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Full 2016 USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championship coverage can be found right here.

By Ricoh Riott

ASHEVILLE, N.C.—Last year’s National Champion Katie Compton (Trek Factory Racing) took the Elite Women’s jersey again today, her 12th win in a row. Fort Collins, Colorado’s Georgia Gould (LUNA Pro Team) finished in second place with Kaitlin Antonneau (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld) in third.

Katie Compton rolls over the line

Katie Compton rolls over the line as champion once again. Elite Women, 2016 Cyclocross National Championships. © R. Riott/Cyclocross Magazine

The race started with a whistle, with Courtenay McFadden (American Classic/Zones) nabbing the holeshot, half a bike-length ahead of an eager Compton. A sudden attack by Elle Anderson (SRAM/Strava) saw her steal the lead, taking the pack up the Kask Climb and returning towards the Bike Barn area. The off-camber, slick from overnight rain, claimed Anderson’s position as she slipped on a tricky corner and allowed Compton and Gould to move up.

A game of cat-and-mouse followed between the reigning National Champion and crowd favorite Gould, who was slightly ahead as they climbed Ingles Heckle Hill and cut single-file through the slippery right-hander leading back towards the Kask fly over. Antonneau watched from behind in third position as the dueling pair separated themselves from the field and waged their own battle over the subsequent three laps, swapping the lead occasionally, never more than a couple of seconds between them.

The chase is on, headed back out for another lap

The chase is on. Compton and Gould head back out for another lap. Elite Women, 2016 Cyclocross National Championships. © R. Riott/Cyclocross Magazine

With a little over one lap to go, an opportunity arose for Compton in the Cane Creek Woods descent when a small mistake forced Gould off-line, forcing her to clip back in and correct herself. Compton seized the moment and gained a precious gap, maintaining the advantage through the ringing lap bell and around her final pass of the course.

Antonneau, who had held her position, gained on Gould as Compton won a few more seconds over the finale. Compton finished to a roaring crowd in 46:56, an advantage of 24 seconds from when Gould followed her over the line. Antonneau came in in third, 34 seconds down on the winner. Anderson and Rachel Lloyd (Cal Giant-Specialized) took the fourth and fifth steps on the podium, respectively.

Kaitie Antonneau had an impressive ride to third. Elite Women, 2016 Cyclocross National Championships. © Cyclocross Magazine

Kaitie Antonneau had an impressive ride to third. Elite Women, 2016 Cyclocross National Championships. © Cyclocross Magazine

In a post-race interview, Compton said, "It was hard, probably the hardest National Championships I've had. It feels really good to win." When asked about the silver medalist, Compton was quite gracious. "I'm never surprised to see [Gould] up there I know she's been riding strong. She's obviously been training. I just haven't seen her at races in a couple of months," said the Champion.

Gould reflected on the mistake that ended her battle with Compton in CXM’s post-race interview.  “She was just able to, kinda, capitalize on that, and I just didn’t have the legs to close it back down again”

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Photo gallery below the results.

2016 USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships Elite Women Full Results

PlNameTeamTime
1Katherine COMPTONTrek Factory Racing46:56.
2Georgia GOULDLUNA Pro Team47:18.
3Kaitlin ANTONNEAUCannondale Cyclocrossworld47:30.
4Elle ANDERSONSRAM/Strava48:25.
5Rachel LLOYDCalifornia Giant Berry Farms/Sp49:02.
6Rebecca FAHRINGERAmy D. Foundation49:38.
7Amanda NAUMANSDG - Muscle Monster49:58.
8Meredith MILLERNoosa Pro Cyclocross50:13.
9Amanda MILLERBoulder Cycle Sport/ YogaGlo50:20.
10Cassandra MAXIMENKOVan Dessel Factory Team50:24.
11Jena GREASERJAM Fund50:34.
12Courtenay MCFADDENAmerican Classic/Zones51:05.
13Sunny GILBERTMichelob Ultra - Big Shark Raci51:27.
14Caitlyn VESTALFeedback Sports Racing51:28.
15Crystal ANTHONYBoulder Cycle Sport/ YogaGlo51:49.
16Arley KEMMERERLevel Eleven Racing pb PB252:25.
17Erica ZAVETAMaxxis-Shimano52:44.
18Kathryn CUMMINGCyclocross Magazine Racing Team52:54.
19Nicole MERTZISCorp Cycling p/b SmartChoice52:59.
20Rebecca GROSS53:04.
21Ally STACHERStans NoTubes Elite CX53:05.
22Emily KACHOREKSquid Bikes53:28.
23BrittLee BOWMANHOUSE INDUSTRIES - WITHINGS - S53:39.
24Julie WRIGHTTeam Averica54:04.
25Laura WINBERRYSpeedvagen Family Racing54:17.
26Katherine NORTHCOTT54:22.
27Rachel RUBINOLevel Eleven Racing pb PB254:28.
28Rebecca BLATTVan Dessel Factory Team54:28.
29Danielle ARMANTenspeed Hero54:47.
30Jennifer MALIKGranville Brewing - Stanridge C55:11.
31Samantha RUNNELSTeam Super Awesome55:33.
32Kenda SUPERHagens Berman-Society Consultin55:44.
33Katherine SHIELDSKens Bike Shop55:58.
34Meghan KOROLTeam Handmade56:00.
35Cari HIGGINSMaxxis-Shimano56:26.
36Emily SHIELDSKens Bike Shop46:02.
37Erin FACCONETeam Averica46:38.
38Heidi WOOD333fab CX Factory Team46:50.
39Natalie TAPIASThisTeamSavesLives39:05.

Be sure to enter Verge Sport's Cyclocross Nationals giveaway, details here.

Stay up-to-date on every 2016 USA Cycling National Championship race this week and other Nationals news from Asheville, North Carolina, right here.

2016 Cyclocross National Championships Elite Women's Photo Gallery

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Katie Compton rolls over the line

Katie Compton rolls over the line as champion once again. Elite Women, 2016 Cyclocross National Championships. © R. Riott/Cyclocross Magazine

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