Pendrel claims third elite national title in Canmore
Prémont, Batty make up podium














Catharine Pendrel (Luna) took her third consecutive elite women's title at the Canadian National cross country championships on Saturday in Canmore, Alberta.
Held in perfect conditions beneath the Three Sisters mountains in Kananaskis Country, Canada's top professional mountain bike racers made a rare appearance on Canadian soil to battle for the right to race in the maple leaf jersey of national champion for the next 12 months.
Pendrel, coming off a first and second place finish in the World Cup over the past two weeks, was untouchable in the four lap, 28.7 kilometre race. She dropped former champion Marie-Helene Premont (Maxxis-Rocky Mountain) on the main climb of the first lap, and soloed in two minutes and two seconds in front of Premont. Emily Batty (Subaru-Trek) took the bronze medal, four minutes and 29 seconds in arrears.
"I knew that I had good form," explained Pendrel, "but Marie has been getting stronger and stronger in the last few World Cups, so I didn't take anything for granted. We went up the main climb together, but I think I was riding the technical descents a bit better, so I was able to get a gap there, and then extend it."
In earlier morning races, Frederique Trudel (Equipe Quebec) followed up last weekend's World Cup victory with her first national title in the Junior women's race. Marie-Pierre Nadon won the U17 women's race.
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catharine Pendrel (Luna Pro Team) | 1:31:51 |
| 2 | Marie-Hélène Prémont (Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain) | 0:02:02 |
| 3 | Emily Batty (Subaru-Trek) | 0:04:29 |
| 4 | Amanda Sin (3 Rox Racing) | 0:06:17 |
| 5 | Sandra Walter (Xprezo-Borsao) | 0:07:25 |
| 6 | Catherine Vipond (Norco Factory Team) | 0:09:01 |
| 7 | Brandi Heisterman (Team Whistler/Rocky Mountain) | 0:09:48 |
| 8 | Mical Dyck (Pro City Racing) | 0:10:18 |
| 9 | Jean Ann Berkenpas (Xprezo-Borsao) | 0:10:25 |
| 10 | Danelle Kabush (Luna Pro Team) | 0:11:45 |
| 11 | Margie Smith (Independent) | 0:16:16 |
| 12 | Kate Aardal (Hardcore Cycling Club) | 0:16:53 |
| 13 | Brittany Webster (AWCA) | 0:20:00 |
| 14 | Karen Trueman (Oak Bay Bicycles) | 0:21:15 |
| 15 | Magi Scallion (Cafe Racers) | 0:25:43 |
| 16 | Annick Chrétien (CVM Val-David) | 0:26:44 |
| -2Laps | Shantel Koenig (Team Alberta) | Row 16 - Cell 2 |
| DNF | Cindy Montambault (CVM Val-David) | Row 17 - Cell 2 |
| DNF | Julie Lafreniere (Stevens Racing p/b The Cyclery) | Row 18 - Cell 2 |
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mikaela Kofman (3 Rox Racing) | 1:14:30 |
| 2 | Rebecca Beaumont (Équipe du Québec) | 0:01:26 |
| 3 | Laura Bietola (3 Rox Racing) | 0:04:48 |
| 4 | Andréanne Pichette (Équipe du Québec) | 0:05:50 |
| 5 | Kristina Laforge (Équipe du Québec) | 0:08:12 |
| 6 | Valérie Meunier (Équipe du Québec/Cyclone d'Alma/DeVinci) | 0:09:09 |
| 7 | Anna Schappert (Team Manitoba) | 0:12:48 |
| 8 | Cayley Brooks (Team Ontario/Trek Canada) | 0:16:56 |
| DNF | Ashley Barson (Team Ontario/CoachChris.Ca) | Row 8 - Cell 2 |
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
Belgian Waffle Ride: Hayden Christian secures Quad-Tripel Crown of Gravel with victory in Montana while Cécile Lejeune wraps up women's overall title with runner-up finish
Stella Hobbs goes solo for second individual race win in Bozeman while Christian best in five-rider sprint -
'It's annoying to be out-numbered like that' - Quinn Simmons lets his 'legs talk' with solo march on final lap for third USPro Road National title
25-year-old heads to Tour de France where 'my biggest dream of the whole season is to win a stage wearing this jersey' -
Why a resurgent Marlen Reusser should be a real worry for Demi Vollering and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot at the Tour de France Femmes – Analysis
Swiss rider scorches to third title at home Tour de Suisse, with ominously more performance still to gain before August -
'A smartphone-like user experience' – The Hammerhead Karoo has just hit its best price of the year in this Amazon Prime Day deal
At full price, the Karoo 3 impressed our expert tester with its brilliant touchscreen that made it our top choice for cycling navigation



