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Kalentieva's Canada Festival
First place at Saint Félicien, maintaining the series lead – UCI World Cup
Irina Kalentieva is having the season of her life. The Russian has now won both World Cup races in Canada, just one week apart. Following her win in Mount Sainte Anne last weekend the Topeak Ergon racer was once again on the top step of podium having raced wearing the leader jersey. "I just feel so strong at the moment. At every race I feel as if everything slots into place. I think that it is simply my time to shine", said Irina, who came 2nd last year at the world championships, explaining her athletic domination. It means that Kalentieva is celebrating the third World Cup win of the season and the fourth of her career.
The race itself wasn't as exciting as that of a week ago. However it was almost as if Kalentieva was riding to a script. The climbing specialist crossed the finish line with a minute's advantage over the local girl, Canadian Marie-Helene Premont. Once more her technical abilities being the key to her success as by the third lap the rain started and washed away a lot of Irina's competition. "It was similar to Offenburg. When it began to rain, I pushed harder and played to my strengths," the six time Russian Champion said.
At Mount Sainte-Anne Kalentieva spoke of her self belief saying that "At the second World Cup in Canada I don't want to simply defend my lead, I intend to increase it so I can win the general classification". It was an uncompromising declaration and a promise that she then kept. In the overall points "Ira" has now amassed 1014 points and is thereby leading Premont by 174 points. The 29 year old's chances are therefore looking good for her to defend the lead and seal the series in Maribor (SLO) in September.