September 1, 2009 (Canberra, Australia) – The Junior XC Women’s race is soon underway with 30 starters and three Canadians in the mix – Laura Bietola, Cayley Brooks and Natasha Oldcorn. The women will complete three (3) laps of the XC course in Stromlo Forest.

Lap 1
Canada’s Bietola is near the front as the riders are off with Germany leading the charge.

France’s Pauline Ferrand Prevot and Michelle Hediger from Switzerland have established themselves as the front runners battling it out as the first lap is almost completed.

Lap 2
Hediger and Prevot are leading with a first lap time of 21:40 and Candice Neethling (South Africa) is in 3rd. Top Canadian is Brooks in 17th. Hediger is looking strong through the lap and has a gap on Prevot.

Lap 3 Final
Hediger is leading the charge at 43:33 as they start the final lap with Prevot at 5 seconds and Neethling trailing at 1 minute. Canada’s Cayley Brooks comes thru in 18th at 6 minutes with Laura Bietola just back in 22nd at 6:30.

Prevot has attacked and regained the lead over Hediger as the final finishline approaches.

Unofficial

1. Pauline Ferrand Prevot (France) 1:05:23
2. Michelle Hediger (Switzerland) 0:33
3. Candice Neethling (South Africa) 1:06
4. Helen Grobert (Germany) 3:07
5. Noga Korem (Israel) 3:23

21. Cayley Brooks (Canada) 9:39
23. Laura Bietola (Canada) 10:36
29. Natasha Oldcorn – 1 lap