September 3, 2011
Canada’s Catharine Pendrel of Luna Pro Team has won the gold medal at the World Championships in Champéry, Switzerland, beating reigning champ Maja Włoszczowska from Poland and Eva Lechner from Italy. Pendrel was the fastest on her Orbea Alma, defeating the runner-up by 28” and the Italian biker by 1’36”.
Pendrel, who had won the silver medal at the World Cup, rode to an easy victory in the World Championships. At the big event held in Switzerland, Włoszczowska found herself on the lead with Pendrel hot on her heels and ready to attack. The right moment came soon after the woman from Poland had a flat tyre on lap two. Then Catharine kept the gap on her rivals until the end of the race.
“I’d finished fourth and sixth before, but this time I wanted gold. I was definitely kind of nervous knowing Maja was coming back for me,” said Pendrel after the race. “Maja was climbing exceptionally well and so I tried to get a gap on that descent and that’s where Maja flatted. She was able to come back from that and she started to bring in the time so I knew she was motivated,” she added.
Meanwhile, in the elite men’s race, Julien Absalon of Orbea Racing Team took the bronze medal. Czech Jaroslav Kulhavý became World Champion and Switzerland’s Nino Schurter, who dominated the entire race but could not beat the World Cup winner, was second.
Although the Frenchman wanted to recover the rainbow jersey he took off three years ago, it was a good result indeed, as Julien showed he is still one of the world’s best mountain bike racers. “He wanted to win, but finishing third wasn’t bad. This result shows Julien has still a long way to go. He has to work hard to win but he’s still an outstanding rider,” said Orbea Racing Team Sports Manager Ixio Barandiaran.
Also worth mentioning is Iñaki Lejarreta’s good performance. He finished 14th with his Orbea Oiz. “Well done, Iñaki!,” exclaimed Ixio. Rubén Ruzafa, on the other hand, was out of luck: “He couldn’t finish. He wasn’t feeling well and had to drop out,” Barandiaran explained.
Regarding Pendrel’s victory, Ixio believed it was “a reward to the strong teamwork they’ve done for years. She deserved to win; she’s a biker with a future that knows no bounds,” the Sports Manager concluded.
1. Jaroslav Kulhavý 1:44:30
2. Nino Schurter at 0:47
3. Julien Absalon at 1:26
4. José Antonio Hermida Ramos at 2:09
5. Lukas Flückiger at 4:29
14. Iñaki Lejarreta Errasti at 6:52
1. Catharine Pendrel 1:46:14
2. Maja Włoszczowska at 0:28
3. Eva Lechner at 1:36
4. Irina Kalentieva at 2:05
5. Nathalie Schneitter at 3:27
Mountain Bikes