Sea Otter ’11: Women’s XC

Emily Batty at staging. Photo by Wil Matthews

The pro women's cross country race gets underway. Their event would run approximately 90 minutes. Photo by Wil Matthews

Two-thirds of the first lap complete, the Luna trio of Pendrel, Gould and Nash looked unstoppable. Katie Compton (Rabobank-Giant Offroad) trailed close behind the Luna riders on the first lap. Photo by Wil Matthews

Katie Compton (Rabobank-Giant Offroad) trailed close behind the Luna riders on the first lap and before being stung by a bee. Photo by Wil Matthews

Heading into the valley for the first time, Georgia Gould, Catharine Pendrel and Emily Batty had dropped Katerina Nash. Katie Compton trails behind in fifth place. Photo by Wil Matthews

Canadian Mical Dyck working hard in the elite field. Photo by Wil Matthews

Lea Davison leads Heather Irmiger through the wooded section of the Sea Otter course. Photo by Wil Matthews

Georgia Gould (Luna Pro Team) suffered a rear flat which took her out of the lead group. Photo by Wil Matthews

Poison Oak abounded in the wooded sections, adding an unusual hazard to the course. Photo by Wil Matthews

Fourth lap, the lead trio of Catharine Pendrel, Emily Batty and Katerina Nash were well ahead of the chase group. Photo by Wil Matthews

Catharine Pendrel (Luna Pro Team) leads Emily Batty (Subaru-Trek) and Katerina Nash (Luna Pro Team) on the trails above the Sea Otter Expo and Laguna Seca Raceway. Photo by Wil Matthews

The chase group of Pua Mata (Sho-Air/Specialized), Lea Davison (Specialized Factory Racing), Kelli Emmett (Giant Off-Road) and Heather Irmiger (Subaru-Trek) on lap five. Photo by Wil Matthews

Spring time in Monterey. Photo by Wil Matthews

On lap six, it was down to Canadians Catharine Pendrel and Emily Batty. Photo by Wil Matthews

Riders in the women's Pro XCT event are dwarfed by features of the Laguna Seca raceway circuit, which was used for about a quarter of the XC course. Photo by Wil Matthews

The Lea Davison fan club continued its second day of support for the Specialized rider. Photo by Wil Matthews

Emily Batty settled into time trial mode with Catharine Pendrel on her wheel during the cross-country race at Sea Otter. Batty won the event. Photo by Wil Matthews

At the line, Batty had a gap of several bike lengths over Catharine Pendrel (Luna Pro Team). Photo by Wil Matthews

Emily Batty (Subaru-Trek) reacts to what she later described as the biggest win of her career. Photo by Wil Matthews