Sport Shorts: Elite Bikers Tear up Quebec Mountain, Canada Hosts Soccer Friendlys
In Mont-Sainte-Anne: Catherine Pendrel, fresh off her 2010 World Cup title in mountain bike, sought more hardware at the World Championships in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Quebec on the weekend. She led through two laps but couldn’t quite sustain the lead and finished 4th at the end of the 26 km course. It’s her best World Championship result, and matches her finish from the 2008 Olympic Games. Overall, it’s been a great season for the cyclist from Kamloops, B.C. and the future is bright.
Her veteran teammate, Marie-Hélène Prémont (Chateau-Richer, Que.) crossed the finish line in 9th spot. She grew up riding trails on this mountain, and in 2008 won the World Cup overall title. On the men’s side, Geoff Kabush (Courtney, B.C.) had his top finish of the season, finishing in 8th spot. Over in the downhill event, Steve Smith (Cassidy, B.C.) won a silver medal. Special junior mention to Lauren Rosser (Squamish, B.C.), who won gold on the junior women’s downhill race.
In Budapest: The last ITU Triathlon World Championship event runs this weekend in Budapest. The elite men, including two-time Canadian Olympic medallist Simon Whitfield, takes off Saturday. The elite women follow on Sunday as Paula Findlay, a 21-year-old from Edmonton, who made headlines this summer with two tremendous victories, begins the hunt for her third win in the World Championship series. Her point total currently has her in 8th place overall. She has also won a World Cup, a Pan-Am Cup and the Canadian national race this year. Good luck to all Canadian triathletes!
In Toronto: On Saturday, the men’s national soccer team lost 2-0 to Peru in an international friendly. Of note, captain Paul Stalteri tied the Canadian men’s record of 82 appearances for the national team. Tonight, when Canada plays Honduras in Montreal, Stalteri can break the record. Elsewhere in the soccer world, the women’s U-17 team defeated Ghana 1-0 to kick things off at the U-17 World Cup in Trinidad and Tobago.
In Canada, TBD: Canadian curling fans, rejoice! The World Curling Federation announced that three upcoming World Championships will take place in Canada. The women’s event will land on our soil in 2012 and 2014, and a men’s event in 2013. Already in 2011, Regina plays host to the men’s World Curling Championships.
To the Pitch? Perhaps the world’s most famous Olympian has some plans in store for the future. Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt has said he will look to become a professional soccer player at the end of his athletics career.
