When Catharine Pendrel retired from World Cup racing at the end of the 2021 season, it closed one highly decorated chapter of the Canadian’s career. That chapter included an Olympic medal, two world championship titles, three World Cup overall wins and numerous national championships among a long list of palmares as well as the birth of her first child. It wasn’t the end of her mountain bike career, though. In the year since, Pendrel’s stepped into a position on the other side of the course tape as a coach with Cycling Canada.
I caught up with Pendrel at another event she’s won in the past, BC Bike Race. This year, she won two stages on her way to finishing second behind Sandra Walter. We talked about adjusting to retirement, what she’s learned from being a coach and what it’s like racing against her long-time friend, training partner, and still-active World Cup racer, Sandra Walter.
Canadian MTB: After no racing for a year, you’re six days into a BC Bike Race. How are you feeling?
Catharine Pendrel: I feel better than expected. I was pretty worried about how my back would hold up. But it seems to be pretty good. As far as legs, I feel like I almost have more power now than I did at the beginning. It’s just learning to know how I can push ‘current fitness Catharine.’ You have to adjust to where you’re at. It’s about finding how hard can I push to get the most out of myself now.
How is it being back at the races?
It’s cool, yeah! It’s really fun. When I showed up the first day and was, for some reason, anticipating it being a smaller event, and immediately thought ‘oh this is a really big thing.’ It’s been great caravaning between stages with everyone with bikes on their trucks, it’s such a good atmosphere at these races.
How different does it feel lining up as a technically retired athlete, though you still won todays stage, and racing against Sandra?
The time gaps on the first couple of days made sense, but it was also a moment of ‘oh, that’s how much fitness I’ve lost…’ Within the race, I could be happy with how I felt and how I was racing but then seeing the times at the finish, there’s that bit of realization. Racing has been really fun, but definitely racing and being able to win today is a good feeling.
It’s really fun to race Sandra. It’s a bit hard for me,…
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