06.09.07 - Bronze medal performance for Marie-Hélène Prémont

Montreal June 9, 2007 – Marie-Hélène Prémont of Château-Richer, Que., won the bronze medal in the cross country race Saturday at a mountain bike World Cup competition in Champéry, Switzerland.

Margarita Fullana of Spain took the gold in one hour and 55 minutes and 49.32 seconds. Irina Kalentyeva of Russia was second 0.20 seconds behind and Prémont third at 1:10.55 behind the winner. Prémont was second two weeks ago to Kalentyeva at a World Cup race in Offenburg, Germany.

‘’Marie-Hélène and Kalentyeva were gaining ground on Fullana,’’ said Canadian national team coach Michel LeBlanc. ‘’She finished strong but she felt her legs were heavy. She struggled after the climbing portions of the race.’’

The course is located at 1,300 metre above sea level. ‘’She told me her heart rate was faster this morning,’’ said LeBlanc. ‘’She was feeling some effects from being at altitude.’’

The other Canadian riders were all from B.C. Kiara Bisaro of Courtenay was 11th, Catherine Pendrel of Penticton 13th, Sandra Walter of Coquitlam 24th and Wendy Simms of Nanaimo 38th.

‘’That was Catherine’s best ever World Cup result,’’ said LeBlanc. ‘’That’s a fine performance for her.’’

After three World Cups, Fullana leads the cross country standings at 560 points, Kalentyeva is second at 514, and Prémont third at 490. Bisaro, Walter, Pendrel and Simms are 11th, 27th, 32nd and 46th respectively.

Seamus McGrath 24th

In the men’s cross country race, Julien Absalon of France won his second straight World Cup event with Christoph Sauser and Nino Schurter, both of Switzerland, second and third respectively.

Seamus McGrath of B.C., was the top Canadian in 24th while Max Paxton and Kris Sneddon, also both from B.C., did not finish.

‘’At the third of eight laps there was a heavy rain storm and the track turned into Nutella,’’ said LeBlanc. ‘’The sun came out afterwards and the track got harder. Seamus felt comfortable out there, regardless of the elements.’’

LeBlanc said McGrath was pleased with his performance. ‘’He’s hopeful this performance will give him confidence for the rest of the season. He didn’t feel he had a great start even though he placed second at the Pan Am championships.’’


The next World Cup cross country race is at Mont-Ste-Anne, Que., on June 23.