Mont Saint Anne Day 3 - UCI World Cup 2012
Jun 23, 2012
Downhill Practice |
 This is what riders saw from the pits this morning. The top half of the track was shrouded in fog for most of the day, although it rolled in and out like a living creature. The rain last night was so torrential, the UCI decided to postpone the short practice session until noon to let the course dry. Of course, around 11, the skies opened up and the thunder cracked once again. |
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| Once you popped out of the clouds when practice finally started, it was a sunny, humid day up top. Here Marc Beaumont drops in for a cruiser first run. |
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| Brooke shows us exactly what the track looked like. Nice organic, deep dirt was flying in the first few corners. |
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| Steve Smith was smiles again after a good qualifying session yesterday and no flats in 48 hours. Everyone had better keep on eye on him this week. This modified Ste Anne course is a freeway of epic proportions and Sender isn't ever afraid to drop the hammer and just let it roll. |
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| Clear skies, grippy dirt and stoked to be in the big show with #159. |
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| Bryn was pedaling on his first run through the first woods section this morning, when many others were sitting. Someone want's to get rid of that 34 plate here in Quebec. |
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| Danny Hart was full throttle as of run #1. Unlike many others, he did multiple runs today and was letting it all hang out. |
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| Chris Kovarik didn't qualify yesterday after a "major mechanical" involving his brakes and his fork. Luckily for Canada, Mrs Kovarik did. Claire Buchar off the brakes in the upper highspeed section. |
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| Mitch Ropelato isn't caving under the pressure of a big team deal. 23rd and Ropo is taking full advantage of it, learning from a legend riding stress free and enjoying the opportunity of a lifetime. |
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| Only in Quebec. No diving. Shallow water. |
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| Tracey Hannah isn't afraid to go fast either. As she rolled out to rip off another run, the timing equipment lay in wait for sunday in the Gondola building. |
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| ...and this is what most of the middle of the track looked like for much of the day. Good luck with that at 60km/h. |
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| Want to know how you get a World Cup full ride? You pedal your face off at every opportunity and treat it like a job every single run of the day. No relaxing, no cruisers - even on the first run of the day. |
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| Marie Helene Premont was on home turf here--she lives less than 6km away from the track. Out of the gate like a shot out of a gun, but unable to keep it up... but not blowing a gasket either; she's too wily for that. She took home third on the day--her best World Cup showing this season. |
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| Georgia Gould took over from MHP midway up the climb and owned the front spot until about halfway through the last lap. That's when her body realized that the stifling humidity of MSA ain't like the dry heat back home and she started cramping. Badly. |
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| Irina Kalentiava took La Bresse XC off to pursue some high elevation training. It didn't seem to do a lot of good; +5:12 off the pace. |
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| Not only Georgia is a threat on Luna, but Katerina Nash is a contender for sure. She damn near won La Bresse a month ago, and she was solidly in the fight for third here, until one of her cleats came loose. |
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| It's a team until the flag drops, then it's all out war. Catharine Pendrel launching the effort to bridge up to the faltering Gould on the final lap of the race. It may not look impressive, but the wattage this lady was throwing down on the climb here was impressive. 53 seconds back on the previous lap, she managed to win by 23 seconds. |
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| Winnner! Catharine Pendrel takes home another W.... |
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| For the men, from the outset, it was pretty clear that Nino Schurter was not going to let this one slip away. Even when he flatted his rear tire with a lap to go, he didn't panic. Hermida took the lead, "but only by 10 seconds--my wheel change was quick: about 30 seconds, and I fought back to Jose and passed him. A win like this--coming from behind--is always special."-Nino Schurter |
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| No pornstar 'stache on Hermida this time at MSA, but still on a mission to dominate. Unfortunately, he simply could not get around Schurter in the closing moments of the race; and Schurter is a frickin' assasin in a sprint compared to most XC racers--Hermida included. |
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| I once asked Liam Killeen why he smiles in races when he's obviously suffering. "That's not a smile mate," was the reply. Could of fooled me... |
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| Local favorite, Geoff Kabush, usually races well in North American events, and 4 years ago, he almost ran away with it here. He was top 20, but didn't have the horses to eke out a win for new title sponsor Scott Bikes. |
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| Pardon me! |
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| The rainbow stripes mean you are a big, bad MF. Jaroslave Kulhavy definitely fits that description: he's ten feet tall, is a made man in the Czech Republic, and eats small XC racers for breakfast. Third on the day. |
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| The thing to note on this podium shot is the guy waaaaay over on the right. Congratulations, Max, on your first World Cup podium (5)! And hopefully, many more to come... |
Complete Cross Country Race Results are
here42237 DHI ME StartList42237 DHI WE StartListWords and Photos by
Colin Meagher and
Fraser Britton
