July 02, 2017 (Vallnord, Andorra) – Canadians were on form at Round 3 of the UCI MTB XCO World Cup in Vallnord, Andorra today as Emily Batty (Trek Factory) raced to her first World Cup podium this season finishing fifth in the Elite Women’s race. Peter Disera (Norco Factory) delivered a strong 7th-place result in the U23 Men’s race as well.

Batty had a decent start in the 24km Elite Women’s 6-lap race that featured sunny, hot and dry conditions on the tough Andorra course, site of the 2015 MTB Worlds and known as one of the toughest and steepest courses on the circuit. Catharine Pendrel (Clif Pro Team) was in teens just behind.

Racing to an early lead was Yana Belomoina (Ukr) CST Sandd American Eagle, who was on fire claiming her second consecutive World Cup victory with a 1:37 margin over Annika Langvad (Den) Specialized Racing in second and Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Nor) Team Merida Gunn-Rita in 3rd. The two were locked in a battle behind Belomoina as Langvad caught Dahle Flesjaa on the third lap and eventually charged away on the final lap.

Batty raced up solidly into 5th but caught and overtook Linda Indergand (Sui) Focus XC Team on the penultimate lap to move into 4th only to crash near the end allowing Indergand to pass her and reclaim her position on the final podium. “It’s been work to get back to the podium and I couldn’t be happier. Thank you for the support as always,” tweeted Batty.

Pendrel had an “off” day ending up 16th followed by Sandra Walter (Team Canada) in 28th, Haley Smith (Norco Factory) in 32nd, Rebecca Beaumont in 36th, Catherine Fleury (Team Canada) in 42nd and Cindy Montambault (Team Canada) was 47th.

In the Elite Men’s 28km 7-lap race Canada only had two starters with Leandre Bouchard (BH SR Suntour KMC) finishing 26th and Andrew L’Esperance (Team Canada) racing to 69th.

Like in the women’s race it was Nino Schurter (Sui) Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Team who gained a quick gap that he extended up to just over a minute as the battle for second raged behind. Absent from the start line was Julien Absalon (Fra) BMC who is out with a broken collarbone.

David Valero (Esp) MMR Factory was leading the chase but suffered a flat taking him out of contention. As the laps counted down Mathias Flueckiger (Sui) Radon Factory Xc Team, Jordan Sarrou (Fra) BH-SRSuntour-KMC and Samuel Gaze (Nzl) Specialized Racing were the three remaining challengers with Flueckiger prevailing for the silver over Sarrou as Gaze could not keep pace and finished 4th.

Schurter is 3-for-3 this season earning his 23rd WCup victory. “Can’t get any better! 3rd World Cup win in a row and we lead for the first time the team World Cup ranking,” penned the winner on FB.

Bouchard was happy with his race. “There is always congestion at the start, which is why it is so crucial to have a good one. I had a good start, but not without a good effort and I paid a little price for that with the altitude before finding my second wind in the latter part of the race. I went up a few places towards the end. I’m pretty happy to be back,” said Bouchard in a post-race interview with Sportcom.

“I had a technically sound race and I’m happy to have given my maximum, especially since the altitude makes the whole thing even more brutal. The course had fine technical sections, especially a long, very active descent, but it was much easier given the dry conditions of the day,” added Bouchard, who had his best World Cup result in Germany in May finishing 16th.

Fellow Canuck Peter Disera claimed 7th in the 24km 6-lap U23 Men’s race won by Simon Andreassen (Den) Specialized Racing in a tight finish with Alan Hatherly (RSA) in second as Martins Blums (Lat) ZZK finished third after taking an early lead that he could not maintain.

It was a tough day for Disera who was not at his best. “Not stoked off of the sensations but can’t be too upset with 7th. Hard day up in Vallnord, Andorra,” tweeted the Ontario rider who took home another top-10 result continuing his stellar start to the season.

Also on the start line were Sean Fincham (Team Canada) in 38th, Marc-Andre Fortier (Team Canada) who finished 48th, Quinton Disera (Norco Factory XC) in 55th, Raphael Auclair (Pivot Cycles-OTE) in 67th and his teammateFelix Belhumeur in 68th.

In the 20km U23 Women’s 5-lap race Team Canada’s Soren Meeuwisse finished 35th as Sina Frei (Sui) JB Brunex Felt Team claimed a solid win over Kate Courtney (USA) Specialized Racing in second with Evie Richards (GBr) Team GB in third. Amelie Simard (Team Canada) placed 42nd while Anne Julie Tremblay (Team Canada) did not finish.

U23 Women’s Results here.
U23 Men’s Results here.
Elite Women’s Results here.
Elite Men’s Results here.