Elite Mens podium: Seamus McGrath, Max Plaxton, Geoff Kabush, Derek Zandstra, Andrew Watson
For 2009, the Nationals visited St-Felicien in Quebec. This was the same place where a World Cup was held two years ago. The course and organization received high praises from teams. The course was praised by all riders this year. Seamus McGrath (Jamis) said, « This is mountain biking. »
Geoff Kabush (Maxxis Rocky Mountain) wins
After the junior and cadet age riders rode in morning (with Evan Guthrie of Team BC successfully defending his Junior mens title and Laura Bietola (3 Rox Racing winning the Junior womens title), then it was time for the elite and U23 women. Emily Batty (Toronto Trek Store), was clearly the U23 favourite. She easily repeated her title and caught all but three Elite women, even though she started a minute behind them.
U23 podium party rages
Catharine Pendrel, (Luna), wins her first national championship
The Elite women’s race was a fascinating one. It featured a battle between Premont, the six-time defending champion, and Pendrel who had been, up until now, a regular third place finisher. Pendrel, who just won the BC Bike Race and was a consistent top finisher at the World Cup this year, looks to have a different season. Premont hasn’t raced since May’s second place in the Madrid World Cup. She is currently preparing for the Mont Ste Anne World Cup race.
Marie Helene Premont (Maxxis Rocky Mountain)
Soon after the women began their four-lap race, it started to rain, making the dirt and rooted sections slippery. Pendrel is a natural on the course, as her first ride at the 2007 World Cup was a success. She took to the front right after the start loop.
Marie-Helene was my goal, so I tried to get a gap. However, she was initially receptive to me. But once we started singletrack climbing, I was able open it up a bit.
Pendrel agrees that winning a World Cup is a huge accomplishment, but this is a great achievement to be able win my first national title, and then to be able wear the Canadian World Cups jersey in a few weeks.
Premont was gracious and philosophical in his defeat. I didn’t make the national title a priority this year. I just finished a three-week training session to prepare for Mont Ste Anne. It was clear that my legs were very heavy this morning, so it would be difficult to defend the title. Catharine rode a strong race, and deserves to be champion.
The mens race pitted Kabush against U.S. National series leader Max Plaxton (Sho-Air/Specialized), Canada Cup series leader Derek Zandstra (3 Rox Racing) and BC Bike Race winner Seamus McGrath. Kabush had an extremely rollercoaster season and looked more vulnerable than usual.
Andrew Watson, Team Ontarios, got the hole out of the start loop as the men started their five-lap race. The rain stopped at the start of the men’s race. However, it would return briefly during the middle part of the race. Zandstra, who was using a more aggressive strategy for the race than usual, overtook Watson in the first lap.
Zandstra explained that he decided to race it differently and to be the pace-setter. Geoff and me raced together in the Canada Cup in Canmore several weeks ago so I knew I could keep up with him.
Zandstra led Plaxton, Kabush, and McGrath for most of the four laps. Watson was yo-yoing around 15-25 seconds behind. Plaxton made the move to split the race, attacking on the last climb of the lap late in the fourth lap.
Kabush commented that he was amazed at how it held together for so long. I was following them closely, as Max and Derek kept making little surges. But it wasn’t enough to break it apart. Max was the one I was most worried about, as he had been riding very well this year. Seamus was hanging out at his back and I wasn’t sure if he was preparing for a big attack.
McGrath had reached his limit because Plaxton jumped and only Zandstra or Kabush could react. They stayed together, Plaxton and Zandstra making minor feints until just before the singletrack climb when Kabush launched an attack that no one could resist.
Max Plaxton (Sho-Air/Specialized)
Plaxton was immediately 12 seconds ahead of him. Plaxton fought back for the last two kilometres but couldn’t close the gap. Zandstra took the bronze medal at 42 seconds.
Raphal Gagn U23 Mens Winner
Raphael Gagne, Maxxis-Rocky Mountain’s U23 racer, was in a class all his own. He started one minute behind the elite field but finished eighth overall. Cameron Jette (Toronto Trek Store), took silver, and Cody canning(Team Alberta) bronze.
Elite Women
1 Catharine Pendrel, (BC), Luna Pro Team 2 Marie-Hlne Pramont (QC), Team MAXXIS-Rocky Mountain Bicycles at 6 Amanda Sin (ON), Trek Toronto 5 Karine Travaillaude (QC), Specialized 6 Caroline Villeneuve(QC), Norco Factory Team 1 7 Sandra Walter LOCAL RIDE WOMENS MTB 8 Cindy Montambault QC) Accro Vlo Val-dOr1 9 Kathleen Villeneuve QC) Cycles des Monts 1 11 Marie Allaire (ON) XPREZO2 DNF Catherine Vipond (ON), Norco Factory Team) Norco Factory Team
DNF Anne-Marie Jobin (QC) Warrior Racing
Emily Batty won the U23 women’s race
U23 Women
1 Emily Batty (ON) TREK STORE RACE TEAM 2 Mikaela Kofman (QC) 3 Rox Racing at 3 Rbecca Beaumont (QC) Cyclone dAlma/quipe du Qubec 1 4 Stphanie Lacoursire (QC) Cyclone dAlma/quipe Qubec 1 5 Ashley Barson (QC) CoachChris.ca/Ted Velikonja 1 6 Andranne Pichette (QC) CVM Subway-Gntik 1 7 Kaitlin Michener (ON) TEAM ONTARIO 1 8 Sarah Moore (QC) CVM Val-David 2 9 Cassandre Olivier-Lapierre (QC) CVM Subway-Gntik 3 10 Krysten Ong (AB) Team Alberta -1 Lap
DNF Marie-Claude Surprenant (QC) XPREZO
DNF Kelly Hall (AB), Team Alberta
DNS Bianca Adolf (BC) Cycling BC
Elite Men
Geoff Kabush (BC), Team Maxxis–Rocky Mountain 2 Max Plaxton(BC), Specialized/Sho Air/ Specialized at 3 Derek Zandstra (4ON) 3 Rox Racing 5 Seamus McGrath (3BC), Jamis / Oakley 5) Andrew Watson (ON), Norco Factory Team 6 Matthew Hadley (7NB) XPREZO 7 Julien Fillion (7) Devinci 8 Ericbatty (ON), Trek Store Team Ontario 11 Adam Morka (ON), Trek Store Race Team 1 17 Marc-Andr Daigle (1 18) Warri Racing 1 19 Simon Happy QC) RST Vlosports
1 Raphal Gagn, (QC), Team MAXXIS–Rocky Mountain Bicycles 2. Cameron Jette (ON), TREK STORE TEAM at 3. Cody Canning (AB), Team Alberta 4. Ryan Atkins (ON), Team Ontario EMD Serono Specialized 5. Lni Trudel, (QC), Specialized 6. Zachary Hughes (ON), Norco Evolution 1 7. Jon Kinsie (ON), Team Ontario 1 10. Andrew Thomas (SK), Team SASK 1.
