Katie Compton (Trek Cyclocross Collective) won her 10th straight US Cyclocross National Championship in dominating form ahead of the World Championships less than a month away.
While Crystal Anthony (Optum/Kelly Benefits) and Nicole Duke (Marin/Spy) took the initial hole shot, it was Elle Anderson (Cal Giant Berry Farms/Specialized) and Compton that took over on the front, and quickly started to open a gap. By the end of the first lap, Compton had already started to pull away.
On the second lap, it was the battles behind the leaders that had the crowds cheering. Anthony was able to start to pull away from Duke, while a group of Chloe Woodruff (Crank Brothers Race Club), Meredith Miller and Rachel Lloyd (Cal Giant Berry Farm/Specialized), Kaitlin Antonneau (Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld.com) were chasing behind. Georgia Gould (Luna) continued to make moves to catch the front. With Compton pulling further and further away, the chase group began to shatter. Duke drifted back from Anthony, while the Optum rider pushed to make up time on Anderson. Miller was able to drop the chase group to set her sites on Anthony.
As the laps ticked down, Gould was able to make the catch on the chase group as they caught Duke. Gould didn’t stay for long, and took Rachel Lloyd with her to fight for the top 5. Anderson conceded some time to Anthony, but still kept a solid advantage going into the final lap. Miller had Anthony in her sites as she came down the final straight with one to go. At the 5280 Stairs, Miller made the catch, and the battle for the final medal is on. Gould continued to ride with Lloyd, and led the way up the Belgian Stairs by a few seconds. After the barriers, Miller made the pass on Anthony. The two continued to battle, all the way to the finish.
Compton was able to cruise to the victory, well ahead of Anderson, who was about a minute behind. Miller was able to open up a slight gap on Anthony before they hit the finishing straight, and opened up the sprint. The Boulder native held off Anthony to take third. Just behind, Gould rounded out the top 5 and probably could have finished even higher up if there would have been another lap.
Heckling Editor, Image Taker, Crash Test Dummy, and Beard Master at Bikeworldnews.com
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