Pendrel, Batty win silver, bronze at mountain bike World Cup in La Bresse
Catharine Pendrel and Emily Batty shared their first UCI Mountain Bike World Cup podium this season, finishing second and third respectively in La Bresse on Sunday.
Two-time world champion, Pendrel went into the competition ranked second overall on the World Cup circuit, coming off of her best finish of third last weekend in Albstadt. However, in La Bresse it was Pan Am champion Batty who led Canada for the majority of the competition, until Pendrel made a big comeback from behind.
Related: Pendrel places third at World Cup in Albstadt
Related: Batty and Pendrel go 1-2 at TO 2015
A fall from Switzerland’s Jolanda Neff and a stumble from Batty of the third lap, allowed Pendrel to close the gap on the leaders. At the end of the third lap and into the fourth, Pendrel led the second pack and sat in third overall, while Batty chased Neff for first. A blazing fourth lap by Pendrel allowed her to close the gap on Batty, who took the lead briefly after a tire change forced Neff off her bike. On the final lap Pendrel made a move into first, but the Canadian was unable to hold onto the leader position.
At the end it was the reigning overall world cup champion, Neff who won in one hour 28 minutes and 30 seconds. Pendrel finished second with a time of 1:28:55, followed by Batty in a time of 1:29:18. The Canadians’ performances in La Bresse will move them up in the overall World Cup rankings.
