Pendrel Racing is a Cross Country development team based out of Kamloops, British Columbia. Their goal with is to provide mentorship and quality equipment to promising developing athletes at the time in their career when that support can have the greatest impact. Live to Play Sports is a proud supporter of the Pendrel Racing Team, and you can expect to see lots of updates as these promising athletes advance up the ranks.
Holden Jones (18), bronze medalist at the 2017 Jr World Championships. Currently 2nd ranked Junior in the world. Holden lives and trains in Squamish BC where he graduates from High school this June.
Emily Unterberger (22), a downhill ski racer turned Canada Cup podium rider in her first year of racing bikes. Emily is from Revelstoke, BC and studies Kinesiology at the University of Victoria
Elyse Nieuwold (25) is the 2016 and 2017 Canadian Marathon XC Champion and has turned her attention to the shorter (90 minute) cross-country racing format, but still plans to defend her marathon title. Elyse recently moved to Kamloops after completing her Masters in Physiotherapy and works as a Physio at Lifemark when not racing and training!
The Team have had four races so far this season, with impressive results at each! On ‘home turf’ in Canada, Holden started the season with a win at the Bear Mountain Canada Cup in Victoria, BC. This put him in the lead of not only the Canada Cup Series, but the UCI (union cycliste internationale) Junior race series.
Across the border, the team fought hard to represent Canada at the US Cup #1 and #2 in California, and the Whiskey 50 Marathon in Arizona.
Battling extreme heat and unfamiliar dusty terrain, Holden managed to take an early lead and hold it for a win in US Cup #1, before a mechanical took him out of contention for race number two in Bonelli, California.
Emily and Elyse battled with the heat at US Cup #1 in Fontana, but pulled out finishes in the low 20’s in a world-class field. The more rugged terrain of US Cup #2 in Bonelli suited the girls’ technical expertise, and Elyse clinched a 12th place finish!
Elyse jumped at the opportunity to race in the national champions jersey at the Whiskey 50 marathon race in Prescott, Arizona. Fifty miles made for a big day in the saddle, but fierce competition kept the racing tight until the very end, where Elyse took 7th in a sprint for the line!
The Pendrel Racing team will be riding in IXS Sports helmets for training and racing this season, and will be using Crankbrothers pedals to stay in control and at the head of the pack. You can cheer on Pendrel Racing at Canada Cup #2 in Baie Saint Paul, QC on May 20th, and Canada Cup #3 at Mont Tremblant, QC on May 26th!