07.17.10 - Catharine Pendrel, Geoff Kabush Defend at 2010 Mountain Bike Canadian Championships
Gorgeous day at Canmore Nordic Centre for the cross-country Mountain Bike Canadian Championships

(Canmore, AB – July 17, 2010) Both Catharine Pendrel and Geoff Kabush successfully defended their Canadian titles on Saturday at the 2010 Mountain Bike Canadian Championships in the beautiful Rocky Mountains at the Canmore Nordic Centre in Canmore, Alberta.

In the Women’s category, Catharine Pendrel (Kamloops, BC) dominated the Women’s Elite race by winning with a time of 1:37.41, a lead of five minutes over her closest competitor Amada Sin (Collingwood, ON). Mical Dyck (Victoria, BC) came third.

“I gave it all because I wanted to show myself I had the form, and I have a World Cup next weekend,” said Pendrel, who was born in Fredericton, NB and now residing in Kamloops, BC. “I wanted to feel things out in the start loop, and then try and go, push as much as I could. I wanted to race this race like I would on a World Cup.”

“National Championships are always important. To wear your National Champ jersey is a source of pride. I want to do it; I want to see our jersey out there. It’s a special race for everyone, no matter what level you are at,” continued Pendrel, the current leader on the UCI MTB World Cup standings.

“The Luna team has helped me a lot to get me where I am today. The CCA is getting really strong right now with great coaches. There is really good energy and support out there, and it’s great to see. Athletes have noticed a difference and it definitely improves performances out there,” added Pendrel.

The Women’s Elite group was missing rider Marie-Hélène Prémont, a seven-time Canadian champion, who decided to rest in order to bounce back from bronchitis before resuming the UCI World Cup tour next week.

The Men’s elite saw a much closer race, with Kabush (Courtney, BC) impressing again this season by winning his seventh consecutive titles. Kabush crossed the finish line at 1:45.15, just 45 seconds in front of second place Max Plaxton (Victoria, BC) and third place Derek Zandstra (Trenton, ON).

“I waited for the right moment to create some separation. In the fourth lap I decided to push over the top of the big climb and put on the pressure, and squeeze out some day light and then I was able to set in my rhythm,” said Kabush.

“It’s great to be representing Canada around the world. Winning the National title is definitely a goal of mine every season. The younger guys are pushing harder and harder every year, but I hope I get to keep it for a few more years,” explained Kabush.

Kabush took the time on Friday evening to talk about an initiative called RaceClean, which aims at promoting a clean cycling environment with doping.

“I wanted to get together with some of the younger riders at Nationals and send them the message that there are riders like myself that have achieved top of the World Cup, and that if they work hard, that they can achieve whatever they want,” said Kabush of RaceClean.

The 2010 Mountain Bike Canadian Championships is used by the Canadian Cycling Association as a qualifying event for the selection pool to the Canadian delegation for the 2010 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Mont-Sainte-Anne.

Emily Batty (Brooklin, ON) took her fourth Canadian title in the Women’s U23 category. Batty quickly started off the start line and never looked back. She crossed the finish line in front of Mikaela Kofman (Toronto, ON) and Rebecca Beaumont (Alma, QC), second and third respectively.

Jarred Stafford (Newmarket, ON) took the victory in the Men’s U23 race. Francis Morin (Magog, QC) crossed the finish line just 26 seconds behind Stafford, while Simon Lalancette (Chicoutimi, QC) came in third place.

Alex Harvey, a cross-country skier and winter Olympian using the Canadian Championships with hopes to qualify for the World Championships, finished 9th.

In the junior category, Kristina Laforge (Alma, QC) and Evan McNeely (Kingston, ON) took the titles. Laforge will be representing Canada at the first edition of the Youth Olympic Games in Singapor.

Amanda Wakeling (Courtenay, BC) and Antoine Perreault (Val-d'Or, QC) took the victory in the U17 category.

The 2010 Mountain Bike Canadian Championships will continue tomorrow with the presentation of the Canadian Championships in the Master categories, as well as with the National Challenge.

2010 CANADIAN CHAMPIONS – MOUNTAIN BIKE
ELITE WOMEN
1. PENDREL, Catharine (Luna Pro Team)
2. SIN, Amanda (3 Rox Racing)
3. DYCK, Mical (Trek Canada/Terrascape Racing)
Full results: www.zone4.ca/results.asp?ID=3076&cat=837

ELITE MEN
1. KABUSH, Geoff (Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain)
2. PLAXTON, Max (Team Sho Air/Specialized)
3. ZANDSTRA, Derek (3 Rox Racing)
Full results: www.zone4.ca/results.asp?ID=3076&cat=839

U23 WOMEN
1. BATTY, Emily (Trek World Racing)
2. KOFMAN, Mikaela (3 Rox Racing)
3. BEAUMONT, Rebecca (Équipe du Québec/Cyclone d'Alma)
Full results: www.zone4.ca/results.asp?ID=3076&cat=838

U23 MEN
1. STAFFORD, Jared (Team Ontario/Bikesports Racing)
2. MORIN, Francis (Team Quebec/Specialized)
3. LALANCETTE, Simon (Equipe du Quebec/DEVINCI)
Full results: www.zone4.ca/results.asp?ID=3076&cat=840

JUNIOR WOMEN
1. LAFORGE, Kristina (Alma, QC) (Équipe du Québec/Cyclone d'Alma)
2. ROSSER, Lauren (Squamish, BC) (Cycling BC)
3. MEUNIER, Valérie (Chicoutimi, QC) (Équipe du Québec/Cyclone d'Alma)
Full results: www.zone4.ca/results.asp?ID=3076&cat=835

JUNIOR MEN
1. McNEELY, Evan (Kingston, ON) (Team Ontario/EMD Serono/Specialized)
2. NOBLE, Steven (Glencairn, ON) (Team Ontario/Jetpower)
3. CARON, Antoine (Stoneham, QC) (Equipe du Quebec)
Full results: www.zone4.ca/results.asp?ID=3076&cat=833

U17 WOMEN
1. WAKELING, Amanda (Courtenay, BC) (Cycling BC)
2. APRIL, Gabrielle (Québec, QC) (Lessard Bicycles)
3. DE FREITAS, Emily (Calgary, AB) (Team Alberta)
Full results: www.zone4.ca/results.asp?ID=3076&cat=836

U17 MEN
1. PERREAULT, Antoine (Val-d'Or, QC) (CVM Val-David)
2. NADON, Marc-Antoine (Timmins, ON) (Team Ontario/Hardwood)
3. MOBERG, Quinn (Squamish, BC) (Cycling BC)
Full results: www.zone4.ca/results.asp?ID=3076&cat=834

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