Four Quebecers were on the starting lines of the elite races at the Mountain Bike World Cup in Les Gets, France. Of the lot, Léandre Bouchard obtained the best result with a 45e place among men.
At the end of the eight loops of 3.52 kilometers, Bouchard was 5 minutes and 39 seconds behind the winner of the event, Frenchman Victor Koretzky. The Swiss Nino Schurter finished in second place (+17 seconds) while the Romanian Vlad Dascalu ranked third (+21 seconds).
“I did a race that I really enjoyed. I progressed throughout the race after avoiding collisions at the start. I was mentally good and I played every cyclist within my reach,” commented Léandre Bouchard.
Also at the start of this race, Raphaël Auclair took 59e echelon (+7 minutes 27 seconds) while Victor Verreault finished 77e (-1 turn).
“I expected more and I had prepared myself to get better results. Even though I was super efficient with my hydration and my diet, I finished in 77e place, although I had also started 77e. I’m still very happy to have given everything and to have fought until the end,” said Verreault.
On the women’s side, the day was also difficult for Laurie Arseneault who was caught by the leaders with two laps to complete. She ends her day in 60e place.
The event was won by the Austrian Mona Mitterwallner who beat the Dutch Puck Pieterse (+38 seconds) and the French Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (+1 minute 14 seconds), second and third respectively.
The Quebecer will want to quickly turn the page on this difficult race, she who will be back in Canada on Monday to prepare for the last two World Cups on the calendar.
“I ran out of energy after the second round and found myself completely lost. Some rest will be much appreciated when I return home! I’m keeping my head high for the two World Cups in America in the coming weeks,” Arseneault told Sportcom.
Top mountain bike athletes will be visiting Snowshoe Resort in West Virginia from September 27 to September 1.er October before concluding their season at Mont-Sainte-Anne from October 5 to 8 for the last World Cup of the campaign.
“There are two magnificent chances left in North America and I fully intend to score strongly,” concluded Victor Verreault.
