February 24, 2018 (Banyoles, Spain) – Canada’s Catharine Pendrel (Clif Pro Team) took home her first podium for 2018 finishing third at the 28km, 4-lap Copa Catalana Internacional in Spain. Fellow Canuck Haley Smith (Norco Factory Team) was 6th followed by Emily Batty (Can) Trek Factory Racing XC in 8th for the three Canadians in the top 10. Elisabeth Brandau (Ger) RSC Schonaich was the winner.

On the opening lap Pendrel set a hard early pace gaining 30 seconds on Brandau and Batty. By the end of the second lap Brandauer had dropped Batty and was closing on Pendrel. On the final lap Helen Grobert (Ger) Cannondale Factory Racing joined the two leaders.

With 2km to go Brandauer attacked and established a gap which she held to the end for the win. Pendrel and Grobert sprinted to the line with the German taking second and Pendrel third. “I am very happy,” said Brandauer at the finish of the first Super Cup Massi 2018 race in Banyoles. “My goal was to be among the top fifteen.”

In the U23 women’s race Canada’s  Sidney McGill (Focus CX Canada) raced to a 12-place finish behind winner Hélène Clauzel (Fra) Team KMC-Ekoi-SR Sountur.

Results

Elite Women

1. Elisabeth Brandau (Ger) RSC Schonaich 1:25:18
2. Helen Grobert (Ger) Cannondale Factory Racing 0:15
3. Catharine Pendrel (Can) Clif Pro Team
4. Annie Last (Gbr) Team KMC-Ekoi-SR Sountur 0:59
5. Sabrina Enaux (Fra) Team Specialized Salveco 1:22
6. Haley Smith (Can) Norco Factory Team 2:02
7. Julie Bresset (Fra) Team Scott Breizh VTT Du 2:13
8. Emily Batty (Can) Trek Factory Racing XC 2:53
9. Lea Davison (USA) Clif Pro Team 3:27
10. Katrin Leumann (Sui) 3:43

15. Rebecca Beaumont (Can) Marin X Pepermint 7:55

U23 Women

1. Hélène Clauzel (Fra) Team KMC-Ekoi-SR Sountur 1:28:05
2. Lucie Urruty (Fra) Scott Creuse Oxygene Guer 0:46
3. Loana Lecomte (Fra) Sunn-Beaumes De Venise 0:55

12. Sidney McGill (Can) Focus CX Canada 9:25