07.16.11 - PRENDREL DOMINATING AS SHE DEFENDS HER TILE; MAX PLAXTON CREATES BIGGEST SURPRISE
Exciting racing at 2011 Canadian Mountain Bike Championships in Canmore

(Canmore, AB – July 16, 2011) Olympian Catharine Pendrel of Team Luna Pro won her third straight Canadian title today at the 2011 Canadian Mountain Bike Championships in Canmore, Alberta on Saturday, while Max Plaxton created the biggest upset of the day by winning the men’s title and stopping Geoff Kabush on his quest to make history.

Pendrel, from Kamloops, BC who grew up in Harvey Station, NB, successfully defended her title in a dominating fashion, by posting a time of 1:31:51, a lead of over two minutes on Marie-Hélène Prémont of Chateau Richer, QC riding for Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain. Emily Batty of Team Subaru-Trek took the third spot.

“The course was awesome. It was a little bit different than last year, but I had a great training session yesterday. Marie-Hélène really pushed me on the first climb until the single track. Until the second lap, I think both of us were suffering quite a bit,” said Pendrel, the 2010 World Cup Champion, after the race.

“I know my rhythm a little bit more than last year, and I am more confident in my body. I definitely knew she [Marie-Hélène Prémont] could be a great threat today. She had good World Cup in the last couple of weeks and was riding really strong,” continued Pendrel.

“The Canadian program is going on real strong right now with two riders in the Top 3, and we’ve got what it takes to continue leading the way on the world scene. We have really good support behind us at the CCA (Canadian Cycling Association), with lots of really good energy and really awesome Canadian fans,” added Pendrel.

Max Plaxton of Victoria, BC raced to his first Canadian elite title in the men’s elite race, and in doing so stopped Goeff Kabush of Courtenay, BC from winning his record-setting eighth title. Plaxton sped away in the early moments of the race, and kept perfect control and composure for the remainder of the race, which he won with a time of 1:38:28.

“It feels great. I wanted the jersey for a long time. I’ve put in a lot of efforts in the last two weeks, so it’s pretty amazing. You work hard and it pays off. Its extra special since I had a lot of friends here to watch the race,” said Plaxton, racing for Team Specialized Racing USA.

“I treated this race just like any other race. I’ve beaten Goeff in every other race in North America this season. I treated it just like any other Pro XCT’s this year, and didn’t feel any added pressure. It’s pretty good to be consistent every month – something I’ve struggled with the previous years. I am finding I am developing as a rider,” concluded Plaxton, who won the U23 Canadian title in 2005, and twice the junior title in 2002 and 2003.

Kabush, from Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain, went on to finish second, followed by Derek Zandstra of Trenton, ON.

“Obviously, winning the title the previous six years, my goal was to come and win again, but it wasn’t the case. I felt pretty good, but didn’t have the answer to Max as he was super strong today. Before my races, I always think about who my competition is, but I’ve just been doing my job. The racing has been going well, the training has been going well. I was confident heading into this race, but I can’t control what the other guys are doing. Max spent some time at home and brought his A-game here and he achieved his goal, so credit to him,” gracefully commented Kabush after the race.

Geoff Kabush is Canada’s greatest mountain biker with seven Canadian titles. He won his first elite title in 2002 and then went on to win every Canadian championship races from 2005 to 2010.

Mikaela Kofman of Toronto, ON, the 2010 Canada Cup Champion, won the women’s U23 title, crossing the finish line first in front of Rebecca Beaumont of Alma, QC, second and Laura Bietola of Greenwood, ON third. In doing so, Kofman takes the title that Emily Batty won four consecutive years before moving to the Elite category.

In the men’s U23 race, Léandre Bouchard of Alma, QC raced to his first Canadian title, defeating Mitchell Baily of Barrie, ON who came second and Jeremy Martin of Boischatel, QC, who placed third. Bouchard is the current Canada Cup leader.

In the junior category, current Canada Cup leader Frédérique Trudel of Breakeyville, QC raced to her first ever Canadian title, winning the two-lap women’s race in a time 57:58. Hayley Smith of Uxbridge, ON crossed the line second, followed by Andréanne Lanthier-Nadeau of Québec, QC in third.

“I am truly happy. This is a real surprise for me as I am in my first year as a junior. I am excited to have such good results this season. I never expected to have results like these entering the season. This is a big surprise for me. I knew I could perform, but not as much as this. I am strong in the climbs, and luckily there were lots of good climbs here. The course suited my abilities quite well. I was a bit scared on the downhill portions of the course, but at the end of the day it went pretty well,” said Trudel, the current leader of the Canada Cup series in the junior category and newest junior Canadian champion.

Marc-Antoine Nadon of Timmins, ON took the men’s junior title, posting a time of 1:04:56 for the three-lap race. Thomas Néron of Québec, QC and Daniel Varga of Toronto, ON in second and third.

“I am really happy. This is an important race, and coming off a great week of rest after the UCI World Cup in Windham, I felt comfortable here. I arrived on Wednesday and had the chance to ride the course quite a bit, and performance today. Wearing the jersey is a very different feeling. I am feeling rewarded today for all the efforts I put in throughout the season,” said Marc-Antoine Nadon.

The 2011 Canadian XC Mountain Bike Championships continues tomorrow with the races in the Masters category and the team relay.

PODIUMS – 2011 CANADIAN XC MOUNTAIN CHAMPIONSHIPS

MEN ELITE

1. Max PLAXTON (Victoria, BC / Team Specialized Racing USA) 1:38:28
2. Goeff KABUSH (Courtenay, BC / Maxxis-Rocky Mountain) +01:41
3. Derek ZANDSTRA (Trenton ON / 3-Rox Racing) +03:22

Podium photo: http://canadiancycling.smugmug.com/2011/Cdn-XC-MTB-Champs/i-Pj8469j/0/L/CdnMTBChampsU23Elite145-L.jpg

WOMEN ELITE

1. Catharine PENDREL (Kamloops, BC / Team Luna Pro) 1:31:51
2. Marie-Hélène PRÉMONT (Chateau Richer, QC / Maxxis-Rocky Mountain) +02:02
3. Emily BATTY (Brooklin, ON / Subaru-Trek) +04:29

Podium photo: http://canadiancycling.smugmug.com/2011/Cdn-XC-MTB-Champs/i-RNQxPPb/0/L/CdnMTBChampsU23Elite063-L.jpg

MEN U23

1. Léandre BOUCHARD (Alma, QC/Équipe du Québec) 1:23:43
2. Mitchell BAILEY (Barrie, ON/Team Ontario) +00:37
3. Jeremy Martin (Boischatel, QC/Équipe du Québec) +01:41

Podium photo : http://canadiancycling.smugmug.com/2011/Cdn-XC-MTB-Champs/i-jqznWfM/0/L/CdnMTBChampsU23Elite138-L.jpg

WOMEN U23

1. Mikaela KOFMAN (Toronto, ON / 3-Rox Racing) 1:14:30
2. Rebecca BEAUMONT (Alma, QC / Équipe du Québec) +01:26
3. Laura BIETOLA (Greenwood, ON / 3-Rox Racing) +04:48

Podium photo: http://canadiancycling.smugmug.com/2011/Cdn-XC-MTB-Champs/i-FRxSb8b/0/L/CdnMTBChampsU23Elite055-L.jpg

MEN JUNIOR

1. Marc-Antoine NADON (Timmins, ON / 3 Rox Racing) 1:04:56
2. Thomas NÉRON (Équipe du Québec / Québec, QC) +00:45
3. Daniel VARGA (Toronto, ON / Team Ontario) +01:10

Podium photo: http://canadiancycling.smugmug.com/2011/Cdn-XC-MTB-Champs/i-7VXJHTT/0/L/CdnMTBChampsJuniorU17278-L.jpg

WOMEN JUNIORS

1. Frédérique TRUDEL (Breakeyville, QC / Équipe du Québec) 0:57:58
2. Haley SMITH (Uxbridge, ON / Team Ontario) +01:42
3. Andréane LANTHIER-NADEAU (Québec, QC / Équipe du Québec) +03:40

Podium photo : http://canadiancycling.smugmug.com/2011/Cdn-XC-MTB-Champs/i-sQkJzm9/0/L/CdnMTBChampsJuniorU17274-L.jpg

MEN U17

1. Marc-André FORTIER (Victoriaville, QC / Sarto Gagné) 1:07:47
2. Peter DISERA (Barrie, ON / Team Ontario) +00:12
3. Thomas HARDY (Salmon Arm, BC / CyclingBC) +05:27

Podium Photo: http://canadiancycling.smugmug.com/2011/Cdn-XC-MTB-Champs/i-27M329w/0/L/CdnMTBChampsJuniorU17267-L.jpg

WOMEN U17

1. Marie-Pierre NADON (Timmins, ON / Team Ontario) 1:02:09
2. Marine LEWIS (St. Sauveur, QC / Kona Bio-Max) +03:43
3. Emeliah HARVIE (Banff, AB / Rundle Mountain Cycling Club) +07:58

Podium photo: http://canadiancycling.smugmug.com/2011/Cdn-XC-MTB-Champs/i-Phrd2S4/0/L/CdnMTBChampsJuniorU17261-L.jpg