Longtime local bike shop staff member and Local Ride Racing road cycling team member Sandra Walter of Coquitlam is well on her way to defending her elite women’s overall Canada Cup cross-country mountain biking series title.
She charged to victory at the Canada Cup opener in Mt-Tremblant, QC, on May 18 and again on May 25 at the second round in Baie-St-Paul, QC.
“Winning at Tremblant was a great way to start the Canada Cup season. Winning in Baie-St-Paul was just that much sweeter,” said Walter.
She also finished first in the Mont-Tremblant and Baie-St-Paul events in 2012.
“The courses were both awesome. I was really proud to win while flying my new Liv/giant colours.”
The veteran elite mountain bike racer and Canadian Team member is new to the Liv/giant family for 2013, representing the women’s cycling brand on the dirt at local, provincial, national, and international cross-country mountain bike and cyclo-cross races this season.
Walter completed the four-lap, 27.5-km race at Mont-Tremblant in 1:38, finishing nearly four minutes ahead of second place, Andréanne Pichette (Opus-OGC) of Québec City. Pichette suffered a flat tire near the end of the first lap and was left to chase Walter after receiving a new rear wheel in the tech zone.
“Racing through the Tremblant ski village was really neat. Lots of people were out spectating and cheering. It was the perfect day for a bike race – sunny and warm,” said Walter.
In Baie-St-Paul on May 25, in single-digit temperatures and under a threatening sky, Walter navigated the five-lap race in one hour, 33 minutes, and three seconds to finish almost two minutes ahead of Pichette, who took her second consecutive silver medal.
Walter suffered a rear flat tire on the second lap, but was able to ride it out to the tech zone, where she took a spare wheel.
“While I was changing my wheel, Andréanne [Pichette] blew by me. My change didn’t take long and I was able to regain contact and make a clean pass before the end of the lap,” said Walter.
“After that, I just focused on riding smoothly and cleanly, which was tough, because the course is very rooty and the conditions were slick after a lot of rain during the week.”
Sudbury, Ont., hosts round three of the Canada Cup cross-country mountain biking series today, with the final taking place in Whistler, B.C., on Aug. 17, during the legendary Crankworx mountain biking festival.
