Batty, Pendrel go 1-2 at US Cup race in California
Canadian Olympic mountain bikers Emily Batty and Catharine Pendrel went 1-2 in San Dimas, California in the third race of the season in the US Cup Pro Series on Saturday.
For Batty, it was her second win in three races in the cross-country circuit, as she beat her national teammate and World Champion Pendrel in a sprint. Cyclists however, represent their cross-country teams rather than nations in the US Cup. Jenny Rissved of Sweden was third.
Another Canadian found the podium on Saturday in the men’s race. Raphaël Gagné finished in second place. Nino Schurter of Switzerland beat Gagne, while Spain’s Sergio Mantecon was third. Both Batty and Gagné have been on the podium in all three races.
Canada’s Max Plaxton, left and Raphaël Gagné, right start in the men’s cross-country event at Cathkin Braes mountain bike trails at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland on Tuesday, July 29, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan
There are nine dates in this professional cross-country series organized by USA Cycling. In the opening contest on March 14, Batty and Pendrel finished 1-2, as did Gagné and Canadian Olympian Max Plaxton. Like Saturday’s race, the series opener also took place at Frank G. Bonelli Park in San Dimas, but the courses varied according to a Canadian Cyclist race preview.
In the second round of races in Fontana, California a week later, Batty and Pendrel finished third and fourth respectively, while Gagné was second in the men’s competition.
The US Cup series is separate from the World Cup, which started this weekend with a downhill race, but cross-country races begin on May 23 in the Czech Republic.
