Sabrina Jonnier race run Mt Ste Anne.
Photo: Danice Uyesugi
Sabrina Jonnier won another WC round in Mt Ste Anne, Canada this weekend, taking her total of wins this year to 5. But the most impressive performance was thrown down by Emmeline Ragot who managed to finish second, only three seconds behind Sabrina despite pushing through the pain of a week-old broken ankle. Emmeline was on fire on the bike even though she’s limping around off it, and is setting a new standard for hardass commitment to racing. It’s no hairline fracture either – the xrays show a big chunk is broken off the malleolus at the end of her tibia. Yeouch!
Emmeline Ragot race run Mt Ste Anne.
Photo: Danice Uyesugi
With the start order from qualifying mixing riders up a little bit, it was a great race to watch live on Freecaster.tv. Tracy Moseley qualified back in sixth, but turned up the pace in race run despite the damp conditions to finish third. She was the only non-French rider on the podium again, with fourth and fifth going to French Champ Celine Gros and Floriane Puginrespectively. The course was a long one for the riders with plenty of airtime and rock gardens, but even slower in the wet with all times well over five minutes. You can check out our course shots here.
Celine Gros looking fast and controlled in her race run.
Photo: Danice Uyesugi
Mio Suemasa qualified in second and felt she could go faster in race runs. While she seemed to be the fastest woman through the slippery rock section, Mio once again finished just off the podium in sixth. Austrian rider Anita Molcik has been on a roll with some impressive wins in Europe lately, and recently signed with the Yeti/Fox team. She finished just inside the top ten with an impressive run today.
Anita Molcik in her new Yeti/Fox kit.
Photo: Danice Uyesugi
The Canadians racing on their home track had some impressive runs, lead by Micayla Gatto in 11th overall. Rebecca McQueen made her world cup debut and unfortunately had a crash near the top of the course, but was still styling it up on the jumps at the end throwing out some nice whips. New Canadian National Champ Claire Buchar had a rough run as well to finish in lucky 13th, and Danice Uyesugi finished 15th.
Rebecca McQueen looking pinned at the start of her run.
Photo: Danice Uyesugi
If you watched it on Freecaster, you had the pleasure of hearing Rob Warner and Anneke Beerten as commentators, with Rob doing his usual performance of mangling the pronunciation of riders names – he’s still saying ‘Celine Grosssssssssss’ despite other commentator’s best efforts to explain French pronunciation! But he’s a good laugh, and Anneke has some great insights. It’s well worth tuning in to watch it live, the replays miss most of the action and some outstanding riding from the women riders.
In the men’s race Sam Hill finally got a win, his first for 2009. He was three seconds ahead of Steve Peat, with American Aaron Gwin in third. Minaar finished way back in 22nd, so their overall rankings have had a shakeup. Two rounds to go, things could get interesting…
Results from the UCI live timing:
Older: Close times in Mont Sainte Anne qualifying
Fresher: Who is Martha Hucker?
Published on 26/07/2009 by Martha Hucker.