Squamish's Lauren Rosser bounced back from stomach pains to capture the bronze medal in the women's junior downhill competition at the 2011 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Champery, Switzerland, on Sunday (Sept. 4).
Rosser, who won the event in 2010, managed to reach the podium despite crashing six times in wet conditions.
"Smooth is fast and fast is smooth, that's what I had in my head," she said after the race. "It really started to rain hard at the top and made the course pretty slick. It's about who can keep it together and take a safe line and post the fastest time. Ultimately, you're racing the clock."
Rosser also placed 27th in the women's junior cross country event on Wednesday (Aug. 31), while struggling from stomach pains.
Sea to Sky riders also excelled in the elite women's downhill, as Whistler's Claire Buchar picked up the bronze. Buchar, who was sporting gold laces in support of local biker Nick Geddes in his battle with leukemia, said it was a challenging ride.
"It was such a gamble out there, and I tried to stay on my bike. I always ride very calculated, and sometimes that's my downfall," she said. "This time it really paid off, in these conditions. It was gnarly, it was scary the whole way, but I didn't give up "
Squamish's Miranda Miller also competed in the elite women's downhill, placing 13th.
Canada's other medal at the event was won by 2011 Test of Metal winner Catharine Pendrel, who won the gold in the elite women's cross country event.
For more information and full results, visit www.canadian-cycling.com
