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US Cyclo-cross Championships - CN
Providence, RI, USA, December 15-17, 2006
Main Page Results Live report Previous Race Next Race
Race 13 - December 17: Elite Women
By Steve Medcroft in Providence
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Katie Compton (Spike/Primus Mootry) won her third consecutive cyclo-cross national championship jersey after a dominating solo effort on Sunday. Compton took an immediate lead of the women's California Giant Berry Farms USA Cyclocross National Championships in Providence, Rhode Island and left a string of talented, powerful women racers in her wake. Only 2006 US MTB national champion Georgia Gould (Luna Chix) had an answer for Compton's pace, dangling thirty seconds behind the former track national champion and Paralympics gold medalist on her own for most of the race.
Although the way she won mirrored her last two 'cross nationals efforts (2004, 2005), Compton credits the mild weather and pristine course conditions for her success. "I won't say (the course conditions) made it easy," she said at the finish, "but they made it less hard. It was nice to have an open course. I was able to pick my lines and ride my pace."
Every woman in the field had to know Compton would apply immediate and devastating pressure. Yet only Gould was able to stay on Compton's wheel in the first lap of the race. "I had a good start," Gould said at the podium presentation. "I got the hole shot. But I just didn't have the legs I was hoping for."
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Behind Gould, a large chase group, containing MTB rising star Kerry Barnholt (Tokyo Joe's/Maxxis), Master's 30-34 national champion Dee Dee Winfield (Velo Bella Kona), Rhonda Mazza (Team S&M/Vanilla Bicycles), Christine Vardaros (Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam), Ann Knapp (Kona), Rebecca Wellons (Gearworks/Spinarts) and Mandy Lozano (Cheerwine Cycling) formed.
By the time there were three laps remaining in the 40-minute contest, Barnholt and Winfield had slipped free of the rest. Mazza hung in the gap between groups and the rest rode together. Until, with Compton 35-seconds ahead of Gould and Gould safely ahead of Mazza, the chase fell apart with two laps to go: Barnholt attacked Winfield and Knapp struck away from the larger chase group and caught Mazza.
On the final straight, Compton rode safely to victory. Gould followed, her head down. Barnholt managed to sprint ahead of Winfield and Knapp attacked Mazza far enough away from the finish to take the final podium spot without challenge.
Calculated risks
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At the beginning of the 2006 'cross season, Compton said publicly that she has put an end to her Paralympic career (as pilot on a tandem track-racing team with a blind athlete) and freed herself from Paralympic restrctions on UCI-sanctioned racing to accept the automatic nomination to the US 'cross Worlds team she earned with the nationals win.
The elite Carmichael Training Systems coach says she'll head back to Colorado to prepare for Worlds. "I need to recover from the travel and from nationals," she said, "then I'll build up again." Why not head for Europe to gain experience and the additional UCI points she'll need for a better start position at Worlds? "It is a calcultaed risk," she said. "I am going to go over a week before Worlds and do one World Cup but the training in Colorado is better - why train in Belgium where the weather might keep you off the bike? I'd rather be on form."
MTB National Champion Georgia Gould, on the other hand, won't accept her Worlds invitation. "I'm really new to the back-to-back mountain-bike and cyclo-cross seasons," she said on Sunday. "There's an Olympic year coming up and mountain-biking is still my focus and the focus of my team - my program next year is much more intense and I'll be travaling more and doing World Cups - so I don't want jeopardize that."
Also see Sunday's live coverage.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Chris Gardner/cadencephoto.com
- Katie Compton climbs the run-up alone on the first lap.
- The women's elite field in pursuit.
- A Cheerwine rider passes in front of an early setting sun.
- Georgia Gould tackles the barriers.
- Katie Compton on the waterside, moments before sealing her convincing victory.
- Chris Horner waits to present Katie Compton with a familiar jersey.
- The women's elite podium bids farewell to a great weekend in Providence.
Images by Bill Hurley/www.fastshotsphoto.com
- Not even 90 seconds into the race , the two race favorites, Katie Compton (Spike Professional/Primus Mootry) and Georgia Gould (LUNA), already had a 5 second lead over the chasing field.
- Less than a lap and a half into the race , Katie Compton already had a 20 second lead over chasing Georgia Gould.
- Katie Compton on the power climb.
- Georgia Gould at the same spot 30 seconds later.
- Megan Monroe (Sports Garage) powers up the power climb.
- Josie Beggs looks down to see if she has more gears to get up the climb.
- Kerry Barnholt (Tokyo Joes/Maxxis) crests the power climb.
- Katie Compton , three peat US Natioanl Cyclocross Champion, just crosses the finish line.
- When you win , everyone wants your auotgraph.
Images by Nancy Wright/www.abbiorca.com
- Georgia Gould (Luna Women's MTB Team) the current MTB national champion, placed second on the day.
- Deidre Winfield (Velo-Bella/Kona), finished fourth and was awarded 'rookie of the year' by the announcers.
- Ann Knapp (Kona) charging from a back of the pack start.
- Katie Compton (Spike Professional/Primus Mootry) took the lead from the first lap and didn't look back.
- Ann Knapp climbed up to fifth place.
- Christine Vardaros (Lotto Belisol Team) came over from Belgium.
- Amy Dombroski (Excel Sports).
- Katie Compton (pike Professional/Primus Mootry) captured her third straight elite women's national title.
- Katie Compton (pike Professional/Primus Mootry) relaxes with the win safely tucked away.
- Georgia Gould with a big smile for the media.
- The women's elite national championship podium (l-r): Winfield, Gould, Compton, Barnholt and Knapp
Images by Ed Collier/www.cyclingpix.net
- Defending champion Katie Compton
- Rebecca Wellons (Gearworks / Spinarts) on the run-up.
- As usual, Katie Compton powers away from everyone.
- Compton didn't look back.
- A familiar pose for Katie Compton.
Images by Dave McElwaine/www.trailwatch.net
- Georgia Gould (Luna Chix MTB Team) warms up.
- Katie Compton (Spike Professional/Primus Mootry) very relaxed before race.
- Georgia Gould (Luna Chix MTB Team) gets Hole Shot
- Compton (Spike Professional/Primus Mootry) takes early lead on descent.
- Georgia Gould (Luna Chix MTB Team) chasing through Candy Bowl.
- Mellisa Thomas (Maxxis) on Big Run-up.
- Mo Bruno-Roy (Independent Fabrication/Wheelworks) running like the wind.
- Anna Milkowski (Velo Bella/Kona) on the steps.
- Jennifer Tilley (Velo Bella/Kona) on steep climb.
- Diedre Winfield (Velo Bella/Kona) celebrates post race.
- Rebecca Wellons (Gearworks/Spin Arts Cycling) and husband.
- Lyne Bessette, a Canadian, was a spectator.
- Women's podium (l-r): Winfield, Gould, Compton, Barnholt and Knapp
Images by Mark Legg/http://web.mac.com/markuslegg
- Katie Compton (Spike Shooter/Primus Mootry) in nervous anticipation
- Christine Vardaros (Lotto-Belisol ladiesteam) ready to race
- Deidre Winfield (Velo Bella-Kona) on the line
- Maureen Bruno Roy (Independent Fabrications/Wheelworks) making minute nervous adjustments
- Katie Compton (Spike Shooter/ Primus Mootry) takes a front row start for this years Nationals thanks to a new bylaw allowing the defending National Champion to take on the field from the front row
- Katie Compton (Spike Shooter/Primus Mootry) 1 minute to go
- The 2006 US National Elite Women’s field is off
- Katie Compton (Spike Shooter/Primus Mootry) leads Georgia Gould (Luna Chix) early in the race.
- Christine Vardaros (Lotto-Belisol ladiesteam) fresh from living and racing in Europe managed to finish 7th.
- Melissa Thomas (Team Maxxis) feeling the pain
- Georgia Gould (Luna Chix) on the road chasing the leader early in the race
- Newcomer to the Elite scene Deidre Winfield (Velo Bella-Kona) rode to a well-earned podium spot.
- Maureen Bruno Roy (Independent Fabrications/Wheelworks) crashed early in the race.
- Anne Knapp (KONA) riding to a superb 5th place despite having a low key race season
- Katie Compton (Spike Shooter/Primus Mootry) attacks the start/finish hill.
- Now that Katie Compton (Spike Shooter/Primus Mootry) is racing UCI races this season this is a sight the riders will often see of Compton.
- The familiar style of Anne Knapp (KONA) riding out of the saddle
- Josie Beggs (California Giant Strawberries/Specialized) back racing after taking a hard fall off the bike at this year’s USGP Boulder Cup.
- Georgia Gould (Luna Chix) on her own, chasing hard
- Rhonda Mazza (Team S&M/Vanilla Bicycles) rounds a tree near the pits
- Kerry Barnholt (Tokyo Joes/Maxxis) and Deidre Winfield (Velo Bella-Kona) battle for third place
- Colorado rider Amy Dombroski (Excel Sports) picks herself off the grasss after tangling with another rider
- Katie Compton (Spike Shooter/Primus Mootry) rides by the pits as her number 2 bike held by its builder Joe Depaemalaere watches his bike take a National Championship.
- The golden girl Katie Compton (Spike Shooter/Primus Mootry) rides in the golden light during the last lap.
- Katie Compton (Spike Shooter/Primus Mootry) wins her third sucessive Elite Championship in Providence, Rhode Island.
- Georgia Gould (Luna Chix) takes a comfortable second place.
- Kerry Barnholt (Tokyo Joes/Maxxis) takes third.
- On top of the podium Katie Compton (Spike Shooter/Primus Mootry) enjoys her US Championship win.
- The best women cyclocross riders in the country for 2006 (left to right, Deidre Windfield (Velo Bella-Kona), Georgia Gould(Luna Chix), Katie Compton (Spike Shooter/Primus Mootry), Kerry Barnholt (Tokyo Joes/Maxxis), Anne Knapp (KONA) receive the crowd’s applause.
Results
1 Katie Compton (Spike Professional/Primus Mootry) 41.34
2 Georgia Gould (Luna Women's MTB Team) 0.02
3 Kerry Barnholt (Tokyo Joes / Maxxis) 1.22
4 Deidre Winfield (Velo Bella-Kona) 1.24
5 Ann Knapp (KONA) 1.58
6 Rhonda Mazza (Team S&M/Vanilla Bicycles) 2.01
7 Christine Vardaros (Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam) 2.28
8 Shelley Olds (HRS/Rock Lobster) 2.30
9 Mandy Lozano (Cheerwine Cycling) 2.31
10 Wendy Williams (River City Bicycles) 2.35
11 Melissa Thomas (Team Maxxis) 2.47
12 Sue Butler (River City Bicycles) 2.49
13 Rebecca Wellons (Gearworks/Spin Arts Cycling) 3.00
14 Maureen Bruno Roy (Independent Fabrication/Wheelworks) 3.09
15 Kristi Berg (Team Group Health) 3.17
16 Sarah Kerlin (Velo Bella - Kona) 3.26
17 Anna Milkowski (Velo Bella-Kona) 3.27
18 Megan Monroe (Sports Garage-BMC) 3.30
19 Melanie Swartz (Velo Bella - Kona) 3.44
20 Josie Beggs (California Giant Strawberries/Specialized) 3.49
21 Amy Wallace (RGM WATCHES - RICHARD SACHS - REX CHIU) 4.09
22 Brigette Stoick (River City Bicycles) 4.14
23 Erin Kassoy (Velo Bella-Kona) 4.34
24 Cris Rothfuss (NEBC/Cycle Loft) 4.37
25 Linda Sone (Hollywood Racing/Silver Cycling) 4.38
26 Catherine Walberg (Team Kenda Tire) 4.48
27 Sami Fournier (Organic Athlete/Sunnyside Sports) 5.07
28 Jennifer Tilley (Velo Bella/Kona) 5.12
29 Cara Mccauley (Cheerwine Cycling) 5.16
30 Dorothy Wong (Figueroa Farms-Redline-MS Society (TeamRedFig.com)) 5.28
31 Erica Yozell (FORT Factory Team) 5.38
32 Rachel Steele (Saturn of Toledo/Shell) 5.45
33 Lauren Costantini (Sycip Racing) 5.52
34 Catherine Johnson (Pro Peloton Racing)
35 Anne Schwartz (Flying Rhino Cycling Club) 5.54
36 Jennifer Gersbach (Tokyo Joe's) 5.55
37 Marci Titus Hall (DeSalvo Custom Cycles) 6.13
38 Kathy Sarvary (Gearworks/Spin Arts Cycling Team) 6.19
39 Kim Blodgett (International Bicycle Center) 6.21
40 Sara Cushman (Gear Works/Spin Arts) 6.33
41 Megan Elliott (Specialized) 6.38
42 Beth Mason (C3/ADG/Joe's) 6.43
43 Pamela Hinton (Columbia Bike Club)
44 Melody Chase (NHCC, Rhino Bike Works) 6.46
45 Alicia Hamblen (RGM WATCHES-RICHARD SACHS-REX CHIU) 6.55
46 Kim Sawyer (travelgirl Magazine) 6.56
47 Kristine Church (Human Zoom/ Pabst Blue Ribbon) 6.57
48 Lisa Most (Wissahickon) 6.58
49 Bryna Nestor (North Atlantic Velo)
50 Heidi Von Teitenberg (C3/ADG/Joe's) 7.08
51 Callie Mcdowell (Velo Bella-Kona) 7.24
52 Valerie Dumond (Blue Sky Velo) 7.32
53 Alie Kenzer (Team International Bike/NERAC) 7.46
54 Catherine Dudley (Putney/West Hill) 8.00
55 Betsy Shogren (FORT Factory Team) 8.02
56 Linda Cooper (Great Plains Cycling Club) 8.05
57 Tela Crane (Sonic U23) 8.15
58 Kathryne Carr 8.43
59 Samantha Schneider (ENDEAVOUR) 9.15
60 Monique Hein (Lees-McRae college) 10.32
61 Jessica Hill (Trails End Cycling Co)
62 Amy Dombroski (Excel Sports)
DQ Katie Monahan (Blue Sky Cycles)
