Superprestige Cyclo-cross Gavere - C1

Gavere, Belgium , November 16, 2008

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Race 3 - November 16: Elite Women

Compton excels in the mud

By Brecht Decaluwé in Gavere, Belgium

Katie Compton (Spike) takes the win
Photo ©: Photopress.be

USA Champion Katie Compton won her first race of the season on European soil with Superprestige round number three in Gavere. She finished ahead of Netherlands' Daphny Van den Brand and Belgium's Sanne Cant by one minute.

"My start wasn't so good as I had to step off the bike because of some other riders," Compton said to Cyclingnews. "I figured my tyres were to blame ... but nevertheless I figured I could do better than that and I steadily moved up."

Many riders struggled to stay on their bikes on the extremely muddy course that featured a rather long and steep climb. It took a few laps before Compton made her way up to the front of the race.

Once she reached the front it turned out that only Van den Brand was present. For half a lap, the two rode together, but when they hit the slippery descent off the hill Van den Brand dropped back.

"I wasn't used to muddy courses like this one and in the descent I was struggling," Van den Brand said. She was impressed with Compton. "She kept her hand on top of the handlebars although I figured that doesn't give you more balance."

Compton was a level stronger than the rest of the field. She finished with an advantage of more than a minute on Van den Brand and Cant. "Too bad Kupfernagel wasn't here because I like to race against a good competitor like her in the few races," Compton said.

Further back, Wyman rode a good race and she finished sixth. "I lost the battle against Pavla Havlikova, but nevertheless I'm happy with my performance," she said.

Judges disqualified fourth-placed Veerle Ingels following the race because of an illegal pit entrance – she didn't change bikes. Wyman moved up one spot in the official results, behind Czech Republic's Pavla Havlikova.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Photopress.be

Katie Compton (Spike) takes the win in Gavere.

Images by Mark-Legg Compton

Podium (L-R): Daphny Van Den Brand (RWC Ahoy), Katherine Compton (Spike Shooter) and Sanne Cant (Selle Italia).

Results

1 Katherine Compton (USA) Spike Shooter                      44.37
2 Daphny Van Den Brand (Ned) RWC Ahoy                         1.09
3 Sanne Cant (Bel) Selle Italia                               1.22
4 Pavla Havlikova (Cze)                                      2.20
5 Helen Wyman (GBr) Swift Racing Team                         2.39
6 Joyce Vanderbeken (Bel)                                     4.29
7 Nikki Harris (GBr)                                          4.56
8 Reza Hormes-Ravenstijn (Ned)                                5.37
9 Sophie de Boer (Ned)                                        6.52
10 Christine Vardaros (USA)                                   7.05
11 Sabrina Stultiens (Ned)                                    7.28
12 Anne Arnouts (Bel)                                             
13 Patsy Larno (Bel)                                          7.35
14 Nancy Bober (Bel)                                          7.47
15 Nicolle De Bie-Leyten (Bel)                                8.51
16 Tessa van Nieuwpoort (Ned)                                 9.16
17 Mika Ogishima (Jpn)                                        9.20

One lap behind
18 Katrien Pauwels (Bel)                                      9.41
19 Lana Verberne (Ned)                                            
20 Sophie Borra (Ned)                                             
21 Iris Ockeloen (Ned)                                            
22 Kim Van Renterghem (Bel)                                       
23 Jo Blanchaert (Bel)                                            
24 Dorien Raeymaekers (Bel)                                       
25 Sharon Defoor (Bel)                                            
26 Tamara Pijpers (Ned)