Catharine Pendrel (Luna) is in a close competition for a spot on Canada's Olympic Mountain Bike Team. After placing 13th at the Houffalize World Cup on the weekend, Pendrel is currently holding the second Olympic team spot behind 2004 Olympic silver medalist Marie Helene Premont. Catharine's main competition for the second spot on the Olympic team is close friend (and often roommate on the National Team) Kiara Bisaro of Courtney B.C.
Catharine had an exciting race in Houffalize. She rode hard at the beginning of the race to find herself at the very top of the field - climbing ahead of legends like Gunn-Rita Dahle. Pendrel said she just got excited. She went out strong and faded slightly in the closing laps of the event. According to Pendrel "I just have to pace myself better. I can ride with the top girls, but I don't have to be leading them up the climbs".
This weekend, Catharine will have a second qualifying event in Offenburg, Germany. It's a climber's course which is well suited to her style. As Catharine gets used to racing again (after a long winter in Kamloops) I know she will steadily improve her performance and ride at a higher level. Houffalize was a good test and a reminder of what it will take to make the Olympic team - and race among the world's top elite riders.
If she is successful, Catharine will become the second Elitewave rider to qualify for the Olympic team in 2008.
Check out Catharine's Blog at http://cpendrel.blogspot.com/
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment