Slowed down three times at the start of the race in Leogang, Austria, Léandre Bouchard was unlucky for a second weekend in a row in mountain biking. He quietly climbed to 48th place in this World Cup, convinced that the best is yet to come this season.
The Almatois, who wears the colors of the Foresco Holding Proco RL Pro Team, completed the demanding and dusty Leogang course 5 minutes and 29 seconds behind the winner, the Swiss Lars Forster (Thömus Maxon).
A certainly frustrating situation for the one who was ranked 56th last week in Switzerland, but which he wishes to worry about at least.
“I don’t want to focus on that aspect!” Yes, it’s been two weeks that there is a bit of bad luck, but I have no injuries. The legs were good, I passed about fifty runners to 48th place, so I know that when everything comes together, I will have a good result, ”said Léandre Bouchard.
The Quebecer continues to improve his ranking in the circuit and over time, the chances of being caught behind the pack will be reduced at the same time.
“I am trying to improve my lot and it will be done slowly. Every braking that happened in front of me pushed me back in the peloton and I had to do a catch-up race again. It was less dramatic than last week. »
Lars Forster attacked on the last lap to escape and give himself a 14-second lead over German Luca Schwarzbauer. The Czech Ondrej Cink won bronze (23 seconds).
Also in action, Bouchard’s teammate at Foresco Holding Proco RL Pro Victor Verreault was the 91st runner (-1 lap) to cross the finish line. Raphaël Auclair (Pivot Cycles – OTE) took 102nd place (-2 laps), while Anthony Audet finished 104th (-3 laps).
On the women’s side, Laurie Arseneault, from the Pittstop Racing Team, was ranked 63rd (-1 lap), Juliette Tetreault 70th (-2 laps) and Roxanne Vermette 72nd (-2 laps) in the elite event won by the Dutch Puck Pieterse. Austrians Mona Mitterwallner (38 seconds) and Laura Stigger (56 seconds) completed the podium.
Zorak Paillé meanwhile finished in 58th place in the under-23s, 6 minutes and 49 seconds behind the leader and Frenchman Adrien Boichis.