Leah Kirchmann from Winnipeg finished 12th overall in the Elite women’s road race held in Bergen, Norway Saturday.
Canada was represented by a team of six riders for the women’s 152.8 km race. Leah Kirchmann from Winnipeg, Karol-Ann Canuel of Gatineau, Que., Alison Jackson of Vermilion, Alta., Lex Albrecht of Montreal, Sara Bergen of Coquitlam, B.C., and Kirsti Lay of Montreal.
The team said they suffered a blow at the midpoint of the race when Lay crashed and was unable to rejoin the pack of riders. But the team continued to work well to protect designated sprinter Kirchmann.
"It was a really hard race because this course doesn't offer a lot of places to rest," said Kirchmann. "It was quite aggressive, but we used our team well in the first laps. Unfortunately, we lost Kirsti [Lay] to a crash about halfway through, and it was down to Karol-Anne [Canuel] and myself for the final.”
"I think we saw the race we expected," said Zach Bell, women's coach.
Bell said the Dutch team was a really strong competitor especially towards the end and losing Lay during a key lap was tough.
“Did it go to plan? Yes and no - we saved our key riders for the end, but when the important moves went they didn't quite have the legs to be there. We had a shout at a medal but they
