Pendrel wins Fontana cross country

Catharine Pendrel (Luna Pro Team) won round 3 of the USA Cycling US Cup Pro Series presented by Sho-Air Cycling Group in Fontana, California, on Saturday afternoon. With three rounds done and one to go, Katerina Nash (Luna Pro Team) lead the USA Cycling US Cup Pro Series.

Canadian Pendrel kept her Luna Pro Team's USA Cycling US Cup winning streak alive when she won the race ahead of her teammate Nash, who had won the previous two rounds, and Emily Batty (Trek Factory Racing).

The favorites quickly established themselves as the race's leaders on lap 1 of the five-lap race around the 3.5-mile course. Nash, who is from the Czech Republic, set the early pace on a warm sunny day, along with Pendrel, Batty and Georgia Gould (Luna Pro Team). By the end of the first lap, the four were fairly clear of the rest of the field while Australian national champion Rebecca Henderson (Trek Factory Racing) chased in fifth.

For the next few laps, the tenacious Gould would yo-yo on and off the back of the lead trio of Nash, Pendrel and Batty. It wasn't until the fourth lap, when Pendrel made her move, that Gould was dropped for good by the leaders.

Pendrel had been biding her time among the leaders before launching her move on lap four. When she attacked, she quickly and decisively established a gap.
"I've been trying a different strategy every race," said Pendrel. "Last weekend, I tried to drill it the whole time, and today I sat in a bit more and made a late race move to get away. Luckily I felt good."

With no obligation to chase her teammate, Nash sat on and let Batty do all the work to try to close the gap.

Executing perfect tactics, the Luna ladies headed into the final lap with Pendrel comfortably in front. Then Nash took her turn and made her move on Batty. Riding solo for the duration ahead of the Canadian Batty, Nash did not catch Pendrel.

Pendrel rolled in for the win with plenty of time to celebrate. Nash claimed second ahead of Batty in third.

"It's a super strong front end of the field," said Pendrel. "Everyone has their moments and everyone gave their best. It's been great to get Luna up in front at these races. Thanks to Sho-Air for making these happen and thanks to the fans for cheering us on."

With its wide open, mostly treeless hillsides, the Fontana course provided good viewing of large portions of the course, making it especially spectator-friendly.

On the final few laps, Evelyn Dong (Backcountry.com), an up and coming rider and also a podium finisher last week in Bonelli Park, moved her way up and into fifth. Impressively on the last lap, she bridged to fellow American Gould, who was then in fourth place; however, the experienced Gould proved stronger in the end and finished fourth ahead of Dong in fifth.

The USA Cycling US Cup presented by Sho-Air Cycling Group series will continue with the final round, a UCI Category 1 race in Colorado Springs, Colorado on Saturday, June 28.

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