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Pendrel and Nash on the podium in Mont-Sainte-Anne!
2014-08-05
The Luna Pro Team riders gave everything at round five of the World Cup. On a wet hot day, Catharine Pendrel and Katerina Nash powered to second and third places, respectively.
The bikers of Luna Pro Team did very well in the fifth round of the MTB World Cup, held in Mont-Saint-Anne, Canada. Catharine Pendrel finished second, while Katerina Nash stood on the third step of the podium in a race marked by heat, humidity and a rocky, muddy circuit.
With these results, the bikers from the team sponsored by Orbea confirmed they are in great shape, especially Pendrel, who recently earned gold at the Commonwealth Games 2014, held in Glasgow, and had climbed the World Cup podium in Nové Mĕsto na Moravĕ.
‘This was one of the toughest courses, with very hot and humid conditions… I was happy with my start but maybe got too comfortable following… and perhaps I didn’t attack early enough. I had to do my best management to get a good ride out there today. Didn’t feel as sharp as I’d like to feel. But the Commonwealth Games gold last weekend followed by silver is a good week!,’ said Pendrel.
The Canadian race winner was the reigning U23 World Champion, Switzerland’s Jolanda Neff. She took the front on the first lap to finish in a time of 1 hour, 43 minutes and 3 seconds. Pendrel and Nash led the chasing pack but could do nothing to bridge the one-minute gap built by Neff.
As to Georgia Gould, she finished 15th, while in the U23 division, Maghalie Rochette managed to 31st after she exploded a wheel on a jump.
Following round five, Neff secured the lead in the World Cup standings. With two races remaining, she has 900 points, 310 more than the second-placed elite woman rider. Pendrel moved up to 6th from 14th, while and Nash climbed ten spots to a nice 21st.
The four Luna pro riders are now travelling to New York to compete in the World Cup round 6 in Windham, although Pendrel has also set sight on the World Championships in Norway. Good luck, ladies!
World Cup round 5 – Women’s results
1. Jolanda Neff 1:43:03
2. Catharine Pendrel at 1:03
3. Katerina Nash at 1:34
4. Lea Davison at 1:40
5. Emily Batty at 2:00
15. Georgia Gould at 7:13
