08.30.08 - Canadians Catharine Pendrel and Geoff Kabush win bronze medals at mountain bike World Cup

CANBERRA, Australia – Catharine Pendrel of Kamloops, B.C., and Geoff Kabush of Victoria each won a bronze medal in Saturday’s cross country races at the eighth stop on the World Cup mountain bike circuit.

In the women’s race, Irina Kalentieva of Russia took the gold medal clocking one hour and 39.34 minutes in the 31.6 kilometre race. Rosara Joseph of New Zealand was second, 0.53 seconds behind the winner and Pendrel followed up six seconds later, after riding in second most of the race. She was the sole Canadian entry.

It was Pendrel’s third consecutive podium finish on the World Cup. Her last race was just over a week ago at the Olympic Games where she placed an impressive fourth, only 0.09 seconds from the bronze.

‘’There was some fatigue and I didn’t have my best legs today,’’ said Pendrel. ‘’I rode well and rode hard and I’m happy to have this experience on this course for next year (Canberra hosts the 2009 worlds). It was very demanding and had a lot good technical challenges to it.’’

Pendrel is second in the overall standings with 1,133 points. She won her first World Cup gold at the previous stop early this month in Bromont, Que., and was second at Mont-Ste-Anne, Que. Marie-Hélène Prémont of Chateau-Richer, Que., who skipped this event, is first overall at 1,420 with seven podium finishes including two wins.

‘’I always get faster late in the season’’ said Pendrel. ‘’The more I race the more I learn to race well and achieve that consistency. Plus I go into races knowing I can get a top-three rather than hoping for it.’’

In the men’s race, Ralph Naef of Switzerland won the gold medal in 1:45.28 with Jose Antonio Hermida Ramos of Spain in second 16 seconds behind and Kabush 28 seconds behind the winner for his third World Cup medal this season.

Kabush has now moved into a second place tie in the overall standings with Christoph Sauser of Switzerland both at 945 points behind leader Julien Absalon of France at 1,340 points.

The World Cup final is September 13-14 in Schladming, Austria.