FIVE CANADIANS IN TOP-20 AT MOUNTAIN BIKE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS | Cycling Canada Cyclisme

FIVE CANADIANS IN TOP-20 AT MOUNTAIN BIKE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Mont-Ste-Anne, QC (September 1, 2019) – Canadian Elite women’s cross-country champion Emily Batty had her best race of the year on Saturday at the Mountain Bike World Championships in Mont-Ste-Anne, Quebec, finishing ninth. She was joined in the top-20 by three other Canadians – Haley Smith (12th), Catharine Pendrel (14th) and Sandra Walter (18th). In the Elite men’s category, Leandre Bouchard was the top Canadian in 27th place, while Laurie Arseneault was ninth in Under-23 women.

“I would say this is more of what I expect,” said Batty, who has struggled on the World Cup circuit this season. “I was going for top-5, but I will take this. I was excited to race in front of all the people who have come from all across Canada, and grateful for them cheering me on. I started fifth row, and I don’t remember being back that far before. That was such a chore; I think I was two minutes down by Lap 2, with all the traffic. But I was able to focus on my own race, and I made no mistakes. I think with the season I have had, this was my top-3.”