Léandre Bouchard (Foresco Holding Proco RL Pro Team, +4 min 23 s) came out of the last turn of the Mont Ste-Anne Mountain Bike World Cup course with the sun beating down on him. A few seconds later, he finished the last stage of the season in 16e rank.
The rain, cold and wind that raged during almost the entire race finally gave way to a clearing, like this result which comes at the conclusion of a difficult season for the athlete from Alma, the best Canadian in the race. the event, which shone in the last lap where he overtook eight competitors.
The British, world champion and reigning Olympic champion, Tom Pidcock (INEOS-Grenadiers). 14ethe Swiss Nino Schurter (Scott-SRAM) narrowly managed to save his World Cup leader’s champion jersey to finish at the top of the general classification.
“She does good [cette 16e place] ! », said Bouchard, exuberant in a post-race interview, his face covered in mud. “In the last lap, I stayed in the present moment and with confidence and it was an extraordinary day. At one point, I said to myself: “let’s see Léandre, what’s going on? Keep doing your thing, it’s working,” the athlete explained with a laugh.
“It’s one of my best results in my career and it’s my best race at Mont Ste-Anne. […] To end the season like this after a season that wasn’t so easy, it’s a balm and it gives me a lot of confidence for this winter. It’s truly extraordinary! »
The results of World Cups played on North American soil do not count in the Olympic qualification process, but the Olympian of the 2016 Games is not too upset about it.
“I did it today, so I tell myself that I can do it again next year,” concluded the Canadian vice-champion who will have to watch his compatriot Carter Woods who is currently in the leading position to obtain a place in the Paris Games.
Woods, one of the best in the world in the under-23 category, will move up to the elites in 2024.
Former teammate of Bouchard at Pivot-OTE, Raphaël Auclair (Pivot Cycles – OTE, +6 min 27 s) was excited to have finished in 27e rank.
“The crowd here carries you along the entire route. This is my best World Cup. I had my best performance last week [à Snowshoe, en Virginie], but there, I beat her by around twenty positions this week, so I’m super happy,” commented the athlete who added that she had an excellent start. “Next year I want to qualify for the Short Track races. »
Laurie Arseneault (Pittstop Racing Team) was delighted with her outing on Sunday where she placed 24e (+9 min 27 s). Like Léandre Bouchard, this conclusion galvanizes his morale for the next campaign.
“It was my best race of the year! It’s been a tough season where I’ve had a lot of injuries and illnesses, so to finish strong at home is really cool! », recognized the athlete from Terrebonne. “It’s crazy how much I like riding in the mud and it’s a joy for me to ride in these conditions. […] Once in the race, I was flying with all this encouragement. »
The Frenchwoman Loana Lecomte (Cayon) perfectly mastered the course made very technical by the rain and mud.