February 7/24 16:14 pm - Canada Finishes CX Worlds with Four Top-10s, Athlete Quotes

Posted by Editoress on 02/7/24
 

Team Canada finished the Cyclo-cross World Championships in Tabor, Czechia, with top-10 results in the Team Relay [4th], Under-23 women [4th], Under-23 men [6th] and Elite women [10th]. Links to our reports, photos and results can be found in the links below. We have quotes from some of the athletes:

Raffaele Carrier, 16th Junior women - My race didn't live up to my expectations at all. I had a pretty good start compared to other World Cups, but other than that I didn't feel very well and couldn't push on the climbs. Of course I'm disappointed knowing that I did better than that all season, but I can't wait to come back in Europe next year!


Raffaele Carrier

Isabella Holmgren, 4th Under-23 women - The first 2 laps were quite tough. I didn't feel quite entirely like myself and I don't think I was performing at my best. Halfway through the race, my mindset switched and I felt like I was riding better not only on the technical but also on the power sections. Overall, I'm happy with my race and how I kept pushing, and I'm excited to work on my challenges to improve for the next cyclo-cross season. It was very special that my parents were able to be at Worlds again, and even some family that drove from Denmark through the night to watch my sister and I race. They gave me an extra push during the race.


Isabella Holmgren

Maghalie Rochette, 10th Elite women - 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.


Maghalie Rochette

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.


Michael van den Ham, National Coach - After starting the racing with our best-ever result in the Team Relay on Friday [4th], it was great to see each athlete put all of their preparation into action and leave absolutely everything on course. Results-wise, the three top-10s and numerous other personal best results are impressive not only this year, but as as a sign of things to come from this group.

Cyclocross World Championships: Team Relay results and photos

France Takes Opening CX Worlds Win, Carrier 16th

6th for Ian Ackert in Under-23 Men

Top-10 for Maghalie Rochette, van Empel Defends

Top-25 for Canadian McMullen in Junior Men at CX Worlds

Isabella Holmgren 4th in U23 Women, Backstedt Wins

Mathieu van der Poel Wins 6th Elite CX Title