June 15, 2013   (Val di Sole, Italy) –  Canadian mountain biker Emily Batty of Team Trek Factory Racing stood on the third step of the podium after the 2013 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Val di Sole, Italy.

The rider from Brooklin, ON who represented Canada at the 2012 Olympic Games in London last summer rode the course in 1:37:27, and finished less than one minute behind the winning time.

Canadian Mountain Bike Head Coach Dan Proulx was enthusiastic about the day of racing in Italy: “Emily’s ride was very strong and well-paced. She has shown consistency at the front of the field this World Cup season. Emily, and her coach Adam Morka, have done a great job. Emily’s third place today was a great way to end the first block of World Cups this season.”

Canada’s Catharine Pendrel, of Team Luna Pro, also had a good race, taking the sixth position.

Mikaela Kofman of Toronto, ON riding with Canadian-based SCOTT-3RoxRacing finished in 26th position. Kofman improves by nine places her rank from the last World Cup. The breakthrough result for Kofman represents her career best European results to date, showing consistent improvement. Andréanne Pichette finished 50th.

In the U23 races, the two-time Canadian Junior Champion Frédérique Trudel rode her career first U23 World Cup race, and fared well, taking the 13th position.

Antoine Caron posted the best Canadian result of the day of the U23 race, taking the 15th position. Evan Guthrie followed closely Caron, in 23rd place.

This result by Caron is Canada’s best U23 World Cup result in Europe since 2008. Hailing from the crop of first year junior riders brought to Europe in 2009, the U23 program is showing constant evolution, and can now rival with the world’s best.

Added Proulx: “This proves that the Canadian program is achieving success. Our results this weekend, in every category, show that we are rapidly progressing. We have great athletes and coaches all working together to realize this success.”

Rachel Pageau, in the junior women race, finished inside the Top 10, in tenth place.

Elite Women’s results here.
Elite Men’s results here.
U23 Women’s results here.
U23 Men’s results here.
Junior Women’s results here.