Finals Photos - MSA XC World Cup 2013
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 Racing got started early with the Women's U23 race--handlily won by Rebecca Henderson, who also claimed the overall World Cup leader's jersey. |
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| Emily Batty warming up for the Elite Women's XC race. |
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| Julie Bresset took off like a shot from the initial start, but it was Katerina Nash leading the first chase group. |
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| Batty leading the second chase group. |
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| American Lea Davison en route to taking her first World Cup podium step. |
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| Maja Wlozczowska chasing Bressett in the third lap. Bressett is not fully recovered from her broken collarbone, either, and was soon caught. |
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| Catharine Pendrel chasing hard in the technical rocks, but it was not enough to get on the podium, as the Kamloops girl is still recovering from a broken collarbone. |
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| Bresset tried to stay out front but faded to fourth by the end of the race. |
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| Nash, celebrating her first World Cup win with the fans at Mt St Anne. |
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| A quick look back--almost of disbelief for the win she's chased so long. |
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| Finally, the arm upraised for the win. |
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| Absalon warming up for the Elite Men's XC race. |
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| Jose Hermida claimed gold here at the World Champs not so many years ago, but claims that Ondrej Cink (behind him) is the new Merida hard man... evidently not here at Mt St Anne as Hermida took the second step behind Absalon today. |
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| Daniel McConnell leading out the bunch on the first lap. |
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| Jaroslav Kulhavy was the early race leader, but he was soon caught and finished 16th on the day. |
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| Schurter and Absalon started a classic duel on the Mt St Anne XC track. |
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| Raphael Gagne, the local hard man, was outclassed in this race and came home a disappointing 43rd on the day. |
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| Absalon with 3 laps remaining, leading out Schurter. |
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| With two laps to go, it was as if Absalon hit an extra gear as he pulled away from Schurter, aided in part by a flat tire sustained by Schurter near the end of the race. |
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| Hermida caught Schurter following the Swiss rider's mechanical, and then powered away from Schurter on the final lap to take second place on the day. |
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| Absalon with the win. |
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| Last race of the day: Men's U23... |
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| Anton Cooper claimed the win in the Men's U23 race; the kid took the Junior World Champs win last year--his last season as a junior; and this is his first win as a U23 racer. Look for him to graduate to the Elites in another season. |
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| Bell lap for the Men's U23... There's not a racer alive who doesn't get a surge of adrenalene when they hear that sound. |
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Sitting here with a broken foot and wishing I had legs like that = broken planet earth instead.
Seriously, Emily Batty is stunning.