05.31.08 - Canada’s Leigh Hobson wins bronze medal at cycling World Cup

MONTREAL – Leigh Hobson of Cambridge, Ont., won the bronze medal on Saturday at the seventh stop on the women’s road cycling World Cup circuit held on the Mount Royal course. It is the only North American race on the 11-stop circuit.

Judith Arndt of Germany won the 110.66 kilometre event in three hours and 11 minutes and 34 seconds to maintain the yellow jersey as the overall leader on the circuit. She has won two of the last three Montreal World Cup events and reached the podium in five of the last six years.

She beat defending champion Fabiana Luperini of Italy in a sprint to the finish. The 37-year-old Hobson rolled in 32 seconds after the leaders.

‘’With two laps to go I knew I still had a lot of strength on the climbs,’’ said Hobson. ‘’Therefore I felt a medal was a possibility. On the last lap I saw an opening and gave everything I had.’’

Two more Canadians cracked the top-10 with Anne Samplonius of Montreal and Erinne Willock of Victoria sixth and seventh respectively in a trio 34 seconds back.

Other top Canadian finishers among the 100+ rider field included Felicia Gomez of Fredericton in 17th, Alex Wrubleski of Regina 20th, Julie Beveridge of Calgary 22nd, and Sue Schlatter of Ottawa 33rd.

The competition was the last selection event for this summer’s Olympics. Canada is ranked among the top-16 nations at the end of the selection period and can send three riders to the Games. Wrubleski, with two fourth place finishes on the World Cup this season and Hobson appear to be in excellent position to be nominated. The Canadian Cycling Association will announce the three nominees on June 15.