Compton Scores Record Seventh Elite Women’s Championship; Her Apprentice Antonneau Takes U23 – Updated: Quotes, Full Report, Photo Gallery

Compton was unstoppable after lap 2. ©Janet Hill

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BEND, ORE. – Katie Compton (Planet Bike) got off to a slow start, and she told Cyclocross Magazine that she missed her pedal off the line – “I picked a great time for that to happen” – but by the end of the first lap, she was hot on Georgia Gould’s (Luna) heels.

Compton would take the lead later in the lap and slowly power away from Gould, eventually maxing the gap out at 30 seconds by the finish line. The win is Compton’s seventh consecutive victory, and she’s full of confidence as she continues towards her primary season focus: the World Championships in St. Wendel, Germany.

Mo Bruno Roy was towards the front of the pack when it hit the deep mud section after turn 1 for the first time, and she crashed spectacularly, cart wheeling through the course tape. Roy would get up and battle on, as would several other riders caught behind the yard sale.

Among the riders who lost time early was Meredith Miller (Cal Giant-Specialized), last year’s silver medalist. According to Miller’s team manager, the Cal Giant rider quickly fell back to 26th, and she then relied on her road power to gradually pick her way back through the field and towards the front on the slow-riding course. “Of course I had a bad start off the line, then going down the first straight section, [Bruno Roy] went down, then her bike bounced right in front of me and I was the first person to come to it,” said Miller. “Just as I lifted my bike to go over it, someone hit me from behind and we got tangled up.”

Also working her way through traffic was Compton. “Mo crashed in front of me on the first mud section, and luckily enough I avoided it. Then I got stuck in traffic and had to work my way up,” said Compton. “”

Katie Compton (Planet Bike) rises to a record seventh straight cyclocross National Championship. ©Cyclocross Magazine

After snagging the hole shot, Sue Butler would be joined by her two Hudz-Subaru teammates Nicole Duke and Katherine Sherwin to battle for the final podium spots. Duke, who won the Masters 35-39 race on Friday, was all alone in third before a mechanical held her up. Then it was a block of Hudz-Subaru racers reunited.

“I was in third and had a pretty good gap, then something happened to my brake. I rode half a lap with my brake on, then I had to stop on the road to try to take my brake off and just ride without it,” said Duke. “I pitted and got a bike, and the girls caught me. That’s where the battle started.”

Miller caught the trio on the final lap, and made short work of creating a gap to solo away for the bronze medal.”I went right around them – they went on one side and I went on the other and was lucky enough to come through a section in front of them and just kept going,” said Miller. “I didn’t want to sit on them, because I didn’t want them to start attacking me – three against one’s no fun – so I just took it into my own hands and went for it. Also, I wanted to be able to pick my own lines.”

That left three teammates to battle for two final podium spots, and they each took turns leading. Butler absolutely turned herself inside-out to remain attached on the back of the group at times, and the trio reshuffled before they entered the front half of the course for the final time all together.

Sherwin and Butler drive to the line for fourth and fifth © Janet Hill

Duke led the group up and over the fly-over, then stacked it immediately after. Sherwin then dug deep to lead up the stairs and hold that position onto the grass and to the finish line for fourth. Duke stumbled again mounting after the stairs, and had to settle for sixth, with Butler claiming the final podium spot in fifth.

“I had them at the end and came over the fly-over, took the inside corner, and hit the stake and flew off my bike. Then I ran, because my bike was not working – ran up the stairs, passed Kathy and Sue, then couldn’t get into my pedals,” said Duke. “Everything was going wrong, and they had me after that. It was a great battle, it was one of the most exciting races I’ve had this year. I gave it my heart and soul, I have to be happy with that, it was just kind of unlucky.”

“The last lap, we were switching positions all the time. Nicole went down after the flyover, she took the corner aggressively and went down,” said Sherwin. “I went around her, and it was pin it to win it. I mean ‘win it’ [since it was for fourth].”

In the U23 race, Ashley James (Team Kenda) began with a substantial lead over main challengers Kaitlin Antonneau (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) and Coryn Rivera (Peanut Butter & Co.-Twenty 12). Rivera was realistic about her chances, but put up a hard fight. It wouldn’t be enough, however, as Antonneau gathered her strength and charged up to James, taking a few moments on her wheel, and then passed without ever looking back. From there it was Antonneau’s race, as she steadily pushed her advantage while James continued to fall back. Antonneau fought her way not only to the U23 win, but to a top ten finish, as well. Coryn continued to fight, and overtook James for a 20th place finish overall. James crossed the line in 31st.

“I knew I just had to be patient, because I think [James] did a hard effort in the morning [for the Collegiate race], and I tried to conserve but still ride and get a good place,” said Antonneau. “But I tried to patient since I knew it was going to be a long race.”

Photos, quotes and a full report coming soon!

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