DCCX Day 1: Werner Capitalizes, Compton Presidential with Masters Men’s Podium, Women’s Win

WASHINGTON D.C.—Under partly cloudy skies, with howling winds, Katie Compton (KFC Racing p/b Trek), in her red, white and blue National Champion’s kit, looked every bit presidential on Saturday.

Compton battled Masters Men in the 35+ race, then changed into her National Champion’s jersey to start the women’s UCI C2 race.

Compton wins at again in the nation’s capital city. photo: Katie Compton Does the Double at the 2016 KMC Cross Fest.

With the Masters 35+ podium waiting and looking on, Arley Kemmerer, Fearless Femme Racing, had a fast start with Christel Ferrier, SAS-Macogep and Serena Gordon of Liv|Giant.

Compton would not take long to go to the front, doing so on the third lap. Kemmerer paid for her early efforts, finishing fifth behind a hard-charging Jena Greaser just missing Gordon at the line to take fourth.

Compton closed her double of the day out with the win, followed by Ferrier 29 seconds back and Gordon in third.

The 12-time National Champion capitalized on her opportunity in the shadow of the Nation’s Capitol building. “I had a great time racing DCCX!” she exclaimed. “Fun and fast course that was challenging but flowed really well too. It felt pretty good and had the lines dialed for the women’s race and just enjoyed racing. It was a great venue and beautiful day for a cross race! Looking forward to doing it again tomorrow.”

In the men’s race, Kerry Werner, Kona Factory CX, would not be denied today, taking the holeshot followed by the win. It was tight racing all day with a group of five setting the pace throughout. Kerry would battle Anthony Clark, Squid Bikes, Dan Timmerman, Stan’s Notubes Elite, Adam Craig, Giant Factory and Cole Oberman, Pro Tested Gear.

Dan Chabanov, House Ind, and Robert Marion, American Classic Pro, would stick their noses in the strong winds early but couldn’t hang on once Clark came to the front to push the pace three laps in to the nine-lap affair.

Timmerman and Clark continued to trade blows at the front while Werner tried to recover behind Craig and Oberman. Kerry would hit out with two to go but got no separation on his four rivals. The tight campaign ended up in a sprint finish, with Werner edging out Timmerman and Clark, with all accepting the final outcome with contest. Craig and Oberman rounded out the podium in forth and fifth.

Werner changed up a few things this year, and it seems to be working. “Last year I only raced on Sunday due to just the structure of my training so I was really happy to fit the race in this year,” he explained. “I liked the course last year and with it being the same I was looking forward to some tactical racing as well as some tricky cornering. It was fun to get behind Adam Craig and see the Enduro side of Cross racing but I was more happy to be there at the end and be able to contest to win. Dan was riding really well and smooth today and taking the win over him fill all the more better because I really had to work for it.”

Day 2 of racing continues tomorrow with warmer temps and expected winds gusting up to 40mph.

2016 DCCX UCI C2 Cyclocross Results - Elite Women

2016 DCCX UCI C2 Cyclocross Results - Elite Men