In the third annual Qiansen Trophy C1 UCI Race, the first of a two-part C1 race series in China, Weitse Bosmans (BKCP-Powerplus) of Belgium and Katrina Jaunslaviete of Latvia both stormed to victory in the Men's and Women's Elite Race, respectively.
Jaunslaviete, Cumming and Erlandsson stood on the Women's Elite Podium. © Ricoh Riott
Jaunslaviete, Cumming and Erlandsson stood on the Women's Elite Podium. © Ricoh Riott
In the Women's Elite Race, Junior French National Champion Laura Perry shot off to a stunning start to take the holeshot and create a quick gap. Katrien Thijs (Qiansen Team), Christine Vardaros (Stevens - Malten/Niner), former winner Margriet Kloppenburg (inthemud.cx) and Emily Kachorek (Squid) led the chase to the first set of log steps, which careened back into a descent and back into another set of logs steps.
Within the first lap, Kathryn Cumming (Cyclocross Magazine Racing) wound her way through the chasers and caught onto Perry's wheel. While Cumming attempted an early attack in the second lap, Jaunslaviete also began finding room to pass riders to make her way to the front group. Asa Erlandsson of Team Sweden/Denmark also moved to the front, with her, Cumming and Jaunslaviete leaving Perry. Kachorek, meanwhile moved into the fourth position.
With less than 10 minutes in the race, Erlandsson dropped the chain of her CX1 drivetrain, the first she had ever experienced, allowing Cumming and Jaunslaviete to take turns at the front as they pulled away. On the last half lap, Cumming tried overtaking Jaunslaviete on a loose corner, and bobbled, giving the Latvian the few seconds she needed to stay away for first place.
Erlandsson came in for third, while Kachorek gathered fourth and Perry sprinted out of a tight group of three to take fifth.
Bosmans, Chainel and Simunek made up the Men's Elite Podium. © Andrew Reimann / Cyclocross Magazine
In the Men's Elite Race, Bosmans attacked right from the start, creating a quick gap, racing in the style of his teammate, current World Champion Mathieu van der Poel. Although Bosmans had been suffering from Lyme disease last year, he started off this season displaying impressive form.
Soon after, Bosmans had a mechanical within the first lap, allowing Steve Chainel (French Cyclo-Cross Team) to catch him by the second lap as the two riders worked together to fend off the chasers. Retiree Thijs Al (AGU-Habitat), who had been undefeated in his two cyclocross races thus far in China, led the group of riders behind that included Chris Jongewaard (JBlood Adventures) of Australia and Marco Bianco (Team Cerone) of Italy also came forward.
Bosmans, meanwhile was able to produce a second attack, while Chainel maintained his second-place position.
Bianco told Cyclocross Magazine's Vardaros that he attempted to attack in the group for third place, but found that he didn't have the legs to keep away. Within a half lap, Radomir Simunek (Corendon-Kwardo) got around the group on the longest climb on the course, and created a 20 meter gap, which he held until the finish. Bianco couldn't bridge up and took fourth, while defending champion Al rolled in for fifth, his first loss in China, but an impressive ride for the retired racer.
Stay tuned for full rider interviews from the podium, bike profiles and full results on cxmagazine.com.
Use the slider below for a photo gallery from the first station of the Qiansen Trophy in Yanqing, Beijing.
Kloppenburg and Kachorek chase Thijs up a very early run-up. © Ricoh Riott
