May 30, 2014 (Albstadt, Germany) – Less than a week after his fifth place in the cross-country race at the World Cup in Czech Republic, Canadian mountain biker Léandre Bouchard of Alma, QC punched again on Friday. This time, the young rider finished fourth of the Cross Country Eliminator at the World Cup in Albstadt, Germany, his career-best result in the event.

Bouchard, the reigning Canadian Champion in the discipline, easily qualified for the elimination rounds finishing with the second fastest time of the qualifying round, and then went on to win the next three rounds to earn his berth to the big final, where he placed fourth. Fabrice Mels (Bel) Salcano Alanya was the winner.

“I’m really happy to make my first World Cup podium. My physical form is good right now. This is a good sign for the cross country race on Sunday. I’m happy to see I still have good legs from last weekend’s World Cup,” said Bouchard, ecstatic after the award ceremonies.

Canada’s mountain bike head coach Dan Proulx praised the efforts and Bouchard’s progression: “Today’s ride shows, once again, that Léandre is on the right track. He’s competitive in cross country and in the Eliminator at the World level. Léandre is the heart of our team. When he does well, it inspires all of us. Everyone is so happy for him!” Bouchard is now 9th overall in XCE standings.

Bouchard will race the U23 cross-country race on Sunday prior to his return to Canada, where he will jump on a road bike to race the Grand Prix cycliste de Saguenay, in his hometown.

Canadians Peter Disera of Barrie, ON, Sebastien Cadieux-Duval of Prévost, QC and Andrew l’Espérance of Halifax, Nova Scotia all qualified for the elimination round, but did advance from the opening round.

In the women’s race the top Canadian women was Cindy Montambault (CVM 2 Vals) who finished 17th after qualifying in 12th. Rachel Pageau (Can) Team Canada ended up 20th on the day after qualifying 22nd.

Kathrin Stirnemann (Sui) Sabine Spitz Haibike Pro Team took the win over series leader Alexandra Engen (Swe) Ghost Factory Racing with Linda Indergand (Sui) Strüby-BIXS Team in third. Engen continues to lead overall with 160 points over Stirnemann in second with 125 points.

The cross-country races will be held Saturday for the junior and U23 women categories, and Sunday for the elite and U23 men categories.

Results

Men

Big Final
1. Fabrice Mels* (Bel) Salcano Alanya
2. Paul Van Der Ploeg (Aus)
3. Patrick Lüthi* (Sui)
4. Leandre Bouchard* (Can)

Small Final
5. Simon Stiebjahn (Ger) Team Bulls
6. Heiko Gutmann (Ger)
7. Elia Silvestri (Ita)
8. Catriel Andres Soto (Arg) MMR Bikes Pro Team

1/4 Finals
9. Roger Jenny* (Sui)
10. Andy Eyring (Ger)
11. Emil Lindgren (Swe) Giant Pro XC Team
12. Lehvi Braam* (Ned)
13. Kevin Miquel (Fra)
14. Miha Halzer (Slo)
15. Miguel Martinez (Fra) Tropix-FRM
16. Borys Goral (Pol)

1/8 Finals
17. Ludek Seller* (Cze) Ceska Sporitelna Specialized Junior MTB Team
18. Jan Nesvadba (Cze)
19. Maxime Herold* (Fra) Calvisson VTT
20. Andrew L’Esperance (Can)
21. Peter Disera* (Can)
22. Titouan Perrin Ganier (Fra) Focus Rotor Coaching-System
23. Marco Schätzing (Ger)
24. Stefan Peter* (Sui) Wheeler – IXS Team
25. Luiz Cocuzzi* (Bra)
26. Evgenii Pechenin (Rus) Format-Udmurtia
27. Martino Fruet (Ita)
28. Fabian Costa* (Aut)
29. Patryk Adamkiewicz* (Pol) Sante-BSA Whistle Team
30. Kevin Berginc* (Slo) Unior Tools Team
31. Sébastien Cadieux-Duval (Can)
32. Adria Noguera Soldevila* (Esp)

Women

Big Final
1. Kathrin Stirnemann (Sui) Sabine Spitz Haibike Pro Team
2. Alexandra Engen (Swe) Ghost Factory Racing
3. Linda Indergand (Sui) Strüby-BIXS Team
4. Anne Terpstra (Ned) Betch.NL Superior Brentjens MTB Racing Team

Small Final
5. Ingrid Boe Jacobsen (Nor) Sepura XC Superior
6. Ramona Forchini (Sui) Strüby-BIXS Team
7. Anna Oberparleiter (Ita)
8. Lena Putz (Ger) Genesis Mountainbike Racing Team

1/4 Finals
9. Lisa Mitterbauer (Aut) Feenstra Felt p/b Kenda Bike Team
10. Veronika Brüchle* (Ger)
11. Elvira Khayrullina (Rus)
12. Jelena Eric (Srb) Serbia
13. Aline Seitz (Sui) Switzerland
14. Nadine Rieder (Ger)
15. Peta Mullens (Aus) Team Colnago Sudtirol
16. Hielke Elferink (Ned)

1/8 Finals
17. Cindy Montambault (Can)
18. Iwona Kurczab* (Pol)
19. Laura Charles* (Fra) Focus Rotor Coaching-System
20. Rachel Pageau (Can)
21. Tina Kindlhofer (Aut)
22. Iryna Popova (Ukr) Cycling Club Roma MTB Team
23. Jennifer Kupferschmied (Sui) Wheeler – IXS Team
24. Janina Wust (Sui) Wheeler – IXS Team
25. Maxine Filby (Gbr)
26. Lucie Vesela (Cze)
27. Nina Homovec (Slo)
28. Anna Villar Argente (Esp)
29. Anna Konovalova (Rus) Format-Udmurtia
30. Stephanie Dohrn (Ger)
31. Milica Rakic (Srb) Serbia
DNS Aleksandra Dawidowicz (Pol)

* = Under 23

Qualifications here.