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GLASGOW -- When Catharine Pendrel bumped into Canadian cycling teammate Raphael Gagne at the Commonwealth Games, Gagne made a point of thanking her. It seems not only is Pendrel one of the worlds best mountain bikers, but one of the most generous as well. The 33-year-old from Kamloops, B.C., led Canada to a 1-2 finish in cross-country mountain biking at the Commonwealth Games on Tuesday, taking the lead from the opening lap and never looking back. Pendrel absolutely crushed the field to cross in one hour 39 minutes 29 seconds, a minute and 10 seconds ahead of silver medallist Emily Batty of Brooklin, Ont. Australias Rebecca Henderson was third. Max Plaxton of Victoria was fourth in the mens race. "Everyone whos watched me race knows I just like to go hard from the start. . . When you get some space between you and other riders, you just go for it," Pendrel said. "It feels amazing to win the gold for Canada." The reigning world champion decided this year to decline Sport Canadas funding -- the $1,500 a month she would normally receive as part of the athlete carding system. The money was split into three development cards of $500 apiece. Gagne told Pendrel he thought he was one of the three recipients. "That was really cool to feel like I was helping one of those guys," Pendrel said. "I felt that it could make a bigger impact in one of the up-and-coming riders life," she added, pointing out that she is a semipro athlete -- she rides for Luna Pro Team. "I just knew just how big it was to receive that carding the first time, not just financially but emotionally, to know that youve reached that level where your country wants to invest in you. And thats really special. "I wanted another athlete to have that experience." Gagne finished seventh in the mens race Tuesday, and praised Pendrel for her gesture. "Catharine did that so thats really generous from her," he said. "That opens up other spots for younger athletes like me so obviously thats super cool from her." The last time many Canadians saw Pendrel was at the 2012 London Olympics where she went in as a favourite but faded to ninth, tearfully apologizing to fans back home. The two-time world champion said the disappointment of that performance stung for some time. "But what it comes down to: I didnt have a good day. Theres so much more to look forward to and opportunities to do well for Canada," she added -- particularly, next summers Pan American Games in Toronto and the 2016 Rio Olympics. "I got so much positive feedback that I realized, even a bad day for me can still be inspiring, and Ill just keep inspiring people to ride their bike and to reach for big goals, and not be afraid to risk failing to be incredible." On Tuesday, Pendrel, wearing earrings made from links of a bike chain -- a gift from a young girl from New Brunswick -- led from the outset. She was already more than a minute ahead after the first lap of the 31.95-kilometre course that twisted and turned around Cathkin Braes Country Park. A coach handed her a Canadian flag near the finish line, and she waved it as she crossed for gold, keeping intact a gold-medal streak for Canadian women. Canadas Chrissy Redden won the title in 2002 in Manchester, England, where the sport made its Commonwealth debut, and Marie-Helene Premont took the title in 2006 in Melbourne, Australia. There was no mountain bike four years ago at the Games in New Delhi, India. "I was trying to ignore the fact that Canada has never not gotten gold in mountain bike at the Commonwealth Games," Pendrel said, laughing. "I really didnt want that pressure before coming into this, but I knew with how quick Emily was going as well, that we had a strong chance." The 26-year-old Batty battled Henderson for the entire race until the Canadian pulled away on the final lap. "I was feeling strong, I knew Catharine was up the road and I knew it as going to be hard to catch her," Batty said. "I came here for gold, but silver is the next best thing." Batty, who narrowly lost to Pendrel at the recent Canadian championships, said shes benefited from the tradition of strong female mountain bikers in Canada. "It really helps. Weve always been a top-ranked country for the womens cross-country mountain biking and it puts the bar really high for our development program and it is really inspiring," she said. "Not long ago I was looking up to the top Canadian women and now being one is really inspiring. "I just gave myself goosebumps saying that," she added, laughing. "We really feed off each other, and push each other." Hundreds of fans turned out to watch the mountain bike racing, despite dark clouds, periodic rain and blustery winds. The riders had to negotiate a tricky course that featured the Brig ODoom, Broken Biscuits, and Clyde Climb -- all named by local schoolchildren. Anton Cooper of New Zealand won the mens 37.15-kilometre race, followed by teammate Samuel Gaze. Daniel McConnell of Australia won the bronze. Cheap Marlins Jerseys China . Her return engagement begins tonight as TSN presents Day 1 coverage of the 2015 event from Melbourne. Watch Eugenie Bouchards opening round match at the Australian Open live tonight on TSN5 at 3am et/Midnight pt. Cheap Jose Fernandez Jersey . The 23-year-old restricted free agent appeared in all 48 games last season, finishing second among all Sabres skaters with 15 goals and 34 points. http://www.cheapmarlinsjerseys.com/ . Boston is making its first appearance in the ALCS since 2008. For Detroit, its a third straight trip to the ALCS and its fourth in eight years. Cheap MLB Jerseys . Doug Fister allowed two runs over seven innings and Washington hit three solo homers in a 6-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night. Cheap Marlins Jerseys . Today, well look at five frontcourt players today, here from the Bay Area. 1. AMIR JOHNSON (Raptors): I cant figure out what the issue or problem is, but based upon what Im seeing, hes not right.TORONTO -- If the Toronto Argonauts are going to defend their CFL title, theyre going to have to do it without their Grey Cup MVP. Chad Kackert underwent surgery Tuesday to repair a broken ankle and is done for the year, the final blow in a season full of them for the Argos explosive running back. If the Argos can take any measure of comfort into Sundays East Division final versus the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, its that theyve been in this spot for the better part of the season -- having to make do without the player who led them to Grey Cup glory a year ago. "All injuries are frustrating," Argos head coach Scott Milanovich said after Tuesdays walk-through. "From his perspective it was very disappointing, it was a tough year for him with the injuries and finally felt like he was getting healthy, finally felt like he was getting his chance to get in there and do what he wanted to do all year. "Our team is very disappointed for him, but its football, but youve got to rally, and weve got guys who fortunately have played well." Milanovich said he will rely on backups Jerious Norwood and Curtis Steele to fill in for Kackert, and -- regrettably for Kackert -- it wont be the first time. The speedy running back missed 10 of 18 games this season after injuring his knee and shoulder (twice), plus suffering a concussion. The five-foot-eight, 206-pound Kackert was still Torontos leading rusher this season, running for 480 yards on 71 carries (6.8-yard average) with three touchdowns. The former New Hampshire star added 23 catches for 184 yards and a TD. A season hed surely love to forget finally came to a crashing halt Friday afternoon when he injured his ankle at practice at Rogers Centre. The disappointment in losing Kackert is tempered, Milanovich said, by the fact other players have stepped up all season when others have been hurt. "Absolutely, (Norwood and Steele) have played and played well, and played in big games, even on the road, Jerious played in Calgary and Saskatchewan and helped us get wins," Milanovich said. "It would be more nerve-wracking had they not played, and you didnt have the confidence level that theyre going to be in there and execute what youre doing. "As disappointing as it is for Kack, me as a coach and the players as a team have faith in the guys who are going to fill in for him. Were just going to have to move on, unfortunately." Norwood, who is still adjusting to Canadian football, is coming off a big game, running for 102 yards on eight carries in Torontos 23-20 loss to Montreal in the Nov. 1 regular-season finale. Norwood added four catches for 62 yards in replacing Kackert, who in a cruel twist was healthy that night and given the game off to rest for the playoffs. "It was just a terrible accident, and all our thoughts and prayers go out to Kack, but weve got to keep rolling," Norwood said.dddddddddddd "Its a team game, when one guy goes down, the next man has got to step up, stick together as a team. Just finish strong." Norwood, who spent five seasons with the Atlanta Falcons and was signed by the Argos on Aug. 14 as an insurance policy, has been by Kackerts house to visit his injured teammate. "I just let him know that I loved him and we loved him as a team, and we support him," Norwood said. "He was actually feeling pretty good. . . hes in a good mood, good spirits, hopefully we can go out and get a win for him." Quarterback Ricky Ray said sometimes unfortunate, crazy things happen in practice, and that it was a big blow to see a teammate go down, especially Kackert with his big-play potential. "Its tough not having him but weve got some guys that got a lot of experience this year when he was out, and guys that we feel can go in and do the job," Ray said. "It would be more difficult if Chad had been there the whole year and played every game and now were trying to find guys that can come in without any experience to fill that role. But weve got guys that got significant playing time this year that can come in and do a good job." Steeles best game came in his Argos debut, running for two touchdowns in Torontos 38-12 romp over the B.C. Lions on July 30. "We just knew the situation, (Milanovich) told us that hes got the guys, weve been in this situation before since early in the year when Kack went down and I had to step up and fill those shoes," the rookie running back said. "He just told us to be ready, prepare like we always have." The broken ankle is a heartbreaking ending for Kackert, who was a major part of Torontos success late last season. Just a couple of weeks ago, on the eve of his most recent return to the lineup -- this time after missing two weeks with a shoulder injury -- he had talked about finding solace from Rudyard Kiplings inspirational poem "If." Two lines of the poem read: "If you can meet with triumph and disaster and treat those two impostors just the same. . ." "(The poem offers) perspective and that if I let anything get to my character, then Ive lost," Kackert said in an interview the day before Torontos Oct. 24 game versus Winnipeg. "I kind of had to take that in and understand thats the one thing I do have that cant be taken away." Kackert was presented with last years Grey Cup MVP after powering through the Calgary Stampeders defence for 133 yards on 20 carries in Torontos 35-22 victory. He added 62 yards on eight catches out of the backfield. 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