“I’m glad I qualified. I didn’t what to expect. Making it to the final is super positive, even though I’m a little disappointed with how it turned out at the end of the final,” said Gagné in a team release.
“In some ways I was used to the format because I used to compete in swimming where there is a heats and finals format. I think that experience came in handy today. Part of the success was team support and I share that success with everyone. I’d like to thank my sponsors Rocky Mountain, Oakley and Cascades for their support. I’m looking forward to the World Cup XC on Sunday and the Czech World Cup next week.”
Daniel Federspiel (Aut) Ötztal Scott Racing Team won the men’s race while Alexandra Engen (Swe) Ghost Factory Racing Team took the women’s event. Andreane Lanthier-Nadeau was the top Canadian woman in 12th.
“I was really impressed with the field of racers I was up against. After I qualified into the heats, I just had to forget that I was competing against the Elite Women,” said Lanthier-Nadeau, in her second year as a U23 rider. “In the Quarter-Final, after a really good start, I clipped out mid-way down the first straight-away.
“I still tried to get back into the Top 2 but there was a lot of aggressive riding and contact so I ended up third in this round. I finished 12th overall at the end of the day. I’m really happy that we did the Eliminator as a team. I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s race and hope to stay clipped in!”
“Raphael had a superb race today. He easily controlled each round of the Eliminator, doing only what it took to move onto the next round. We were pretty certain that Raphael was capable of the win. Unfortunately all of the riders were pushing the limits of control. In the final turn, Raphael was taken out by another rider,” said Dan Proulx, Head Coach of the Canadian Mountain Bike Team in a release.
“Mountain biking is becoming faster, more tactical and more spectacular. We felt that it was important for the entire team to take on this challenge. Our riders learned a lot today. This is one of the best ways to gain experience quickly. It will pay off in the future for our team.”
Finals (brief)
Women
Big Final
1. Alexandra Engen (Swe) Ghost Factory Racing Team 60
2. Kathrin Stirnemann (Sui) Sabine Spitz Haibike Pro Team 40
3. Nadine Rieder (Ger) Topeak Ergon Racing Team 30
4. Cécile Ravanel (Fra) Team GT Skoda 25
Small Final
1. Jenny Rissveds (Swe) Falu CK Sweden 20
2. Ingrid Sofie Jacobsen (Nor) 18
3. Anne Terpstra (Ned) Superior Brentjens Mountainbike Racing 16
4. Jolanda Neff (Sui) Giant Pro XC Team 14
1/4 Finals
12. Andreane Lanthier-Nadeau (Can) Team Canada
Men
Big Final
1. Daniel Federspiel (Aut) Ötztal Scott Racing Team 60
2. Thomas Litscher (Sui) Multivan Merida Biking Team 40
3. Miha Halzer (Slo) 30
4. Raphael Gagne (Can) Team Canada 25
Small Final
1. Christian Pfäffle (Ger) 20
2. Marcel Wildhaber (Sui) Scott Swisspower MTB Racing 18
3. Mirco Widmer (Sui) Giant Dealerteams 16
4. Simon Gegenheimer (Ger) 14
Qualifications (brief)
Women
1. Alexandra Engen (Swe) Ghost Factory Racing Team 1:53.546
2. Jenny Rissveds (Swe) Falu CK Sweden 0.384
3. Jolanda Neff (Sui) Giant Pro XC Team 2.578
4. Eva Lechner (Ita) Team Colnago Sudtirol 3.857
5. Kathrin Stirnemann (Sui) Sabine Spitz Haibike Pro Team 4.693
6. Ramona Forchini (Sui) Strübi Mtb Kader 5.368
7. Nadine Rieder (Ger) Topeak Ergon Racing Team 5.388
8. Anne Terpstra (Ned) Superior Brentjens Mountainbike Racing 6.229
9. Anna Oberparleiter (Ita) Bi & Esse Infotre ASD 6.789
10. Nathalie Schneitter (Sui) Team Colnago Sudtirol 7.687
18. Andreane Lanthier-Nadeau (Can) Team Canada
29. Haley Smith (Can) Team Canada 15.905
30. Cayley Brooks (Can) Team Canada 17.585
Men
1. Miha Halzer (Slo) 1:43.741
2. Daniel Federspiel (Aut) Ötztal Scott Racing Team 0.233
3. Simon Gegenheimer (Ger) 0.390
4. Mirco Widmer (Sui) Giant Dealerteams 0.883
5. Jan Fojtik (Cze) 1.017
6. Rens De Bruijn (Ned) SBJ Bike Team 1.110
7. Lehvi Braam (Ned) 1.110
8. Christian Pfäffle (Ger) 1.272
9. Kenta Gallagher (Gbr) Superior Brentjens Mountainbike Racing 1.418
12. Raphael Gagne (Can) Team Canada 1.658
15. Adam Morka (Can) Wft Coaching 2.693
25. Leandre Bouchard (Can) Team Canada 3.527
37. Mitchell Bailey (Can) Team Canada 5.938
50. Jeremy Martin (Can) Team Canada 8.412