Nash wins her first World Cup in Mont-Sainte-Anne

Katerina Nash (Luna) won her first-ever career World Cup on Saturday in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Quebec, Canada. She rode a smart race to take the victory ahead of Maja Wloszczowska (Giant Pro XC Team) and Tanja Zakelj (Unior Tools Team).

"I'm 35 and I finally did it! I'm super excited," said Nash to Redbull.tv after finishing. "It was hard, but I had a good, clean race and waited for the right moment to attack on the final lap. I got away."

"I've raced in Mont-Sainte-Anne for years. I feel like I've been on every rock and root and corner over the years. I felt like I was prepared."

Nash's success forced her to re-evaluate her late season plans. "I was going to skip the World Cup finals and go on vacation since it will be after Worlds, but I'm going to reschedule my plans."

After rain earlier in the week, race day dawned with sunny skies, and a wind that dried out the course, making the track fast. World champion Julie Bresset (BH-SR Suntour-KMC) proved that she is back on form after an early season injury by riding away from the women's field on the first lap, opening a substantial 25-second lead by the end of the lap.

The chasers were getting organized behind, and four riders began to reel her in over the next few laps - Nash, Eva Lechner (Colnago Sudtirol), Wloszczowska and Tanja Zakelj (Unior Tools). Lechner was the first dropped, and then Zakelj was gapped by the other two. It wasn't until lap five that Nash and Wlozczowska finally caught Bresset.

With one lap to go, the top four women were within seven seconds of each other: Nash, Wloszczowska, Zakelj and Bresset.

Nash attacked on the switchback climb on the final lap of six and got what would prove a decisive gap over Wloszczowska. World Cup leader Zakelj passed Bresset, who is working her way back into top form after breaking her collarbone earlier this year.

Nash looked to be firmly in control, but she wasn't taking any chances - just a couple of weeks earlier she was caught in the final kilometre at the Andorra World Cup to finish a disappointing second.

This time there would be no disappointment, as the Czech rider cruised across the line with her arms in the air and big smile on her face; 17 seconds ahead of Wloszczowska, with a late charging Zakelj taking third at 24 seconds.

US cross country national champion Lea Davison (Specialized Racing), fresh off winning the Vermont Pro XCT last weekend, put in an impressive ride to finish in fifth as the top North American.

"Mont-Sainte-Anne was where I started my career, as a junior, so to finally get on the podium here as an elite rider is pretty special to me," said Davison.

Catharine Pendrel (Luna), continuing her return to form after suffering a broken collarbone less than two months ago, finished eighth, after admitting that she may have ridden too cautiously in the opening lap, worried about fitness.

Zakelj retained the overall World Cup lead by finishing third. She tops the overall standings with 950 points, while Nash moves into second at 865 points, followed by Wloszczowska at 780. Pendrel moves from 11th to eighth in the standings, tied with Emily Batty (Trek Factory Racing) on points, while Davison jumps from 15th to 11th in the overall standings.

Full Results

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Elite women
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna Pro Team1:30:27
2Maja Wloszczowska (Pol) Giant Pro XC Team0:00:17
3Tanja Zakelj (Slo) Unior Tools Team0:00:24
4Julie Bresset (Fra) BH - SR Suntour - KMC0:00:48
5Lea Davison (USA) Specialized Racing XC0:01:21
6Eva Lechner (Ita) Team Colnago Sudtirol0:01:54
7Jolanda Neff* (Swi) Giant Pro XC Team0:02:06
8Catharine Pendrel (Can) Luna Pro Team0:03:33
9Annika Langvad (Den) Team Davinci - Specialized0:04:02
10Emily Batty (Can) Trek Factory Racing0:04:34
11Alexandra Engen (Swe) Ghost Factory Racing Team0:05:25
12Mary Mcconneloug (USA)0:05:44
13Elisabeth Osl (Aut) Ghost Factory Racing Team0:06:02
14Lene Byberg (Nor)0:06:09
15Georgia Gould (USA) Luna Pro Team0:06:49
16Sandra Walter (Can)0:07:32
17Katrin Leumann (Swi) Ghost Factory Racing Team0:07:48
18Sabrina Enaux (Fra)0:08:53
19Andréanne Pichette (Can)0:09:35
20Daniela Campuzano (Mex)0:10:17
21Amanda Sin (Can) Scott-3Roxracing0:10:23
22Mikaela Kofman (Can) Scott-3Roxracing0:11:12
23Erin Huck (USA)0:11:47
24Lucie Chainel-Lefevre (Fra) BH - SR Suntour - KMC0:13:24
25Amy Dombroski (USA)0:13:49
26Judy Freeman (USA)0:14:32
27Cindy Montambault (Can)0:14:44
-1lapIsabella Moreira Lacerda (Bra)Row 27 - Cell 2
-1lapTeal Stetson-Lee (USA) Luna Pro TeamRow 28 - Cell 2
-1lapChloe Woodruff (USA)Row 29 - Cell 2
-1lapMandy Dreyer (Can)Row 30 - Cell 2
-1lapLaura Lorenza Morfin Macouzet (Mex)Row 31 - Cell 2
-2lapsRebecca Beaumont (Can)Row 32 - Cell 2
-2lapsJamie Busch (USA)Row 33 - Cell 2
-2lapsSarah Kaufmann (USA)Row 34 - Cell 2
-3lapsAnnick Chretien (Can)Row 35 - Cell 2
-3lapsErica Tingey (USA)Row 36 - Cell 2
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Teams
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Luna Pro Team79pts
2Giant Pro XC Team59Row 1 - Cell 3
3Ghost Factory Racing Team52Row 2 - Cell 3
4BH - SR Suntour - KMC37Row 3 - Cell 3
5Unior Tools Team32Row 4 - Cell 3
6Specialized Racing XC28Row 5 - Cell 3
7Team Colnago Sudtirol26Row 6 - Cell 3
8Team Davinci - Specialized22Row 7 - Cell 3
9Trek Factory Racing21Row 8 - Cell 3
10Scott-3Roxracing19Row 9 - Cell 3
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Elite women World Cup standings after five rounds
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Tanja Zakelj (Slo) Unior Tools Team950pts
2Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna Pro Team865Row 1 - Cell 3
3Maja Wloszczowska (Pol) Giant Pro XC Team780Row 2 - Cell 3
4Eva Lechner (Ita) Team Colnago Sudtirol760Row 3 - Cell 3
5Alexandra Engen (Swe) Ghost Factory Racing Team585Row 4 - Cell 3
6Katrin Leumann (Swi) Ghost Factory Racing Team528Row 5 - Cell 3
7Jolanda Neff* (Swi) Giant Pro XC Team506Row 6 - Cell 3
8Catharine Pendrel (Can) Luna Pro Team485Row 7 - Cell 3
9Emily Batty (Can) Trek Factory Racing485Row 8 - Cell 3
10Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Nor) Multivan Merida Biking Team449Row 9 - Cell 3
11Lea Davison (USA) Specialized Racing XC432Row 10 - Cell 3
12Adelheid Morath (Ger) Sabine Spitz Haibike Pro Team406Row 11 - Cell 3
13Esther Süss (Swi) Wheeler - Ixs Team365Row 12 - Cell 3
14Annika Langvad (Den) Team Davinci - Specialized350Row 13 - Cell 3
15Irina Kalentieva (Rus) Topeak Ergon Racing Team328Row 14 - Cell 3
16Georgia Gould (USA) Luna Pro Team320Row 15 - Cell 3
17Elisabeth Osl (Aut) Ghost Factory Racing Team316Row 16 - Cell 3
18Blaza Klemencic (Slo) Calcit Bike Team298Row 17 - Cell 3
19Julie Bresset (Fra) BH - SR Suntour - KMC274Row 18 - Cell 3
20Kathrin Stirnemann (Swi) Sabine Spitz Haibike Pro Team267Row 19 - Cell 3
21Sabrina Enaux (Fra)264Row 20 - Cell 3
22Mary Mcconneloug (USA)253Row 21 - Cell 3
23Sabine Spitz (Ger) Sabine Spitz Haibike Pro Team250Row 22 - Cell 3
24Tereza Hurikova (Cze) Specialized Racing XC244Row 23 - Cell 3
25Nathalie Schneitter (Swi) Team Colnago Sudtirol242Row 24 - Cell 3
26Corina Gantenbein (Swi) Fischer-BMC242Row 25 - Cell 3
27Daniela Campuzano (Mex)220Row 26 - Cell 3
28Hanna Klein (Ger)218Row 27 - Cell 3
29Aleksandra Dawidowicz (Pol) Bi&Esse Carrera194Row 28 - Cell 3
30Vera Andreeva (Rus) Team Protek182Row 29 - Cell 3
31Githa Michiels (Bel) Toka Print MTB Team180Row 30 - Cell 3
32Pauline Ferrand Prevot* (Fra) Giant Pro XC Team164Row 31 - Cell 3
33Lene Byberg (Nor)162Row 32 - Cell 3
34Mikaela Kofman (Can) Scott-3Roxracing152Row 33 - Cell 3
35Marianne Vos (Ned)150Row 34 - Cell 3
36Annie Last (GBr) Trek Factory Racing141Row 35 - Cell 3
37Judy Freeman (USA)135Row 36 - Cell 3
38Amanda Sin (Can) Scott-3Roxracing130Row 37 - Cell 3
39Lucie Chainel-Lefevre (Fra) BH - SR Suntour - KMC126Row 38 - Cell 3
40Anna Villar Argente (Spa)123Row 39 - Cell 3
41Jacquelina Alvarez (Arg)117Row 40 - Cell 3
42Fanny Bourdon (Fra) Look - Beaumes De Venise104Row 41 - Cell 3
43Nina Wrobel (Ger)99Row 42 - Cell 3
44Nadine Rieder (Ger) Topeak Ergon Racing Team95Row 43 - Cell 3
45Erin Huck (USA)94Row 44 - Cell 3
46Agustina Maria Apaza (Arg)88Row 45 - Cell 3
47Katarzyna Solus-Miskowicz (Pol)88Row 46 - Cell 3
48Andréanne Pichette (Can)86Row 47 - Cell 3
49Nataliya Krompets (Ukr) ISD MTB Team79Row 48 - Cell 3
50Jitka Skarnitzlova (Cze)79Row 49 - Cell 3
51Lee Craigie (GBr)79Row 50 - Cell 3
52Anja Gradl (Ger) Team Bulls79Row 51 - Cell 3
53Barbara Benko (Hun) Focus XC Team79Row 52 - Cell 3
54Kate Fluker (NZl)78Row 53 - Cell 3
55Elisabeth Brandau (Ger)77Row 54 - Cell 3
56Paula Gorycka (Pol) 4F Racing Team75Row 55 - Cell 3
57Sandra Walter (Can)74Row 56 - Cell 3
58Chengyuan Ren (Chn)74Row 57 - Cell 3
59Elisabeth Sveum (Nor)74Row 58 - Cell 3
60Anna Szafraniec (Pol)70Row 59 - Cell 3
61Serena Calvetti (Ita) Torpado Surfing Shop70Row 60 - Cell 3
62Samara Sheppard (NZl) Toka Print MTB Team64Row 61 - Cell 3
63Elvira Khayrullina (Rus)57Row 62 - Cell 3
64Amy Dombroski (USA)56Row 63 - Cell 3
65Cindy Montambault (Can)52Row 64 - Cell 3
66Isabella Moreira Lacerda (Bra)50Row 65 - Cell 3
67Kateryna Naberezhna (Ukr) ISD MTB Team49Row 66 - Cell 3
68Teal Stetson-Lee (USA) Luna Pro Team48Row 67 - Cell 3
69Judith Pollinger (Ita)48Row 68 - Cell 3
70Chloe Woodruff (USA)46Row 69 - Cell 3
71Franziska Brun (Swi)45Row 70 - Cell 3
72Mandy Dreyer (Can)44Row 71 - Cell 3
73Katherine O'neill (NZl)44Row 72 - Cell 3
74Laura Lorenza Morfin Macouzet (Mex)42Row 73 - Cell 3
75Lucia Vazquez Crespo (Spa)41Row 74 - Cell 3
76Rebecca Beaumont (Can)40Row 75 - Cell 3
77Lucie Vesela (Cze)39Row 76 - Cell 3
78Jamie Busch (USA)38Row 77 - Cell 3
79Sarah Kaufmann (USA)36Row 78 - Cell 3
80Annick Chretien (Can)34Row 79 - Cell 3
81Sandra Santanyes Murillo (Spa)34Row 80 - Cell 3
82Erica Tingey (USA)32Row 81 - Cell 3
83Nikki Harris (GBr)32Row 82 - Cell 3
84Ann Berglund (Swe)30Row 83 - Cell 3
85Sarah Koba (Swi) Jb Felt Team29Row 84 - Cell 3
86Oksana Rybakova (Rus)28Row 85 - Cell 3
87Irina Slobodyan (Ukr)28Row 86 - Cell 3
88Joana Barbosa (Por)26Row 87 - Cell 3
89Anna Oberparleiter (Ita)23Row 88 - Cell 3
90Laura Metzler (Fra) BH - SR Suntour - KMC18Row 89 - Cell 3
91Helle Qvortrup Bachmann (Den)17Row 90 - Cell 3
92Hielke Elferink (Ned)14Row 91 - Cell 3
93Lenka Bulisova (Cze)13Row 92 - Cell 3
94Ruth Owen-Evans (GBr)12Row 93 - Cell 3
95Asuman Bura Balci (Tur)11Row 94 - Cell 3
96Laura Turpijn (Ned) Sbj Bike Team8Row 95 - Cell 3
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Team World Cup standings
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Luna Pro Team305pts
2Giant Pro XC Team285Row 1 - Cell 3
3Ghost Factory Racing Team278Row 2 - Cell 3
4Team Colnago Sudtirol177Row 3 - Cell 3
5Sabine Spitz Haibike Pro Team170Row 4 - Cell 3
6Unior Tools Team170Row 5 - Cell 3
7Trek Factory Racing126Row 6 - Cell 3
8Specialized Racing XC123Row 7 - Cell 3
9Multivan Merida Biking Team89Row 8 - Cell 3
10Wheeler - Ixs Team79Row 9 - Cell 3
11Topeak Ergon Racing Team68Row 10 - Cell 3
12BH - SR Suntour - KMC62Row 11 - Cell 3
13Team Davinci - Specialized59Row 12 - Cell 3
14Calcit Bike Team55Row 13 - Cell 3
15Fischer-BMC33Row 14 - Cell 3
16Bi&Esse Carrera31Row 15 - Cell 3
17Team Protek25Row 16 - Cell 3
18Scott-3Roxracing24Row 17 - Cell 3
19Toka Print MTB Team14Row 18 - Cell 3
20ISD MTB Team8Row 19 - Cell 3
214F Racing Team1Row 20 - Cell 3

 

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