US Cyclo-cross Championships - CN

Kansas City, Kansas, USA, December 13-16, 2007

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Race 13 - December 16: Elite Women

Compton's US 'cross dynasty continues

Lloyd, Gould battle for second

By Mark Zalewski, North American Editor in Kansas City, Kansas

Katie Compton (Spike Shooter) wins her fourth title in a row.
Photo ©: Dave McElwaine

Katie Compton (Spike Shooter), the current world number two in women's cyclo-cross, showed why she deserves that ranking during the US nationals Sunday. She blasted away from the rest of the women's field, beating all but one by more than a minute. This was even more impressive considering the parcours was quite treacherous after a week of foul weather that bombarded the area, and merely staying upright was, at times, as much luck as it was skill.

"I tried to be towards the front when we hit the snow, and then try to ride a smooth race," said Compton. "I tried to not follow anyone into the ruts because it's easy to get caught behind a crash. I didn't have a good start because I couldn't get my foot into my pedal. But I didn't want to lead on the start anyway because it was uphill and I wanted to go hard on the course."

Compton then went to work, setting a regular tempo that was just head and shoulders above the rest. Before the race, everyone was looking at Georgia Gould (Luna Women's Mtb Team) as the only likely challenger to Compton's crown – but Compton knew the conditions favoured another, Rachel Lloyd (Proman/Paradigm).

"I was hoping it would stay a little icier!" said Lloyd. "I got behind people at the start and I hadn't actually done any warm-up laps where I was close to people, so I was like 'whoa!' It probably would have been a good idea. It was really hard to go hard! So I was just riding smooth."

Georgia Gould (Luna)
Photo ©: Jon Devich

Gould was in contention early in the race, behind Compton and ahead of Llloyd. But she could not seem to find any luck breaks... or ruts, as it were. "I just made a bunch of little mistakes and that added up," said Gould. "There are like 18 lines but you have to hope you are in the right one!"

"The barrier tape had magnets on it, and the other magnet was on my bike!" joked Gould. "The part that wasn't pavement was giving me a little trouble. Really I was making dumb mistakes – some days you can ride your bike, some days, not so much! Me, today, not so much!"

From there it was Compton holding off the steadily gaining Lloyd, but the race just was not long enough for her. "We only did four laps because it was really slow laps," said Compton. "I crashed a couple of times, and on the last lap I crashed, so I lost some time on Rebecca."

For Compton, the fourth win in a row was business as usual on the path to the World Championships, with the next step a well-earned rest before returning to Europe. "I definitely need to do some work to do well at worlds, so I am going to head back home and do some training and rest up. I had gotten sick in Belgium and it lingered for a couple of weeks – it really affected my training and recovery time."

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Jonathan Devich/

The women head off on another icy but sunny day.
Getting some help from the crowd.
The women round the turn to the stair section.
Katie Compton (Spike Shooter) took the lead early and never looked back.
Georgia Gould (Luna) making it through a muddy section.
Katie Compton (Spike Shooter) becomes the new national champion.

Images by Dave McElwaine/www.trailwatch.net

Katie Compton (Spike Shooter) gets her fourth consecutive US title.
Rachael Lloyd (Proman) at front, followed by Rebecca Wellons (Ridley Factory Team).
Mo Bruno-Roy (Independent Fabrications) sitting in 3rd position after a great start.
Katie Compton (Spike Shooter) pullled away from everyone early.
Katie Compton(Spike Shooter) first to the double set of steps.
Georgia Gould (Luna) chasing Katie Compton but losing ground.
Sue Butler (River City ) having a great race in 6th place.
Katie Compton (Spike Shooter) extending her lead at the steps.
Rachael Lloyd (Proman) moved into 2nd place for good and was gaining on Compton.
Geogia Gould (Luna) running the steps in 3rd place.
Kerry Barnholt (Van Dessel) powered her way into 4th place.
Mo Bruno-Roy (Independent Fabrications) had no touble with the ice/snow/mud.
Mountain biker Kathy Sherwin (Velo Bella/Kona) having a solid race in 16th place.
Melissa Thomas (Maxxis) riding to a fantastic 8th place finish.
Katie Compton (Spike Shooter) riding her last lap after recovering from a crash.
Katie Compton (Spike Shooter) winning her 4th National Championship.
Superstar mountain biker Georgia Gould (Luna) finishing 3rd.

Images by Mitch Clinton/www.clintonphoto.com

Katie Compton (Spike Shooter) and her new jersey.
The start of the woman's race.
Georgia Gould (Luna Women's MTB Team) leading Rachel Lloyd (Proman/Paradigm) on the first lap.
Georgia Gould (Luna Women's MTB Team) taking the tight line.
Rachel Lloyd (Proman/Paradigm) negotiating a rough patch.
Katie Compton (Spike Shooter) takes victory.

Images by Kurt Jambretz /www.actionimages.cc

Katie Compton (Spike Shooter) looked calm and relaxed at the start.
Georgia Gould (Luna) enters the grassy section in turn one up front.
Katie Compton (Spike Shooter) leads the way on the opening lap.
Ann Schwartz (Kinetic Systems) rides hard to make contact with the lead group ahead.
The women's field bunches up early in a heavily rutted section of the course.
Kerry Barnholt (Tokyo Joe's-Van Dessel) rides hard to remain with the leaders as they push the pace on the opening laps.
Kathy Sherwin (Velo Bella-Kona) contorts her body as she attempts to stay upright on a rutted section of the course.
Katie Compton (Spike Shooter) dashes through the pits and changes out her bike on the run.
Rachel Lloyd (Proman/Paradigm) rides adjacent Katie Compton (Spike Shooter) who is in the pits changing bikes.
Despite miserable conditions Maureen Bruno Roy (If/Wheelworks/Sram) manages a smile en route to a fourth place finish.
Barb Howe (Velo Bella - Kona) rides cautiously over a section of the course that resembled the surface of the moon.
Katie Compton (Spike Shooter) leads Georgia Gould (Luna) on the upper section of the course.
After winning the U23 race a day earlier, Amy Dombroski (Velo Bella - Kona) returns to challenge the elite women's field.
Georgia Gould (Luna) lost contact with Katie Compton (Spike Shooter) a few laps later.
Holly Klug (Killjoy Cycling) seemed to be enjoying her ride in the sunshine.
Katie Compton (Spike Shooter) turned the power on and rode away from the field.
Georgia Gould (Luna) was forced to chase .
Katie Compton (Spike Shooter) increases her lead with every pedal stroke.
Rachel Lloyd (Proman/Paradigm) was having the ride of her life as she passed Georgia Gould (Luna) with only a few laps to go.
Katie Compton (Spike Shooter) was on auto pilot with one lap remaining.
Katie Compton (Spike Shooter) picks up a new National Champions jersey and some delicious strawberries.

Results

1 Katie Compton (Spike Shooter)                        0.33.47
2 Rachel Lloyd (Proman/Paradigm)                          0.22
3 Georgia Gould (Luna Women'S Mtb Team)                   1.17
4 Kerry Barnholt (Tokyo Joes / Van Dessel)                1.53
5 Maureen Bruno Roy (If/Wheelworks/Sram P/B Gen)          2.21
6 Sue Butler (River City Bicycles)                        3.47
7 Shelley Olds (California Giant Berry Farms)             4.10
8 Melissa Thomas (Maxxis/Lightspeed)                      4.16
9 Amy Wallace (Rgm Watches - Richard Sach)                4.17
10 Wendy Williams (River City Bicycles)                   4.19
11 Josie Jacques-Maynes (California Giant Berry Farms)    4.50
12 Lara Kroepsch (Team Lipton)                            5.25
13 Megan Monroe (Bmc-Sports Garage)                       5.35
14 Sarah Kerlin (Hrs/Rock Lobster)                        5.49
15 Sarah Tescher (Durango Devo)                           5.51
16 Kathy Sherwin (Velo Bella-Kona)                        6.02
17 Barb Howe (Velo Bella - Kona)                          6.11
18 Amy Dombroski (Velo Bella - Kona)                      6.23
19 Carolyn Popovic (Team Cicle)                           6.30
20 Linda Sone (Ridley Factory Team)                       6.32
21 Lindsey Bishop (Team Bulldog/Campmor)                  6.49
22 Stephanie White (Velo Bella/ Kona)                     6.51
23 Kathy Sarvary (Gear Works Cyclery)                     6.57
24 Cris Rothfuss (Nebc/Cycle Loft/Devonshire D)           6.59
25 Melanie Swartz (Velo Bella - Kona)                     7.01
26 Kacey Manderfield (Blue)                               7.14
27 Christie Pleiss (Team Cicle)                           7.39
28 Shannon Gibson (Velo Bella - Kona)                     7.42
29 Melodie Metzger (California Giant Berry Farms)         7.57
30 Anne Schwartz (Flying Rhino Cycling Club)              8.11
31 Sara Cushman (Gear Works/Spin Arts)                    8.24
32 Catherine Walberg (Team Kenda Tire)                    8.38
33 Anna Milkowski (Velo Bella - Kona)                     8.44
34 Betsy Shogren (Fort Factory Team)                      8.48
35 Natasha Cowie (Velo Bella-Kona)                        8.54
36 Samantha Schneider (Mesa Cycles)                           
37 Maria Stewart (Velo Bella - Kona)                      8.58
38 Kris Walker (Kriegcycling.Com)                         9.08
39 Jennifer Tilley (Velo Bella - Kona)                    9.22
40 Kari Studley (Velo Bella - Kona)                       9.25
41 Sydney Brown (Badger Cycles)                           9.35
42 Devon Haskell (Team Get A Grip Cycles)                 9.41
43 Arley Kemmerer (Hub Racing)                           10.05
44 Megan Elliott                                         11.05
45 Marne Smiley (Zias Cycle)                             11.13
46 Clara Beard (Cheerwine Cycling)                       13.43
 
One Lap Down
 
47 Kristin Wentworth (Team Kenda Tire)                        
48 Dorothy Wong (Team C.I.C.L.E.)                             
49 Andi Burnum (Tough Girl Cycling)                           
50 Jennifer Greenberg (Xxx-Athletico)                         
51 Rebecca Wellons (Ridley Factory Team)                      
52 Heidi Kanayan (Team Cicle.Org/ Velo Bella)                 
53 Kim Sawyer (Bmw-Bianchi)                                   
54 Marci Titus Hall (Desalvo Custom Cycles)                   
55 Allison Beall (Vanderkitten)                               
56 Jane Rynbrandt (Tough Girl/Contessa)                       
 
Two Laps Down
 
57 Anne Grofvert (Badger Cycles/Founders Ale)                 
58 Sami Fournier (Sunnyside Sports)                           
59 Kristen Bowers (Atomic Race Team)                          
60 Lynn Bush (Tough Girl / Contessa)                          
61 Colleen Wanty (Big Swingin Cycles)                         
62 Susan Prieto (Blue Sky Velo)                               
63 Patti Kaufmann (Planet Bike)                               
64 Rachel Cieslewicz (Monavie/Cannondale)                     
65 Holly Klug (Killjoy Cycling)