October 30/05 8:23 am - Short Pan Am MTB Report

Posted by Editor on 10/30/05
 

Pan Am Mountain Bike Championships - Mexico City

Canadian riders finished in the top-5 in every category at the Pan American Mountain Bike Championships on Sunday. High altitude (2500 metres) and air pollution proved to be factors in the event. In the Elite Women's three lap race American Mary McConneloug won, with Victoria riders Patricia Sinclair fourth and Catherine Pendrel fifth. Ricky Federau of Abbotsford, B.C. was fourth in the men's four lap race, five minutes behind Jose Bonilla of Costa Rica. Max Plaxton of Tofino, B.C., the Canadian national Under-23 age champion finished third in his race, while Neil Kindree of Squamish, B.C. and Raphael Gagne of Lac Beauport, QC were second and third respectively in the Junior Men's race, behind Alejandro Dario Gasco of Argentina.

National coach Michel Leblanc: "This race was a development opportunity since, in this non-Olympic year, there were no qualifying criteria. It was an opportunity for riders like Plaxton and Federau to meet carding standards for athlete support."

Ricky Federau: "It was tough, very tough. The altitude made it very hard because every time you wanted to push it hurt. This has been a long season for all of us, so by this time of year it is extra hard to keep going."