August 13, 2018 (Mont-Ste-Anne, Que.) – Canadian fans were treated to stellar racing on the final day at Mont-Ste-Anne as Emily Batty (Trek Factory Racing XC) captured her fourth consecutive podium finishing third in the Elite women’s cross-country race.
Fellow Canuck, Haley Smith (Norco Factory Team XC) joined Batty in the top-10 with a career-best 8th while Sean Fincham (Forward Racing Norco) also made the top 10 in the U23 men’s race finishing 10th.
“It feels pretty spectacular and I’m really proud to put Canada on the podium in third, we were just so close to second. I started the season not where I wanted to be but we turned things around fast and this is one of my favourite places to race, the fans and the energy are amazing. I can’t say thank you enough to everyone that came,” said Batty.
Legendary Olympic bronze medalist and double MTB Worlds champ, Catharine Pendrel (Clif Pro Team) raced to a strong 16th-place finish at her first World Cup XCO race since breaking her arm in June. Raphael Gagne (Silverback OMX) was the top Canadian in the Elite men’s race, finishing 25th as he earned his new team’s best World Cup result.
Elite Women
The 25.6 km Elite Women’s 6-lap race saw Jolanda Neff (Sui) Kross Racing, the reigning World champ, take the lead after a fast start and never looked back. Neff missed the last two years at MSA so her victory was special.
Batty overcame a poor start and moved up well to join Smith who had the best start of her career finding herself 4th in the lead group but dropped back to 8th as Batty found her wheel. By the end of the second lap Batty had taken over fourth and was chasing down Specialized teammates Annika Langvad (Den) and Kate Courtney (USA).
Langvad dropped Courtney as Batty surged to pass the American and move into third and tried to chase down her Danish rival as Neff took the win and Langvad the silver. Batty is now 4th overall moving up from 8th.
“I love the downhills here, it’s a real mountain bike course and I’m so happy to win here again,” said a smiling Neff. “Yes the plan was to go out hard so I could be first and then try to build a lead and it worked. I missed the last two years and have been dreaming of this race for a long time. It’s one of my favourite courses and I’m so happy to be here and couldn’t be happier how things worked out.”
Smith was also over the moon with her career-best result. “It hasn’t really sunk it yet, but I know it was a good ride – perhaps one of my best ever – and it was really cool to be in the mix near the front. Racing a World Cup in Canada is so cool. A large portion of my family came out, and I could hear them everywhere on course – that was pretty cool. I just had a great race and didn’t realize how close I was to a podium (1:10 off of 5th), but I think that just shows how focused I was on giving everything I had in the moment. I couldn’t have gone any harder. Hope to see everyone out at MSA cheering for World Champs next year,” Smith told
Pedal.
Elite Men
The 29.7 km Elite men’s 7-lap race saw Mathias Flueckiger (Sui) Thomus RN Racing win his first World Cup as four riders took the lead following the start loop with several groups chasing. By the third lap World Cup leader, Nino Schurter (Scott-SRAM), the reigning World champ, had asserted himself with Anton Cooper (Nzl) Trek Factory the only rider to match his pace.
But misfortune hit Schurter when he broke his chain as Cooper was joined by Flueckiger, Gerhard Kerschbaumer (Torpado Gabogas) and Titouan Carod (BMC). Yet Carod was suffering and then Kerschbaumer crashed making it a 2-horse race.
On the final time down the renowned Beatrice rock section Cooper crashed and Flueckiger took the lead en route to his first World Cup victory. Schurter finished 7th but it was enough to clinch the overall title yet again for the Swiss star.
“I’ve come close so many times and it’s an amazing feeling to finally win – I’m so happy,” said Flueckiger. “I’ve had many podiums but everything felt good today and it all came together. It’s a special day in my career.”
For Canada’s Gagne it was a special day as well to have a good race at home as he lives nearby. “As usual it’s amazing to feel the enthusiasm of the home crowd supporting you towards a strong performance especially when you have strong legs and good fitness,” said Gagne. “MSA is really brutal with hard steep climbs and really technical and demanding descents. It’s very challenging, I like it and lots of other riders like it too. I started 49th and had to go a bit over-paced in the start loop and first lap but I think I played it well tactically. MSA, Velirium and Gestev did an amazing job with the course, and I am really happy to have the opportunity to race the world championships there next year.”
U23 Women/Men
The 21.5 km U23 Women’s race saw Sophianne Samson lead the charge for Canada in 11th as Sina Frei (Sui) Ghost Factory took home another victory with Evie Richards (Gbr) Trek Factory Racing XC second and Malene Degn (Den) Ghost Factory Racing third.
Fincham was the top Canuck in the U23 Men’s 25.6 km 6-lap affair won by Alan Hatherly (RSA) who out-dueled Christopher Blevins (USA) Specialized Racing for the win.
Marc Andre Fortier (Can) Pivot Cycles-OTE was 12th while Quinton Disera (Can) Norco Factory Team XC had a superb recovery following a crash during the start loop as he refocused and battled back to 14th overall.
“Thank you to everyone and to volunteers and spectators for a great MSA World Cup this past weekend. The new course layout is outstanding! Can’t wait for Worlds. Congrats to all the Canadian athletes who crushed it out there,” tweeted Dan Proulx, Cycling Canada MTB Head Coach.
Full results here.
