07.09.11 - CATHARINE PENDREL CONTINUES TO EXCEL ON UCI MOUNTAIN BIKE WORLD CUP TOUR

Marie-Hélène Prémont misses podium by just five seconds

(Windham, NY – July 09, 2011) The 2011 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup season continued today with the presentation of the cross-country races for all age categories in Windham, NY, and Catharine Pendrel settled for the second place of the women’s Elite race.

Catherine Pendrel of Kamloops, BC racing with Team Luna Pro was Canada’s top ranked rider in second place of the World Cup standing entering this race. Fresh off a win in last week’s World Cup race in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Québec, Pendrel completed the 28.7-kilometre course in Windham with a time of 1:36:15, 39 seconds off the winning pace of current World Cup leader Julie Bresset of France.

Pendrel stayed with the Bresset for the entire race, and both exchanged the lead throughout the race. In the single last lap, Bresset accelerated the pace to secure her third win of the season and retain her white jersey. Bresset stays atop the World Cup standings with two races to go, and Pendrel is hanging on to her second place.

Marie-Hélène Prémont of Chateau Richer, QC was ranked third in the World Cup standings heading into this World Cup race. Prémont, racing for Maxxis-Rocky Mountain, rode to the 4th place in the gruelling race with a time of 1:37:05, 1:24 off the winning time. Emily Batty of Brooklyn, ON, representing team Subaru-Trek, finished 18th.

In the men’s Elite Race, Goeff Kabush of Courtney, BC racing for Maxxis-Rocky Mountain, finished 18th trailing the winning time by 4:08. Kabush, who had his best result of the season last week in Mont-Sainte-Anne, will now turn towards his preparations for the 2011 Canadian XC Mountain Bike Championships in Canmore, AB next week where he will attempt to defend his title.

Jaroslav Kulhavy of the Czech Republic, the current World Cup leader, went on to win again today, posting a time of 1:35:34. Nino Schurter of Switzerland followed him in second while Christoph Sauser placed third.

In the men’s U23 race, Evan McNeely of Kingston, ON posted the top Canadian results with an 8th place, finishing with a time of 1:27:18. McNeely crossed the finish line with a time deficit of 3:54 over winner Gerhard Kerschbaumer of Italy, the current World Cup leader and white jersey bearer amongst the U23 riders. Mitchell Baily (Barrie, ON) went on to crack the Top 15 with a 14th place, while both Jeremy Martin (Boischatel, QC), 18th, and Léandre Bouchard (Alma, QC), 20th, placed within the Top 20.

Seven Canadian women were competing in the women’s U23 race. Mikaela Hofman of Toronto, ON was the top Canadian rider as she finished sixth, 4:36 behind the winner’s time of 1:21:45. Rebbeca Beaumont (Alma, QC) also cracked the top 10, finishing 9th.

STEVE SMITH QUALIFIED SEVENTH IN DOWNHILL

Yesterday, Canadian rider Steve Smith racing for DeVinci Global Racing qualified in seventh place of the Elite Men downhill qualification race. Canada’s Micayla Gatto was the top Canadian in the women’s qualifying round in 12th position. Miranda Miller ranked 15th while Annie Laplante came 21st. The Downhill finals will be held tomorrow.

The 2011 UCI World Cup continues tomorrow with the presentation of the Elite Downhill races.

RESULTS – CROSS COUNTRY – 2011 UCI MTB WORLD CUP – WINDHAM, NY, USA

All results are found on www.uci.ch

WOMEN ELITE

1. BRESSET, Julie FRA [BH - SUNTOUR - PEISEY VALLANDRY] 1:35:36

2. PENDREL, Catharine CAN [LUNA PRO TEAM] +0:39

3. LANGVAD, Annika DEN +1:24

4. PREMONT, Marie-Helene CAN [TEAM MAXXIS - ROCKY MOUNTAIN] +1:29

18. BATTY, Emily CAN [SUBARU – TREK] +5:55

30. SIN, Amanda CAN +9:03

35. BERKENPAS, Jean Ann CAN +11:42

36. VIPOND, Catherine CAN +11:43

39. WALTER, Sandra CAN +13:44

40. DYCK, Mical CAN +14:27

47. MONTAMBAULT, Cindy CAN +17:15

MEN ELITE

1. KULHAVY, Jaroslav CZE [SPECIALIZED RACING] 1:35:34

2. SCHURTER, Nino SUI [SCOTT - SWISSPOWER MTB - RACING] +0:29

3. SAUSER, Christoph SUI [SPECIALIZED RACING] +0:30

18. KABUSH, Geoff CAN [TEAM MAXXIS - ROCKY MOUNTAIN] +4:18

34. ZANDSTRA, Derek CAN +7:04

48. HADLEY, Matthew CAN +9:46

52. MORKA, Adam CAN +10:20

58. WATSON, Andrew CAN +11:29

59. GLASSFORD, Peter CAN +11:56

61. BATTY, Eric CAN +12:32

75. JETTE, Cameron CAN -1LAP

78. DAIGLE, Marc-Andre CAN -2LAP

79. TRUDEL, Leni CAN -2LAP

WOMEN U23

1. FERRAND, PREVOT Pauline FRA [LAPIERRE INTERNATIONAL] 1:21:45

2. SVEUM, Elisabeth NOR [TEAM MERIDA SMART SAFETY] +0:18

3. STIRNEMANN, Kathrin SUI [CENTRAL HAIBIKE PRO TEAM] +0:27

6. KOFMAN, Mikaela CAN +4:10

9. BEAUMONT, Rebecca CAN +5:44

11. BIETOLA, Laura CAN+10:14

14. LAFORGE, Kristina CAN +13:52

17. MEUNIER, Valerie CAN +15:58

18. BROOKS, Cayley CAN +19:41

19. PICHETTE, Andréanne CAN -1LAP

MEN U23

1. KERSCHBAUMER, Gerhard ITA [TX ACTIVE BIANCHI] 1:23:24

2. STIRNEMANN, Matthias SUI [THOEMUS RACING TEAM] +0:59

3. CARABIN, Sebastien BEL [VERSLUYS - EVENZA TEAM] +1:36

8. MCNEELY, Evan CAN +3:54

14. BAILEY, Mitchell CAN +6:08

18. MARTIN, Jeremy CAN +7:36

20. BOUCHARD, Leandre CAN +7:53

22. GUTHRIE, Evan CAN +9:55

25. WAGLER, Tyson CAN +10:47

30. STAFFORD, Jared CAN +12:31

33. L'ESPERANCE, Andrew CAN +15:12

36. HUGHES, Zachary CAN -1LAP

MEN JUNIOR

1. GROTTS, Howard USA 1:10:50

2. FRISCHKNECHT, Andri SUI [SCOTT - SWISSPOWER MTB – RACING] +0:24

3. FONSECA, Andrey CRC +1:38

9. NADON, Marc-Antoine CAN +4:25

11. BELHUMEUR, Vincent CAN +4:43

14. NERON, Thomas CAN +6:28

15. VIALLE, Alexandre CAN +7:53

17. MATTHEWS, Bretton CAN +9:08

WOMEN JUNIOR

1. TRUDEL, Frederique CAN 1:06:02

2. PASTORE, Alicia Rose USA +1:51

3. SMITH, Haley CAN +3:44

5. LANTHIER-NADEAU, Andreane CAN +7:52