EMILY BATTY FINISHES SECOND AT XCO WORLD CUP
Val di Sole, Italy (July 9, 2018) – Canadian women’s XCO champion Emily Batty (Trek Factory) of Brooklin, ON, had one of the strongest rides of her career on Sunday at Round 4 of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Val di Sole, Italy, finishing second, only nine seconds behind winner Maja Wloszczowska of Poland. Canada also had two other riders finish in the top-20 of the Elite women’s race – Sandra Walter (Team Canada) in 18th place and Haley Smith (Norco Factory) in 19th.
National coach Dan Proulx commented, “Emily’s ride was exceptional. She was in it to win it today, and that focus really paid off. She was strong and, as always, tactically savvy. She’s having a good season and will likely improve more as we head toward Worlds. It was great to have three riders in the top 20 in the women’s race. Emily, Sandra and Haley did a great job. That will earn us a significant number of Olympic Qualification points.”
Batty was part of the lead group for the entire race, and led the chase after Wloszczowska attacked with a lap and a half to go in the race, dropping world champion Jolanda Neff of Switzerland. The result is Batty’s second podium of the World Cup season, and moves her up to seventh from tenth in the overall standings.
Batty was both pleased and disappointed with her second place; the third time in her World Cup career that she has finished second as she still tries for her first World Cup win. “I’m not sure yet whether to be happy or really disappointed. After struggling in the early season, it’s pretty exciting to have a good result, but it’s so damn close to that win! We get another shot in six days [Vallnord, Andorra]. Pauline [Ferrand Prevot of France] and Jolanda did a lot of work at the start and I wasn’t sure where I was at, what I was capable of, so I just tried to play it smart. There was a bit of team tactics when the gap formed and I just wasn’t able to get around [Jolanda]. I was turning myself inside out to bring Maja back and get that win, but I came up a few seconds short.”
In the Elite men’s competition, won by world champion Nino Schurter of Switzerland, Leandre Bouchard (KMC-Ekoi-SR Suntour) of Alma, QC, was the top Canadian in 55th place. In the Under-23 categories, Mackenzie Myatt (Team Canada) of Musquodoboit Harbour, NS, was the top Canadian woman, in 29th, with Sean Fincham (Team Canada) of Squamish, BC, the top man in 30th.
