04.08.12 - THREE CANADIAN TOP5 AT THE UCI MOUNTAIN BIKE PAN-AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS IN MEXICO

Canada sends athletes in U23 races with objective to gain international experience

(Puebla, MEX – April 9, 2012) The 2012 UCI Mountain Bike Continental Championships were held this past weekend in Puebla, Mexico. The Canadian team only sent athletes to compete in the U23 races, for both the men and women.

The team was coached and managed by Ian Hughes, recently appointed as Mountain Bike Development Coach at the Canadian Cycling Association.

“We are very satisfied with the athlete's preparation and performance for this event. The Continental Championships are an excellent opportunity for athletes to test their skills in an event that is often unpredictable, both in logistics as in the race itself. I am very happy about the three Top 5 results we were able to gain, as well as the performance of all the other athletes who gave it their all in this tough race. It is definitely a character builder!” declared Hughes.

Canadian mountain bikers in the elite categories and some junior riders are competing this weekend in Houffalize, Belgium for the second UCI Mountain Bike World Cup race of the season.

WOMEN U23 – UCI MOUNTAIN BIKE CONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIPS – PUEBLA, MEXICO
1. Raiza Goulao HENRIQUE (BRA) 1:12:26
2. Laura Valentina ABRIL RESTREPO (COL) 1:13:04
3. Ines Carolina GUTIÉRREZ (ARG) 1:13:33
4. Daniela ROJAS (CHI) 1:14:41
5. Laura BIETOLA (CAN) 1:18:45
9. Andréanne PICHETTE (CAN) 1:20:54

MEN U23 – UCI MOUNTAIN BIKE CONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIPS – PUEBLA, MEXICO
1. Russell FINSTERWALD (USA) 1:17:15
2. Diyer RINCON (COL) 1:18:10
3. Kerry WERNER (USA) 1:18:21
4. Evan MCNEELY (CAN) 1:18:47
5. Evan GUTHRIE (CAN) 1:19:24
12. Antoine CARON (CAN) 1:21:30
13. Leandre BOUCHARD (CAN) 1:21:32
16. Jeremy MARTIN (CAN) 1:22:34
29. Mitchell BAILEY (CAN) 1:27:17

Full results and live timing of the event can be found at www.uci.ch.