that final lap which dropped her in the standings. She has now competed at four worlds and was 32nd last year.

‘’I’m very pleased with what I’ve accomplished. Fourth would have been great but sixth is good. I’m confident now I can finish in the top-five at the World Cup final next weekend.’’

Canadian men struggle

In the men’s race, Seamus McGrath of Duncan, B.C., was the top Canadian placing 31st. Geoff Kabush and Ricky Federau, also both from B.C., were 50th and 62nd respectively.

Julien Absalon of France successfully defended his world title fending off a charging Ralph Naef of Switzerland. Absalon won by 25 seconds over Naef with Florian Vogel of Switzerland third 54 seconds back.

McGrath was 6:42 behind the winner in the six-lap 51.3 kilometre race.

‘’I’m having an average season. I’ve done better than that. I neared the top-eight at the last Olympics. I had high hopes,’’ said McGrath, ninth in Athens. ‘’My result today is a reflection of my season. I’m now going to focus on next season to be ready for the Beijing Games.’’

‘’I know I can be in the top-10. But based on my results this year I was aiming for a top-15,’’ said McGrath.

McGrath wasn’t able to reach peak condition this season. ‘’I was very ill in March and April. I’m still not fully recovered.’’

Kabush concluded a nightmare week. He suffered a cut on his arm last week in training which required 25 stitches. Then his trip to Scotland was delayed a day when the airplane was damaged due to a fire. Once he landed in Glasgow, the road to Fort Williams was closed and he was forced to make a lengthy detour and only arrived late that night. To make matters worst, the airline lost his training bike and he was forced to borrow one.

With all his bad luck, it seemed a miracle that he completed the first lap in 25th spot.