Sandra’s World Cup XC #5 - Race Report - July 26 - Mont-Sainte-Anne, QC

Once again, I made the lonely trip East after a couple of quality weeks at home in sunny, hot BC, where I got to ride my local trails in prime condition. Quebec had been faced with weeks of rain, which ensured the MSA course was slimy and its many roots, rocks, and twists were slick. Pre-riding the course, my legs felt great on the pedaling sections, but I was feeling tentative on the technical. I’ve been spoiled by such a dry summer, I’ve nearly forgotten how to ride wet trails!


Check out my "Grrr face"! Photo: Martin Moreau/www.eyeofglass.com

The skies opened up right before our start, but luckily I had my trusty support team of Steve and Marie to take my rain jacket and see me off on my four-lap, 24km race. I started quite far back in the field, and the start would prove to be super important, as changes to the course meant we hit singletrack bottlenecks early on in the first lap. I felt good, but had a hard time navigating through traffic on my way up the ranks. By the time I entered the first singletrack, a traffic jam meant I had to dismount, and in the second bit of singletrack, we were at a standstill as we waited our turn to continue the race. This was a bit frustrating, but eventually things sorted themselves out, and I was back on my way.


Photo: Martin Moreau/www.eyeofglass.com

For the first two laps, I felt like I’d forgotten how to ride my bike. Every root that it was possible to slip on, I slipped on. Every rock it was possible to ram, I rammed. I was pretty frustrated with myself, because I knew I had the skills to ride all that stuff. Luckily I was pleased with my climbing legs, although I’m questioning whether I took full advantage of them. Could I have pushed that extra bit harder? I hate second-guessing myself, but I think racers are all the same. We’re always aiming to be faster, so it’s natural to try to find spots to improve.


Photo: Martin Moreau/www.eyeofglass.com

On the final two laps, I got my groove back. The course was much easier to ride when it rained harder, as it cleared mud off of roots and rocks and kept the wet earth more liquidy rather than peanut buttery. For most of the race, I battled back and forth with Xprezo team rider M.C. Surprenant, who was flying on the descents and generally out-riding me technically. I had better legs, however, and managed to finally shake her near the end of the last lap.

I finished the race in 36th spot - a vast improvement over my disappointing early-season Euro World Cups, but still not where I want to be. Once again, the racer mentality, but I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing, if I didn’t believe I can get better. I’m motivated by the fact that my form is on the up and up, and I’m really enjoying riding my bike! I’m currently in Bromont, QC, getting ready for this Sunday’s World Cup, and I love the course! Yesterday it was muddy and slick for the pre-ride, but I seem to have found my mojo again!

Sandra’s National Championships - Race Report - July 11 - St-Félicien, QC

Going into Nationals, I had no idea what to expect of myself, since race day was exactly a week after I finished the seven-day epic BC Bike Race. I knew I wouldn’t be completely recovered, yet on the other hand, I had just ridden nearly 400km of singletrack in one week - very handy on a course that was heavy on twisty, skinny trails.


Photo: Martin Moreau/www.eyeofglass.com

I arrived in St-Félicien late on Thursday, after a long flight to Montreal, followed by a six-hour solo drive north through the woods to the Lac Saint-Jean region. When I arrived, I was chaperoned to the small, hand-built cabin in the woods, only 1km from the race course that was to be my home for the next four nights. Originally, I planned on travelling and bunking with the two other fast women on the team, Jean Ann and Bianca, but the former was still not up to race form after her back injury, and the latter was ill. So it was all up to me to represent the squad.

I loved the 6.5km twisty, technical course that was almost identical to the one I rode at the 2007 World Cup, where I logged my best World Cup result of my career to date. One of the only additions was a waterfall to ride under - a very neat feature. The organizers and trail crew did an amazing job of building and maintaining the course in the Tobo-Ski area, with beautifully manicured berms, bridges, and rock structures, and everyone was raving about the loop, which was also set up perfectly for spectators.

On race morning during my warm up, I went by my cabin for one final pit stop and a new bottle. I was only inside for a minute, when I heard a thump on the porch. I glanced out toward the window and saw that my blue Xprezo was still there, so I didn’t think anything of it. I stepped outside and put my shoes on, followed by my left glove - but where was my right glove? I could have sworn I had taken it off at the same time as the other, but there was only one glove on the porch. Maybe I had taken it off inside…. I proceeded to search the entire cabin, followed by the outside perimeter, but no sign of my right white Time glove. I started thinking of suspects, with the black bear I had sighted, and the puppy that had jumped all over me with muddy paws at the top of my list. I didn’t have time to search any longer, so I hopped on my bike and pedaled back to the race site, where I sought out Keith (my coach), and exclaimed: “The puppy stole my glove!” and raised my naked right hand as proof.

Okay, back to the race… After I donned a borrowed glove of Catharine’s I lined up with the relatively small field of elite women who had travelled north for Nationals, and we raced off under heavy, humid skies on our first of four laps. I had a pretty slow start, coming through in ninth after the first lap, but I was loving the course, looking forward to almost every upcoming section as I rode, especially the “Bike Park,” which consisted of built up rock structures, fast berms, and a pump section.

Throughout the race, I didn’t feel bad, my legs were just a bit flat. I was efficient and smooth in the singletrack and steady on the climbs, but I lacked that punch I needed to stay with people who passed, and to bridge up to those I saw up ahead. I managed to battle up to seventh spot, which I held through to the end - a solid ride for me, which is not bad considering the huge amount of fatigue from the stage race. Once I get fully recovered, I’ll be flying! Thanks to Steve for the feed, Kika for the glove, and Keith, Dan, Johanna, Bruce, Jane, Eric, Elizabeth, Duncan, and everyone else for the cheers. Huge congrats to Catharine on her first National Championship victory - woohoo!

Local Ride Racing at BC BikeRace

Last week Sandra teamed up with Local Ride Racing brother Steve Devantier to take on BC Bike Race, which boasts seven days some of the best singletrack BC has to offer. They both raced hard, and had a lot of fun ripping it up on the trails in North Vancouver, Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast, Squamish and finaly Whistler. They finished 4th in the mixed category, against an internationally competitive field. Daily race reports were written by the team and can be viewed at PedalMag.com.

Day 0
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day4
Day5
Day6
Day 7

Also check out Steve's Garmin data for the individual stages at Local Ride.