February 3/24 11:12 am - Day 2 CX Worlds Photos & Maghalie Rochette Interview

Posted by Editoress on 02/3/24
 

Earlier today, Maghalie Rochette was tenth in the Elite women's race at the Cyclo-cross World Championships, in Tabor, Czechia. Ian Ackert was the top Canadian in the Under-23 men's race, and Raffaele Carrier was 16th in Junior women. We will be posting photos from all three races here, and have a race report from Maghalie, with one to come from Ian.

Photo Gallery

"It was a good race ... coming into the race I had a hard season, but I knew that I had fitness. World championships is something that doesn't happen very often in your life. It's once per year, and every time you get to compete it's something pretty unique to be an actor in these major, huge events.

"So, I didn't want to take this opportunity lightly, and I really wanted to make the most of it today. That's what I did - I put myself into the race from the start. I was aggressive, which was one of my objectives. In the first two laps I was fighting for the top five with Laura Verdonschot, the Belgian girl. It was really a good fight, and I felt good. But I made a mistake in the third lap [slipping and falling on the stairs] and I lost some time. I was starting to be a little dizzy there, so in the end, I fought as much as I could, but I was kind of dying.

"So I lost some spots in the last lap, but I fought until the end, and it turned out that I sprinted for tenth place and got the tenth place. I finished with both my legs cramped and feeling super dizzy, so I think I used up all I had today, and I can be proud of that. As much as it was a hard season, I feel that it was a good personal journey for me; I grew a lot from it. I'm glad I finished with a race I can be proud of.

"It's not the end you will see of me! I'll be back for more cyclo-cross. I learned enough this year that I want to apply and make changes for next year. I'll be back and this is not my last world championships."

Results and reports

Top-10 for Maghalie Rochette, van Empel Defends

6th for Ian Ackert in Under-23 Men

France Takes Opening CX Worlds Win, Carrier 16th

Cyclocross World Championships: Team Relay results