May 28, 2018 (Nove Mesto, CZE) – Emily Batty (Trek Factory Racing XC) led the charge again earning her best result this season and Canada’s first World Cup podium of 2018 with her 4th-place finish in the Elite women’s race at Round #3 of the UCI MTB series in Nove Mesto na Morave, Czech Republic.

Elite Women
The Elite women’s 21.3km 5-lap race saw Jolanda Neff (Sui) Kross Racing leading at the end of the 2.8 km start loop. Annika Langvad (Den) Specialized joined her and soon gapped her Swiss rival but Neff responded as the duo battled at the front.

Batty had a solid start sitting 9th and moved up well to 5th by the second lap and then fourth as she tried to reel in Pauline Ferrand Prevot (Fra) Canyon Factory in third. Haley Smith (Norco Factory) also had a strong start found herself in 13th on the first lap.

Langvad and Neff duked it out until the end and were together as they hit the finishing straight. Langvad jumped first edging Neff for her second World Cup victory of the season. Ferrand Prevot soloed in taking third, with Batty solid in fourth followed by Poland’s Maja Wloszczowska (Kross Racing) in fifth.

“When it feels like you’ve hit bottom, keep working and keep believing because good things usually happen. Thankful for everyone’s support and messages,” tweeted Batty.

Smith finished 14th for another good day in the saddle following her strong Short Track performance on Friday. “It was very dusty, but to be honest, I didn’t really notice that. I was in the zone, for sure! I actually messed up my start by missing my pedal, so I lost a bit of the advantage of my second row start, but I was still able to regain those spots and get relatively clear on the start loop. It made a big difference being able to ride the start loop near the front of the field – it set me up nicely to get clear of traffic, not have to worry too much about moving up, and to really use my engine to my advantage,” commented Smith post-race.

“I am happy with the weekend… but I also know there’s more there! I think I was perhaps a bit cautious in the first couple laps. Riding near the front end of a World Cup is a new experience for me, and I think I could have trusted myself more. Overall I’m really happy because it’s a big improvement on my previous best World Cup result (23rd), and I’m excited to work for more and hopefully improve on that,” added Smith.

Fellow Canuck Catharine Pendrel (Clif Pro Team) flatted on the first lap and recovered to finish 22nd just ahead of Sandra Walter (Team Canada) who had another solid ride in 23rd.

“Flatting on the first lap is never a fun way to start a race, but getting to ride through traffic and race the last lap with my good friend Sandra, who has just had two of her best European World Cup races, was a pretty good way to finish it,” tweeted Pendrel.

Other Canadian results included Cindy Montambault in 33rd and Catherine Fleury (Team Canada) in 67th.

Men’s Race

Crashes were the order of the day in the Elite Men’s 25 km, 6-lap race plus a start loop as a massive pile hit the rear of the peloton just after the start. Then Sam Gaze (Nzl) Specialized crashed through the rock garden and hurt his wrist but kept going; however, he later abandoned.

Up ahead Nino Schurter (Sui) Scott-SRAM MTB Racing and Mathieu van der Poel (Ned) Corendon-Circus battled for the lead with Henrique Avancini (Bra) Cannondale Factory Racing XC and Stephane Tempier (Fra) Bianchi Countervail chasing on.

But misfortune would hit Tempier along with Mathias Flueckiger (Sui) Thömus-RN Racing Team, who was also the victim of a crash, as both would eventually drop out.

Meanwhile Schurter and Van der Poel pushed the pace as a potent foursome formed at the front including Lars Forster (Sui) BMC Mountainbike Racing Team and Titouan Carod (Fra) BMC Mountainbike Racing Team.

But on Lap 3 Van der Poel went down hard and hurt his arm yet remounted, but after another lap he too dropped out. Then Anton Cooper (Nzl) Trek Factory Racing XC and Maxime Marotte (Fra) Cannondale Factory Racing XC moved up to join Forster and Schurter at the front.

However Forster could not keep pace and neither could Marotte who got dropped on the last lap. It seems anyone’s race between Schurter and Cooper who were together until they hit the finishing straight and then it was a full-gas sprint to the line.

A photo-finish gave the win to Schurter by a tire width as the Swiss legend earned his 28th World Cup victory while Cooper took home a career-best second-place result.

“That was the hardest sprint I’ve ever done,” said Schurter. “I felt pretty good today and love this track but could not get away from the others – it was a crazy finish but I’m glad to win here again.”

Peter Disera (Norco Factory XC) was the top Canuck for the second weekend running as the reigning Elite men’s champ also had a tough day in the saddle finishing 45th.

“It was tough and dusty out there. The course got super blown out. It was pretty tough – wrists and shoulders were really sore after. I didn’t have a great day out there. I didn’t really have the guns to move up when the opportunities were good. It was a battle to hold my ground. Eventually I bled a few spots and slid out of the top 40,” said Disera.

“I’m still happy with this result. There is lots to take away from this week of racing and I’ll always love Czech. Back at home now for June (that’ll be nice since we’ve been on the road for two months) with some local Canada Cup racing,” he added.

Also moving up well was Raphael Gagne (Silverback OMX) who finished 47th from the mid-70s. Leandre Bouchard (KMC-Ekoi-SR Suntour) was 68th and Andrew L’Esperance (Team Canada) was just behind in 70th.

Schurter is back in the overall lead with 780 points followed by Marotte in second with 573 points as Van der Poel drops to third at 535 points. Disera shifts to 42nd from 38th while Bouchard also moves to 52nd from 39th. Gagne swings up to 67th while L’Esperance also drops a few spots to 84th.

Women’s results here.
Men’s results here.