Catharine Pendrel of Kamloops, the world's top-ranked women's cross-country mountain biker, says she is thrilled to even be considered as Canada's flag-bearer for the opening ceremony at the Olympic Summer Games in London.

A Canadian Press report Wednesday claimed that Pendrel, triathlete Simon Whitfield and show jumper Ian Millar "are among the favourites to carry Canada's flag."

The flag-bearer is to be named today on the front lawn at Parliament Hill.

The fact that Pendrel was in Kamloops last night and hadn't heard anything about it likely is a pretty good indication that she won't be the flag-bearer.

"Although I am incredibly flattered by the public support I have had," Pendrel said, "I don't really see myself as one of the top contenders."

Had Pendrel been given serious consideration, she would have had a tough decision to make.

The opening ceremony is scheduled for July 27 in London. Pendrel is scheduled to compete in a World Cup meet in Val d'Isere, France, on July 28.

"Obviously, I'd have to give it some good consideration," she replied when asked what she might have done had she been contacted. "I would really have to be in that scenario to know. It's a huge honour and it's something you would have to give a lot of thought to.

"However, it is our World Cup final . . ."

Pendrel is using that World Cup meet as the final part of her preparation for the Olympic race. The women's mountain bike competition is scheduled for Aug. 11, one day before the closing ceremony.

Recently, CBCSports.ca set up a 16-person bracket - eight men and eight women - and asked Canadians: Who should be Canada's flag-bearer at the opening ceremony.

In the end, it came down to Pendrel and Whitfield, with Pendrel drawing more than 34,000 votes in the final and winning by 544 votes.

"It was a huge honour to win the public choice for flag-bearer," she said. "However, I really feel that honour should go to an Olympian who has achieved Olympic success."

And, as she pointed out, Whitfield, who is from Victoria, won triathlon's first Olympic gold medal at the 2000 Games in Sydney, Australia, and also won silver in Beijing in 2008, while Millar, 65, who is from Perth, Ont., is about to compete in the Games for a 10th time.

"That definitely deserves recognition," Pendrel said.

gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca