The newly designed Pan-American Games course at Hardwood Ski & Bike, near Barrie, Ontario was stage to a gripping battle for the red and white jersey. The 2014 Canadian Mountain Bike Cross-country Championships saw mountain bike legend Geoff Kabush of Courtenay, B.C. (Scott-3Rox Racing) set a new record winning his eight championship, a record previously held by Alyson Sydor with seven wins. After missing the 2013 Championships due to injury, Catharine Pendrel of Kamloops B.C. (Team Luna Pro) returned victorious and took home her fifth national title win.
Evan Guthrie (Norco Factory Team) and Cameron Jette (Scott-3Rox Racing) started the race with a furious pace, both on track for the rides of their lives. Kabush and teammate Derek Zandstra, the defending Champion, followed the lead group closely. Max Plaxton of Victoria, BC (Cannondale Factory Racing) and Raphaël Gagné of Québec City, Québec (Rocky Mountain Bicycles) were also part of this elite chase group.
Jette suffered from a jammed chain later in the race and Guthrie could no longer maintain the astonishing pace he had set. During the fourth lap, Gagné was able to overtake the spent rider and Jette. Kabush still had lots left in the tank and kept the play in sight until the final lap where he was able to pull out and hold the lead until the finish. The win for Kabush designated him the most decorated mountain biker in history at Canadian Championships. Coworkers Zandstra and Gagné followed Kabush across the line.
“It was an exciting race to be part of; one of the closest title battles I’ve been in. I’m going to be very proud to wear the maple leaf for the next year. It was definitely a target for the team and winning and retaining the jersey in the team is a great way to say thank you to all our sponsors that support us so well. Everyone on the team rode great and it is a lot of fun to race close to Scott-3Rox Racing’s home base. It’s always nice to see the effort put into improving and evolving a course and I think they definitely have done a good job making it a good test.” – Geoff Kabush (Scott-3Rox Racing)
Pendrel established the lead early on in the elite women race and held it for the balance of the race. The defending 2013 Canadian Champion, Emily Batty of Brooklyn, Ontario (Trek Factory Racing) fought a hard battle and stuck to Pendrel’s back wheel for the first half of the race. Batty was determined but unable able to keep Pendrel in check. Into the third lap, Pendrel was able to pull away from the resolute hometown favourite, Batty. Pendrel continued to grow her expanse and won the race 45 sec ahead of the Batty. Sandra Walter of Coquitlam, B.C. (Liv-Giant Canada), who headed the field early on in the race, was overtaken and remained in third position behind the lead pair of Pendrel and Batty.
“It feels great to earn another title. It is a confirmation that my form is where I want it to be. I really enjoyed the course. It was so interesting and I diverse I never got sick of churning out laps. I just had fun riding my bike as fast as I could!” – Catharine Pendrel (Team Luna Pro)
Léandre Bouchard (Equipe du Québec-Cyclone d’Alma) and Frédérique Trudel (Specialized Racing Canada), both from Québec, won their respective U23 races.
Those in attendance witnessed an incredible day of racing at Hardwood Ski & Bike. Eight champions were crowned, records were broken, and dreams were made. The level of racing shown by Pendrel and Batty was some of the best in the world. The power and determination that Evan Guthrie displayed was the buzz of the race and junior stars like local Soren Meeuwisse attest that the future is bright for our young Canadian mountain bike stars. Go Canada!
Here are a few images from the 2014 Canadian Mountain Bike Cross-country Championships.

Lindsay Webster (TUF RACK Racing) on her way to an eleventh place finish in the elite female category.

Batty now losing sight of Pendrel but her time on the track proves valuable on descents and in the tech sections.

Rebecca Beaumont (Équipe du Québec) through one of the many beautiful forest sections of the new Pan-American course.

Walter comes flying through the fast singletrack on her Giant 27.5 Obsess Advanced. Part of Giant’s new Liv line.

2014 Canadian National Cross Country Championship elite female podium (l-r) Emily Batty, Catharine Pendrel and Sandra Walter.

2014 Canadian National Cross Country Championship elite male podium (l-r) Derek Zandstra, Geoff Kabush and Raphaël Gagné.
3hill
( July 20, 2014 )
Such a good event! With some stellar performances and a few surprises! Thanks for the great write up Marc! Glad to be able to relive the event
FastTimes
( July 20, 2014 )
Thanks Josh. Was great to see you. Thanks for the water bottle you saved me!
marley
( July 21, 2014 )
What an amazing race report and some fantastic shots. Well done, sir.
FastTimes
( July 21, 2014 )
Thanks for the kind words Marley!