In the first third of the field, Sunny Gilbert (Michelob Ultra – Big Shark Racing) was making impressive small gains, passing Anderson. This season marked the first time Gilbert won a UCI race, at St. Louis. She also took a great podium finished against a big field at JingleCross. Ahead of her, Gould and Anthony were fighting over fourth place, while Noble surged forward after a bobble by Kemmerer slowed the PB2 rider, also preventing Miller from a clean climb on the muddy course.
In the back half of the course, Rebecca Gross (Vanderkitten), Cassie Maximenko (Van Dessel Factory) and Emily Shields (Hearts Racing Club) were moving back in this deep field. Most of these riders are pushing the lead groups in their local races around the country, with Maximenko winning multiple UCI races, both in New Jersey and at Cycle-Smart in Northampton.
On the other end of the spectrum, Erin Faccone, caught behind the crash that also held up Andi Zolton and Emily Kachorek was riding strongly, as she chased back from the crash to bring back one of the Cross Crusade favorites, Laura Winberry. Ahead of these riders, Kathryn Cumming of Austin’s Team Yacht Club was riding top twenty with Amy D Foundation rider Erica Zaveta in her sights.
Lloyd continued to ride strong and clean, but soon after Antonneau passed her, she went down hard on the slick and muddy Volkswagen descent. Crashing against the tape, Lloyd looked somewhat shaken, and her saddle had been knocked crooked. “The course was great today,” Lloyd told Cyclocross Magazine after the race, “it played to my strengths, but I somehow lost the grip of my bars on a downhill and took myself out.” She was forced to brush off the mud on her handlebars and knock her saddle back to position before continuing. Gould looked to capitalize on the crash to catch up to the California Giant rider.
Compton carefully climbs the stairs to keep her lead on the last lap. © Cyclocross Magazine
In the final lap, Compton rode the course with management on her mind, and with the exception of a bobble around the slick turns of the pit area, she was able to maintain a great pace for the win. Antonneau finished behind in second, and Lloyd was able to fend off Gould for third. There are no longer enough fingers for Compton’s Championships – she wins her 11th, heading to Worlds with great form.
Katie Compton (Trek Cyclocross Collective) makes it eleven. © Brian Nelson
“I was consistent,” Compton told us after the race. “I made a few mistakes, but it’s hard not to when it’s that muddy… It was a fun, technical course which I really enjoyed.”
Ellen Noble riding to the U23 title in Austin. © Cyclocross Magazine
Ellen Noble took the U23 title with a huge lead, able to find redemption after suffering a mechanical while in the lead during her collegiate race two days before. She led second place U23 rider Hannah Finchamp (unattached) by nearly three minutes, with Emily Shields (Hearts Racing Club) coming in third just seven seconds under five minutes.
The Elite Women’s Podium. © Brian Nelson
