May 30, 2006 – The patterns are starting to appear after only the first two events in the Canada Cup cross country MTB series. The battle for the leaders jersey is a tight one between the three women that have established themselves as the cream of the crop. Catharine Pendrel (BC, Norco) won round two after finishing third last weekend.

In the elite men’s ranks, Max Plaxton (BC, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) is the one to beat with a perfect record so far. Alex Harvey (QC, Devinci) and Emily Batty (ON, Team R.A.C.E.) have done the same in the junior men’s and women’s ranks.

Riders were relieved that the conditions on the course at Mont Tremblant were better than those the previous weekend. Rain overnight made things a bit slick on the 6-kilometre Tremblant course, but everything was rideable.

“It was warm and dry for the most part. It rained overnight so the course was slick and a bit muddy in places, but it was definitely the best conditions in two years,”said Pendrel. “I was able to go into the lead by the feed zone and hold the lead the entire race. Always fun!”

Mical Dyck (AB, Terrascape) rode into second place behind Pendrel, with Karen Dewolfe (NB, Cannondale) finishing third. Dyck leads the series by 20 points over Pendrel and 45 points over DeWolfe.

Plaxton won the men’s race with over two minutes on second place, Andrew Watson (ON, Team R.A.C.E.). Raphael Gagne (QC, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) raced into third. Plaxton is leading the series with 400 points.

Batty is in control of the junior women’s field with two wins and a solid series lead. Marie-Claude Surprenant (QC, Commencal-Drop Machine) finished second at Tremblant, trailing by less than two minutes. Alexandra Hamelin Gélinas (QC, Cycle Outaouais) was third.

Harvey won Canada Cup #2 in the junior men’s category, adding another 100 points to his lead in the series. Francis Morin (QC, Devinci) finished second, 1:13 minutes back, while Cody Canning (SK, ERTC-Redbike) pulled into third position.

The cross country riders are poised for another race this weekend in Barrie, Ont. at Hardwood Hills.

Results

Junior Expert Women

1. Emily Batty (ON, Team R.A.C.E.) 1:31:25.806
2. Marie-Claude Surprenant (QC, Commencal-Drop Machine) at 1:48
3. Alexandra Hamelin Gélinas (QC, Cycle Outaouais) 6:06
4. Kaitlin Michener (ON, Team Ontario) 7:59
5. Emilie Beaumont (QC, Cyclone D’Alma) 14:35
6. Mikaela Kofman (ON) 22:21
7. Mary-Claire Poitras (QC, Club Sportif Bromont) 26:56
8. Judith Rondeau Legault (QC, IGA Lambert-ACDA) 43:41

Overall after two events

1. Emily Batty (ON, Team R.A.C.E.) 200 points
2. Alexandra Hamelin Gélinas (QC, Cycle Outaouais) 155
3. Marie-Claude Surprenant (QC, Commencal-Drop Machine) 145

Junior Expert Men

1. Alex Harvey (QC, Devinci) 1:40:07.136
2. Francis Morin (QC, Devinci) at 1:13
3. Cody Canning (SK, ERTC-Redbike) 03:24
4. Maxime Laflamme (QC, Devinci) 4:33
5. Jon Kinsie (ON, Team Ontario) 6:49
6. David Fournier (QC, Lessard Bicycles) 8:57
7. Zachary Winn (ON, Impala Cycle) 10:25
8. Haydn Boucher (ON, Team Ontario) 10:47
9. Cory Hancock (ON) 10:48
10. Paul Benson (MB, Alter Ego-Trek) 11:42

Overall after two events

1. Alex Harvey (QC, Devinci) 200 points
2. Cody Canning (SK, ERTC-Redbike) 130
3. Jon Kinsie (ON, Team Ontario) 120

Senior Elite Women

1. Catharine Pendrel (BC, Norco) 1:48:50.547
2. Mical Dyck (AB, Terrascape) at 1:30
3. Karen Dewolfe (NB, Cannondale) 5:17
4. Amanda Sin (ON, 3 Rox Racing) 5:59
5. Jean Ann McKirdy (BC, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) 6:18
6. Julie Sanders (QC, Équipe Xprezo) 11:16
7. Meghan Kindree (BC, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) 15:22
8. Sue Trimble-Havland (ON, Havy’s Bike Shop) 17:11
9. Caroline Villeneuve (QC, Brunet-La Vie Sportive) 17:31
10. Catherine Vipond (ON, Team Ontario) 17:47

Overall after two events

1. Mical Dyck (AB, Terrascape) 375 points
2. Catharine Pendrel (BC, Norco) 355
3. Karen Dewolfe (NB, Cannondale) 330

Senior Elite Men

1. Max Plaxton (BC, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) 1:50:44.104
2. Andrew Watson (ON, Team R.A.C.E.) at 2:21
3. Raphael Gagne (QC, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) 3:11
4. Neal Kindree (BC, Kona-Les Gets) 4:59
5. Tim Heemskerk (AB, United Cycle) 5:12
6. Derek Zandstra (ON, Team Ontario) 5:24
7. Roddi Lega (AB, Norco) 6:55 8. Kris Sneddon (BC, Kona-Les Gets) 7:35
9. Matthew Hadley (NB, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) 9:42
10. Stefan Widmer (BC, Sugoi-Giant) 10:13

Overall after two events

1. Max Plaxton (BC, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) 400 points
2. Raphael Gagne (QC, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) 310
3. Andrew Watson (ON, Team R.A.C.E.) 285