March 10, 2018 (Stellenbosch, South Africa) – Catharine Pendrel (Clif Pro Team) led the Canadians with a strong 7th-place finish at the opening round of the Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountain Bike World Cup XCO at Stellenbosch, South Africa in dry and dusty conditions.

Annika Langvad (Den) Specialized Racing took the 26km 6-lap Elite women’s win over Pauline Ferrand Prevot (Fra) Canyon Factory XC in second with U23 rider, Anne Tauber (Ned) CST Sandd American Eagle MTB Racing Team, in third.

Pendrel moved up well from 15th to 9th following the start as Langvad and Prevot battled for the lead. By the second lap Pendrel was in fourth duking it out with Jolanda Neff (Sui) Kross Racing Team. Langvad kept making small errors that allowed Prevot to take over the lead but the Danish rider recovered and escaped on the final lap for the win.

On the last lap Neff’s teammate Maja Wloszczowksa bridged to her and Pendrel while Helen Grobert (Ger) Cannondale Factory Racing XC behind was closing fast. Pendrel got dropped as Grobert had the legs to catch the two Kross riders and claim 4th.

“So happy to be back chasing after World Cup podiums,” tweeted Pendrel “Solid ride finishing 7th today. Onwards and upwards.”

Emily Batty (Trek Factory Racing XC) moved up as well but it was not her day as she finished 14th. “The good: Performance is moving in the right direction. The ugly: getting hit in the throat with 55 seconds to the start,” tweeted Batty.

Haley Smith (Can) Norco Factory Team XC was satisfied with her 23rd place but wanted more. “The course was great – technical, lots of on/off climbing, and very gruelling. I had bad luck on the start, getting stuck behind a miscue but was able to regain those spots. The course was extremely dusty.

“Once I worked through the traffic, I was finally able to ride the technical sections at a decent pace. I’m not at peak fitness yet but happy with my effort and know there is more there. Not the result I was looking for, but 23rd is an okay place to start the season,” she concluded.

The 30.30km Elite Men’s 7-lap race was a nail-biter as Samuel Gaze (Nzl) Specialized Racing halted the winning streak of Nino Schurter (Sui) Scott-SRAM MTB Racing as he out-sprinted the Swiss rider for the win. The top Canuck was Leandre Bouchard (Can) KMC-Ekoi-SR Suntour in 36th.

The race quickly became a 2-horse affair as Gaze and Schurter took the lead with Maxime Marotte (Fra) Cannondale Factory Racing XC in third. Mathieu Van Der Poel (Ned) Corendon-Circus looked strong as he moved up as well but he was never a threat.

Gaze and Schurter were locked in battle with neither able to break the other. Gaze took the lead on the final half lap and as the duo hit the final grass straightaway it was a drag race to the finish. Schurter’s left foot became unclipped at the very end but Gaze had a clear lead to claim his first Elite Men’s World Cup victory.

“It’s a dream come true,” said Gaze. “As we got closer to the finish, I knew I had to be in front to be sure that I had the line for the sprint, and I did it.”

Schurter conceded the victory saying, “I’m a little bit disappointed. It was a tough race and really close. It was bad luck for me at the end coming unclipped but Sam is a strong and talented rider. I didn’t have a solution for him today and he’s going to be hard to beat.”

Bouchard was happy with his race starting in the mid-20s but dropped back to the high 30s to end up in 36th position as the top Canadian.

“My start was great, pointing in the low twenty (22-23). I was calm and in control. From that point I was just barely slower than my group and lost a few positions but a massive pack of riders were just in front of me,” said Bouchard. “In the race analysis the 4th lap was my slowest but I kept accelerating the pace every lap from than point. Having less traffic helped. I went hard on the last lap to score my best lap time aside from the opening lap but still lost two spots to finish 36th.

“I managed my race very well and had clean ride: only made 2-3 minor mistakes. I just needed a bit more power to be at the fitness level I’m looking for. It’s still early in the season so I’m looking for those bullits at the next World Cup and for sure at the Commonwealth Games,” he added.

Peter Disera (Norco Factory Team XC), now in the Elite category, was racing near Bouchard in the mid 30s but couldn’t keep the pace and ended up 45th. Other Canadians included Andrew L’Esperance (Forward Racing) in 57th and Raphael Gagne (Silverback OMX) in 66th.

“Solid race for my first Elite world cup. I am pleased with the result although I was hoping for top 40. Had some great battles and rode with Dre for a bit before a spill set me back – nothing crazy just washed out on a corner when setting up to pass a rider. Oops,” said Disera. “Mid-race I felt like I was fading a bit. It didn’t surprise me, I was racing pretty head down on a pace I would’ve been surprised to sustain. Although it was upsetting when the guys started to turn the screw on the last two laps and I was left in the dust.”

L’Esperance was happy with his start to the season but is also looking for more ahead. “The course was amazing and I was happy to be riding my Norco Revolver FS for this round. It took me a couple laps to find a good rhythm but after that I was riding strong,” said L’Esperance. “Passing opportunities were mostly good but there was a lot of dust with ruts underneath so I tried to stay on the main line. I am happy with my performance but can do more and will look towards more improvement over the season.”

“I was not able to get such a strong start today and, despite some great descending, it was hard to make an impression on the race. I was in the 70s for most of the race but made a last lap surge to move up to 66th. It was not my day but we know there is much more in the tank and look forward to better days ahead,” said Gagne.

The day kicked off with the Under-23 men’s 26km 6-lap race that saw Norway’s Petter Fagerhaug take win over Ben Oliver (Nzl) in second with Neilo Perrin Ganier (Fra) Absolute-Absalon in third. Quinton Disera (Norco Factory Team XC) led the Canucks finishing 24th. He was followed by Raphael Auclair (Pivot Cycles-OTE) in 40th and Auclair’s teammates Felix Belhumeur in 47th and Marc-Andre Fortier in 51st.

“Top 25 – I’m happy with that. That is a result that I can work with. Realistically coming from school and the trainer to here I am happy with that result. There are a few things that could’ve gone a little better thought. I got caught up on the steep climb off the start and bobbled around a bit losing some spots. Heading out on the last lap I put the hammer down and was really pleased with tying everything together for that top 25. More to come – after we finish school,” said Disera.

Results here.