CANADA’S LEANDRE BOUCHARD FIFTH AT MOUNTAIN BIKE WORLD CUP
Canadian Catharine Pendrel takes second place in women’s race
(Nove Mesto na Morave, CZE – May 25, 2014) Canadian mountain biker Léandre Bouchard of Alma, QC rode to his career best performance on Sunday, finishing fifth of the men’s U23 cross-country race at the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup event in Nove Mesto na Morave, CZE.
Bouchard completed the 24.3 km course with a time 1:18:25 of racing, crossing the finish line 2:20 after the race winner.
“I am very thrilled about the fifth place. I raced an impeccable race. The long and large start loop allowed me to position myself in the Top 10. Then, the legs kicked in and I was able to gain some positions, almost one per lap, said Bouchard. “That race had to be the best in my life. The fact that it is in Europe makes me even happier.”
Prior to the race, Bouchard knew the start would be key in the race. “We were 141 (of us) on the start line, and for me that was the largest number of riders I had to face in a race. I was starting from way back, but I knew I had the time to better position myself before the narrow stretch because the start loop is well done here in Czech Republic,” mentioned Bouchard to Sportcom.
Bouchard jostled for position in the start loop, and emerged sitting in eight place following the short lap. In the first full lap, he posted his fastest lap of the day, and gained one position. The second lap was consistent, remaining in seventh place.
Bouchard made his move in the third lap, gaining two positions to sit in fifth place. In the last three laps of the five-lap race, Bouchard stayed consistent and managed to maintain his fifth place while creating some separation between himself and the riders behind him.
In the women’s elite race, Canadian rider Catharine Pendrel, racing for Team Luna Pro, rode to the second position of her first World Cup race of the season. Pendrel returned to international racing this week after sustaining a broken collarbone.
Raphael Gagné posted his best European performance to date in the Men’s Elite category, taking the 23rd place as the top Canadian finisher.
The two junior races were held on Saturday. Marine Lewis finished 17th of the women’s race, while Marc-André Fortier finished 19th of the men’s race.
The Canadian Mountain Bike Team will now travel to Albstadt, Germany for the fourth event on the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup circuit.
RESULTS – CROSS-COUNTRY – WORLD CUP – NOVE MESTO NA MORAVE, CZE
WOMEN ELITE
1. FERRAND PREVOT, Pauline (FRA) LIV PRO XC TEAM 1:26:50
2. PENDREL, Catharine (CAN) LUNA PRO TEAM +2:50
3. DAHLE FLESJAA, Gunn-Rita (NOR) MULTIVAN MERIDA BIKING TEAM +3:30
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18. BATTY, Emily (CAN) TREK FACTORY RACING +8:03
36. KOFMAN, Mikaela (CAN) SCOTT-3ROX RACING +13:03
59. PICHETTE, Andréanne (CAN) -1LAP
MEN ELITE
1. SCHURTER, Nino (SUI) SCOTT-ODLO MTB RACING TEAM 1:28:33
2. TEMPIER, Stéphane (FRA) BH-SUNTOUR-KMC +0:08
3. MILATZ, Moritz (GER) BMC MOUNTAINBIKE RACING TEAM +0:14
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23. GAGNE, Raphael (CAN) +4:37
49. KABUSH, Geoff (CAN) SCOTT-3ROX RACING +7:27
99. ZANDSTRA, Derek (CAN) SCOTT-3ROX RACING -2LAP
104. CADIEUX-DUVAL, Sébastien (CAN) -2LAP
WOMEN U23
1. MOSCHETTI, Margot (FRA) SCOTT – LA CLUSAZ 1:16:18
2. BELOMOINA, Yana (UKR) BETCH.NL SUPERIOR BRENTJENS MTB RACING TEAM +1:49
3. RABENSTEINER, Lisa (ITA) FOCUS XC ITALY TEAM +2:45
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19. ROCHETTE, Maghalie (CAN) LUNA PRO TEAM +10:57
21. PAGEAU, Rachel (CAN) +11:16
29. BIETOLA, Laura (CAN) +15:12
35. TRUDEL, Frederique (CAN) -1LAP
43. LANTHIER-NADEAU, Andreane (CAN) -1LAP
MEN U23
1. VAN DER HEIJDEN, Michiel (NED) GIANT PRO XC TEAM 1:16:05
2. SARROU, Jordan (FRA) BH-SUNTOUR-KMC +31
3. GAZE, Samuel (NZL) +1:58
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5. BOUCHARD, Léandre (CAN) +2:20
21. MARTIN, Jeremy (CAN) +5:58
24. MCNEELY, Evan (CAN) +6:15
35. BAILEY, Mitchell (CAN) +8:00
48. DISERA, Peter (CAN) +9:41
55. CARON, Antoine (CAN) +10:11
58. NOBLE, Steven (CAN) +10:34
WOMEN JUNIOR
1. KOLLER, Nicole (SUI) SWITZERLAND 1:00:15
2. FREI, Sina (SUI) SWITZERLAND +1:35
3. DEGN, Malene (DEN) DENMARK +1:35
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17. LEWIS, Marine (CAN) CANADA +8:13
MEN JUNIOR
1. ANDREASSEN, Simon (DEN) DENMARK 1:05:51
2. SCHWARZBAUER, Luca (GER) GERMANY +0:58
3. VADER, Milan (NED) NETHERLANDS +2:30
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19. FORTIER Marc Andre (CAN) CANADA +5:42
