BATTY SIXTH TO OPEN 2013 UCI MOUNTAIN BIKE WORLD CUP TOUR
Reigning World Cup Champion Catharine Pendrel takes 12th
(Albstad, GER – May 19, 2013) Canadian Mountain Biker Emily Batty of Brooklin, ON, racing for team Trek Factory, was the top Canadian at the opening cross-country race of the 2013 season on Sunday in Abstadt, Germany, finishing sixth.
Batty, who is racing in her second season in the Elite category, crossed the finish line with a time 1:35:31, showing a time deficit of 1:35 over Eva Lechner of Italy, who won this opening World Cup race.
“The conditions were really tough out there today. It was hard on the athletes and their equipment. Emily was really strong today. Despite needing a wheel change in the middle of the race. She was very close to making the podium. It’s great to see that her early season form is good, said Dan Proulx, Head Coach of the Canadian Mountain Bike Team. “This was the first real test for the athletes in 2013. Emily will work with her coach, Adam Morka, to identify strengths and weaknesses from this race. It was a good chance to see where things are at.”
2012 UCI World Cup Champion Catharine Pendrel of Kamloops, BC, racing for Team Luna Pro, finished 12th. Mikaela Kofman of Toronto, ON and Amanda Sin of Collingwood, ON, both racing for the Canadian-based professional mountain bike team SCOTT-3RoxRacing came in 35th and 44th respectively.
In the Men Elite race, the two-time reigning Canadian Champion Max Plaxton of Victoria, BC, racing with his professional team Sho-Air Cannondale, took the seventh spot of the race, trailing the winner Daniel McConnel of Australia by 1:06. Geoff Kabush of Courtenay, BC racing for team SCOTT-3RoxRacing opened his season by taking the 15th position of the race.
Added Proulx: “Max has already returned to the form he had prior to his knee injury last season. He was really strong today. He kept advancing through the field on every climb. He made some smart tactical decisions out there. Max had a very strong winter of training back in Victoria and it’s nice to see him get confirmation that all the hard work and consistency has paid off.”
On Saturday were held the U23 races. Hailey Smith was the top Canadian performer with a 16th place. Cayley Brooks took the 20th rank, while Andreane Lanthier Nadeau finished in 24th position.
In the men’s U23 race, Mitchell Baily finished 36th as the best Canadian result. Reigning Canadian U23 Champion Léandre Bouchard was 45th and Jérémy Martin took the 49th rank.
The team will now remain in Europe and travel to the Czech Republic as they compete in the second event of the UCI World Cup tour in Nove Mesto next weekend.
RESULTS – UCI MOUNTAIN BIKE WORLD CUP (ALBSTADT, GER)
Women Elite
1. LECHNER, Eva (ITA) TEAM COLNAGO SUDTIROL 1:33:52
2. WLOSZCZOWSKA, Maja (POL) GIANT PRO XC TEAM 1:34:00 +0:08
3. LEUMANN, Katrin (SUI) GHOST FACTORY RACING TEAM 1:34:08 +0:16
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6. BATTY, Emily (CAN) TREK FACTORY RACING 1:35:31 +1:39
12. PENDREL, Catharine (CAN) LUNA PRO TEAM 1:36:41 +2:49
35. KOFMAN, Mikaela (CAN) SCOTT-3ROXRACING 1:44:51 +10:59
44. SIN, Amanda (CAN) SCOTT-3ROXRACING -1LAP
Men Elite
1. MCCONNELL Daniel (AUS) TREK FACTORY RACING 1:42:36
2. MANTECON GUTIERREZ Sergio (ESP) WILD WOLF TREK PRO RACING 1:42:38
3. KULHAVY, Jaroslav (CZE) SPECIALIZED RACING XC 1:42:49 +0:13
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7. PLAXTON Max (CAN) 1:43:42 +1:06
15. KABUSH Geoff (CAN) SCOTT-3ROXRACING 1:45:29 +2:53
36. ZANDSTRA Derek (CAN) SCOTT-3ROXRACING 1:49:38 +7:02
45. GAGNE Raphael (CAN) 1:51:46 +9:10
59. JETTE Cameron (CAN) SCOTT-3ROXRACING 1:53:58 +11:22
Women U23
1. HENDERSON, Rebecca (AUS) TREK FACTORY RACING 1:05:56
2. RISSVEDS, Jenny (SWE) 1:06:44 +0:48
3. BELOMOYNA, Yana (UKR) SUPERIOR BRENTJENS MOUNTAINBIKE RACING TEAM 1:06:58 +1:02
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16. SMITH, Haley 1:14:35 +8:39
20. BROOKS, Cayley 1:16:01 +10:05
24. LANTHIER-NADEAU, Andreane 1:17:46 +11:50
Men U23
1. SCHULTE-LUENZUM, Markus (GER) FOCUS XC TEAM 1:21:16
2. SCHUERMANS, Jens (BEL) VERSLUYS TEAM 1:21:33 +0:17
3. van der HEIJDEN, Michiel (NED) GIANT PRO XC TEAM 1:21:49 +0:33
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36. BAILEY, Mitchell (CAN) 1:28:37 +7:21
45. BOUCHARD, Leandre (CAN) 1:29:15 +7:59
49. MARTIN, Jeremy (CAN) 1:29:50 +8:34
Men Junior
1. GAY, Raphael (FRA) CREUSE OXYGENE 1:11:02
2. BERTSCH, Philipp GERMANY 1:11:02 +0:00
3. PERRIN-GANIER, Neilo FRANCE 1:11:03 +0:01
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11. FORTIER, Marc Andre CANADA 1:12:58 +1:56
