Posted by Editoress on 07/2/11
It is a beautiful sunny day here in Mont Ste-Anne, after recent days of rain, and the women's XC is about to start.
All of the top women are in attendance with the exception if Ren Chenyuan. 55 starters in total.
LOTS of Canadians: Catharine Pendrel (Luna Pro Team), Marie-Helene Premont (Team Maxxis - Rocky Mountain), Amanda Sin (3 Rox Racing), Catherine Vipond (Norco Factory Team), Mical Dyck (Trek Canada), Jean Ann Berkenpas (XPREZO-BORSAO), Sandra Walter (XPREZO-BORSAO), Cindy Montambault (CVM Val David), Brandi Heisterman (Team Whistler/Rocky Mountain), Caroline Villeneuve
This is Marie Helene Premont's home ground and her supporters are out in numbers to cheer her on
The Elite women will do 5 laps (with a slightly longer 1st lap) and the U23 women 4 laps.
U23
Kathrin Stirnemann (Central Haibike Pro Team) has dropped out ?
Lap 1
And they are off. Eva Lechner (Colnago Farbe Sudtirol) and Katrin Leumann (Ghost Factory Racing Team) at the front leading up the climb.
Marie-Helene Premont (Team Maxxis - Rocky Mountain) sitting top 5. Catharine Pendrel (Luna Pro Team) has had a bad start and sitting 15th
Although it is a sunny day
11:51 am ET
Gould had taken the lead up the climb, but crashed coming down into the Beatrice and she is passed by Eva Lechner (Colnago Farbe Sudtirol) then Nathalie Schneitter (Colnago Farbe Sudtirol) in 2nd
A few top riders are well back. Maja Wloszczowska (CCC Polkowice) is struggling,
Premont and Irina Kalentieva (Topeak Ergon Racing Team) are battling for 6th
Lap 2 12:04 pm
A group of 7 at the front now as Georgia Gould leads as they head out for lap 2
Georgia Gould (Luna Pro Team), Eva Lechner (Colnago Farbe Sudtirol), Katerina Nash (Luna Pro Team), Julie Bresset (BH - Suntour - Peisey Vallandry), Irina Kalentieva (Topeak Ergon Racing Team), Marie-Helene Premont (Team Maxxis - Rocky Mountain), Catharine Pendrel (Luna Pro Team)
Emily Batty 19th at 1:05 back
at 11 seconds is Esther Süss (Wheeler - iXS Pro team)
12:09 pm
The 3 Luna riders at the front as they head up the climb with Pendrel at the front
12:10 pm
Pendrel and Bresset at the front. Gould and Nash crash at the top of Beatrice
Premont up to 5th
12:16 pm
Pendrel still leading Bresset as they head through the feedzone and they are starting to distance themselves from the bunch
U23
Pauline Ferrand Prevot (Lapierre International) is leading the U23 women and has caught and passed 1/4 of the Elite field
12:21 pm
Pendrel has ~ an 8 second gap on Bresset
Lap 3
Heading out it is Pendrel leading Bresset by 8 seconds. Kalentieva 3rd at 48 sec. Nash 4th at 51 sec, Premont 5th at 1:01
Osl 6th at 1:22, Spitz 7th at 1:28
Batty 15th at 2:38
U23 women Emd lap 2
Pauline Ferrand Prevot (Lapierre International) leading with aa 46 sec gap on Elisabeth Sveum (Team Merida Smart Safety)
12:30 pm
Bresset has crashed twice on the Beatrice, and gone outside the tape. She is back up again, but she went down hard so she will be rattled
12:32 pm
Up the climb, Pendrel has 35 sec on Bresset and 50 sec on Kalentieva, Nash 1:05, Premont at 1:20
Batty has passed Lechner and moved into 12th
The heat and humidity seems to be really affecting some riders
12:36 pm
Bressett and kalentieva are together now at 45 sec back
Osl continues to move up
U23
First of the U23 is Pauline Ferrand Prevot (Lapierre International) is sittting 27th overall, Elisabeth Sveum (Team Merida Smart Safety) 2nd, and Samara Sheppard (NZl) 3rd. 7th Koffmann (Can)
12:41 pm
Pendel is heading toward the end of Lap 3 with a godd gap on the 2 chasers
Lap 4 12:43 pm
Pendrel has started lap 4 with a gap of 50 sec on Kalentieva and 1:01 on Bresset
Nash 4th at 1:31, Premont 5th at 1:41
Emily Batty 9th at 3:07
12:50 pm ET
Pendrel on the climb now and is "motoring" the Marmotte climb. The others are stuggling and Bresset is visibly weaving
Nash 4th, Osl is challenging Premont for 5th
Batty is climbing well too, looking comfortable on her Trek 29er
12:59 pm
Sabine Spitz has crashed badly in the Beatrice Rock Garden and is out
Lap 5 1:03 pm
Pendrel heads out on the final lap
Kalentieva 2nd at 56 sec
Bresset 3rd at 1:33
Premont 4th at 2:18
Nash 5th at 2:19
Osl 6th at 2:33
Batty 7th at 3:15
Sin 27th
U23 Women have finished
Pauline Ferrand Prevot (Lapierre International) wins, Kathrin Stirnemann (Central Haibike Pro Team) 2nd, Elisabeth Sveum (Team Merida Smart Safety) 3rd
1:14 pm ET
Pendrel has crashed as she came off a paved section onto a narrow gravel section
Bresset has stopped at the pit with a mechanica and gotten a rear wheel change. Premont has passed her to move into 3rd.
Bresset and Nash together in 4th/5th. Batty still in 7th
1:20 pm ET
Pendrel through the S-Switchbacks and heading to the finish to take her first win of 2011 in Mont Ste-Anne
Kalentieva has closed the gap a bit on Pendrel, but it will not be enough.
UNOFFICIAL
Finish
1 Catharine Pendrel (Can) Luna Pro Team, 1:38:23
2 Irina Kalentieva (Rus) Topeak Ergon Racing Team, at 0:58
3 Julie Bresset (Fra) BH - Suntour - Peisey Vallandry,
4 Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna Pro Team
5 Marie-Helene Premont (Can) Team Maxxis - Rocky Mountain
7 Emily Batty (Subaru-Trek)
Course Map (guide to numbers below image)
1 = Beatrice technical drop
2 = Marmotte Climb
3 = La Germaine long descent
4 = Les S Ecole - Technical swtchbacks
5 = La Perdrix Steep slope
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