Karen Brems Wins Thriller in Master Women’s 50-54 Championship Event—Full Results, Video

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ASHEVILLE, North Carolina—The racing was hot as the temperature warmed to the low 60s under clear skies for the Master Women’s 50-54 Championship race. Short sleeves were in abundance as Karen Brems (SunPower Racing) took the victory ahead of Laura Trace (Team Oregon p/b Laurelwood Brewing Co.).

Brems led the field across the finish line coming off the start grid and Michele Moffat (Cross Propz Racing) took the group around the opening curve as the race’s protagonists quickly took to the sharp end of the race.

Brems was on point as Stacey Barbossa (Colavita Midatlantic Women’s Team) sat just three seconds back with Trace chasing alone and behind her and the remaining podium contenders, Kimberly Chance (RBM/Matrix Racing) and Kimberly Pettit (Soundpony Triad Bank) trying to get to Trace.

Karen Brems had the Master Women’s 50-54 title focused in her sights at the 2016 Cyclocross National Championships. © Cyclocross Magazine

A third of the way into the second of the four lap race, Barbossa made thatch and pass of Brems and looked to be strong enough to distance Brems. But at the bottom of Ingles Heckle Hill, misfortune struck Barbossa as her drivetrain failed her and her rear derailleur sheered off the bike as she dismounted to run. Staring in disbelief, Barbossa took to running towards the pits on the opposite side of the course.

With Barbossa hemorrhaging spots and seemingly out of the race, Brems regained the lead. While she dictated the pace, Trace was never more than a handful of seconds in arrears. Further back Pettit and Chance chased with Elizabeth Sheldon (Crosshairs Cycling) coming on strong.

After Barbossa’s troubles Brems showed her competitors a clear pair of wheels in the Master Women’s 50-54 event at the 2016 Cyclocross National Championships. © Cyclocross Magazine

Eventually Sheldon moved into fourth battling for that spot with Chance as Pettit had settled into third. Trace made every effort to get to Brems but it wasn’t to be. Behind them Barbossa was on a fresh bike and constantly out of the saddle picking off riders in a desperate bid to catch the front of the race. Having slid to 15th position, she was in 8th with one to go, and for a moment it seemed she may get back to the podium.

But Barbossa’s run at the leaders would be cut short as she ran out of real estate and finished seventh. Sheldon took fourth ahead of fifth place Chance. Pettit having chased solo for some time settled into third at the finale while Brems held off a hard charging Trace for the win.

2016 USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships Women's 50-54 Full Results

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