Mountain biking | One last World Cup in Europe before returning to North America

Four Quebecers were on the start 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 45^e 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. Switzerland’s Nino Schurter finished second (+17 seconds) while Romania’s Vlad Dascalu finished third (+21 seconds).

“I did a race that I really enjoyed. I made progress throughout the race after avoiding collisions at the start. I was mentally well and I played every cyclist within my reach,” commented Léandre Bouchard.

Also at the start of this race, Raphaël Auclair took 59^e echelon (+7 minutes 27 seconds) while Victor Verreault finished 77^e (-1 turn).

“I expected more and I was prepared to get better as a result. Even though I was super efficient with my hydration and diet, I finish in 77^e place, even though I had also started 77^e. 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 60^e 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 I found myself in a complete loss. Rest will be much appreciated when I return home! I keep my head up for the two World Cups in America in the coming weeks,” Arseneault told Sportcom.

Top mountain bike athletes will be at Snowshoe Resort, West Virginia September 27-1^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 still two wonderful chances in North America and I have every intention of scoring hard,” concluded Victor Verreault.