Orbea Teams

Do you want to know what are the five podiums Catharine Pendrel considers the most special?

2014-09-11

With the World Championship, the biker of Luna Pro Team has crowned a spectacular season. Now it is time to review her career, her achievements and medals. Like the new Oiz,Pendrel was also #borntowin.

Runner-up at the World Cup (winner at Windham), Canadian MTB Champion, gold in the Commonwealth Games and, now, World Champion! And suffering a collarbone injury in April, the second in less than a year…

On her Alma or her Oiz, Catharine Pendrel has shown she’s an extremely skilled biker and hard worker too, which has translated into new victories and podiums (30 so far in the XC World Cup only) for a rider that looks like she was #borntowin.

At orbea.com, we asked Catharine to choose the five most special podiums in her career. She started saying, ‘Every podium is filled of so many memories that make me smile but if I have to choose…’ And then she chose:

5. Gold at the Pan American Games Rio Brazil 2007. This was my first big multi sport games event. I was not the favourite for the win and had just lost my first top 10 at a World Cup the weekend before due to a mechanical. I was so frustrated by losing that top 10 the weekend before I poured everything into that race and pulled away from the race favourite for my first major international victory.

4. My first World Cup win (Bromont Canada 2008): I woke up to absolutely pouring rain and knew it could be my day to shine. I had a great day and earned the honour of hearing the Canadian anthem played for the first time as I stood on the top step of a World Cup podium.

3. 4th in Beijing Olympics (2008): Not a podium but it was only my 2nd year racing the World Cup Series and was the result that showed me that I could be a consistent medal performer in the future. I left that race very inspired!

2. 2011 World Champs (Champéry, Switzerland): Putting it all together on the biggest day of the year. Having an amazing ride I could share with all the people that supported me

1. World Champs 2014 Hafjell, Norway: Sweetest victory as I was a complete rider on the day, climbing and descending well. I overcame 2 collarbone breaks in 9 months (June 2013, April 2014) and was able to come back and win the most important event of the year. I think it is also much harder to win your 2nd World Champs as being a former champion you come in with more pressure on your shoulders.