Catharine Pendrel Top Canadian In Cross-Country

Elite Women, Men and Junior Men competition was held in Austria at Mountain Bike Worlds

Kamloops native Catharine Pendrel nailed the top Canadian result in the Women Elite cross-country race at the 2012 UCI World Championships in Saalfelden,

Austria She managed the 15th spot as she defended her “Rainbow Jersey” as the 2011 World Champion.

Pendrel won the UCI World Cup Title this season crossed the line showing a time deficit of 4:51 on the eventual winner and new World Champion, Julie Bresset of France (1:32.25).

Norway’s Gunn-Rita Dahle-Felsjaa came second, while Georgia Gould of the United States of America took the bronze medal.

Emily Batty, who suffered from a clavicle fracture only days prior to the 2012 Olympic Games in London and still managed to complete the race, went on today to post the 18th fastest time.

Sandra Walter took the 35th spot, while both Amanda Sin and 2004 Olympic Silver Medallist Marie-Hélène Prémont were lapped in the last lap, finishing 37th and 38th respectively.

“The Olympics are an all-consuming event. Catharine and Emily put everything they had into the Olympics this year.

It’s difficult to recover your form in time to challenge at the World Championships when the two events are so close together. Both riders will be looking forward to some well deserved rest and recovery now.

I’m confident that with after a couple of weeks, both riders will eagerly begin training for 2013. I know they’ll both be back on the podium next season,” said Canadian Mountain Bike Team Head Coach Dan Proulx.

In the Men’s Elite race, Switzerland stole the show by sweeping the podium of the 38.3-km race. Nino Schurter took the victory with a time of 1:40.44, followed 29s later by his teammate Lukas Fluckiger, and 51s later by Mathias Fluckiger.

Canada’s Geoff Kabush placed 18th, while Derek Zandstra placed 23rr and Raphael Gagné took the 36th rank. Cameron Jette was lapped with three of eight laps to go.

Also featured was the Men junior race. Canadian Champion Marc-Antoine Nadon (Timmins) posted the best Canadian result, in 33rd place.

Alexandre Vialle and Peter Disera were both lapped in the last lap. Four riders from France placed within the Top 6 in a tightly contested race won by New Zealand’s Anton Cooper.

The 2012 UCI Mountain Bike and Trial World Championships ends with the presentation the Cross Country Eliminator race which officially makes its debut on the UCI World Championships programme.