It was the most likely outcome given the past 11 years. And yet, nothing is a sure thing in cyclocross racing. It was also perhaps the most challenging Nationals victory of her career; Katie Compton's (Trek Factory Racing) 12th USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championship. It was late into the race before Compton was finally able to shed her shadow in the form of Georgia Gould (LUNA Pro Team) and make it a dozen Stars and Stripes jerseys.
For the past few seasons Compton has been aboard a bike that she purportedly had a hand in designing the geometry for. First it was the aluminum prototype she won on in Verona in 2012, then, the aluminum Trek Crockett, followed by the eagerly-anticipated and fully-expected carbon iteration, the Trek Boone. In its short existance the Boone has built a solid Palmares thanks in part to Compton and one Sven Nys, not to mention under Compton's Trek Factory Racing teammates.
In our ever-growing collection of 2016 Nationals bikes, we take a look at the bike that took Compton to her 12th title in as many years, similar to the bike she rode last year in Austin. A close inspection reveals a few changes from last year.
Katie Compton's 2016 Nationals-Winning Trek Boone. 2016 Cyclocross Nationals. © Cyclocross Magazine
The bike pictured here is actually Compton's 2016 Nationals pit bike, identical to the one she rode to the win in Asheville save for the electrical tape on the bars to help identify the bikes. Her pit bike didn't see any action though, as Compton told us after the race that she never visited the pits en route to her victory.
Trek's Boone features the company's 600 series OCLV carbon and its Isospeed decoupler, which adds compliance to the bike's rear end, although Compton's saddle-forward position may negate some of the effect of the otherwise clever design. Up front, Trek's cyclocross fork features a full carbon tapered steerer and a 15 mm thru axle, while out back the Boone has a quick release rear axle. Compton's husband/mechanic Mark Legg polishes the framesets with Blackfire Wet Diamond wax in an effort to help shed water and dirt, something he uses on their personal cars as well.
The Dura Ace Di2 system on Katie Compton's 2016 Nationals-Winning Trek Boone is put together neat and tidy. 2016 Cyclocross Nationals. © Cyclocross Magazine
Compton's drivetrain is a Shimano R785 Di2 kit mated to their hydraulic post mount disc calipers and Dura Ace 9070 Di2 derailleurs. The 46/34 chainring combination that Compton runs on her Dura Ace 9000 crankset is starting to seem outdated to some in light of the proliferation of single ring set ups used by many. She switches between a 34 and 36 depending on the course, although always runs the 46 as that's the single offering from Shimano
Compton's wheels are Bontrager's Aeuolus 3 tubulars, light and stiff enough for the 12-time champ. The one non-Trek related item seen here on Compton's bike are her FMB tubular tires run at 21 psi front and rear. It seems that tradition and experience matter when it comes to tire choices for many riders.
No mistaking whose tires these are. Katie Compton's 2016 Nationals-Winning Trek Boone. 2016 Cyclocross Nationals. © Cyclocross Magazine
Cockpit and contact points are all Bontrager and Shimano items, the XXX lite carbon Bontrager stem holds the company's own RXL carbon bar, which is where the Shimano R785 Di2 shift/brake levers are mounted, while the Bontrager Affinity saddle sits atop Trek's proprietary Ride Tuned seatmast cap. Compton's pedals are Shimano's M8000 XT models, purportedly used for their superior mud-shedding ability compared to the XTR model.
Compton leads Gould through the off-camber. Elite Women, 2016 Cyclocross National Championships. © R. Riott/Cyclocross Magazine
After the race Compton said she had no issues with the bike during her championship-winning ride. That was at least partly due to the course's rapidly drying conditions throughout the day. Some of it was also likely due to her husband/mechanic Mark Legg's well-known attention to detail. And perhaps some was due to the fact that Compton has, over the last few years, become familiar with winning the title aboard this bike.
Photo gallery below the bike specs. See the growing list of 2016 Nationals-winning bike profiles here.
Katie Compton’s Elite Women's Title-Winning Trek Boone Disc 9 Spec Highlights:
Frame: Trek Boone OCLV Carbon
Fork: Trek Carbon, tapered steerer, 15 mm thru axle
Shift/Brake Levers: Shimano R785 Di2 hydraulic
Brake Calipers: Shimano RS785 hydraulic
Rear Derailleur: Shimano Dura Ace 9070 Di2
Front Derailleur: Dura Ace 9070 Di2
Cassette: Shimano Dura Ace
Crankset: Shimano Dura Ace 9000 46/34, 175 mm crankarms
Stem: Bontrager XXX Lite carbon
Handlebar: Bontrager RXL carbon
Seatpost: Trek Ride Tuned carbon seatmast cap
Saddle: Bontrager Affinity
Wheels: Bontrager Aeolus 3 tubular
Tires: FMB Super Mud, latex sidewall protection
More info: http://www.trekbikes.com
Katie Compton's 2016 Nationals-Winning Trek Boone Disc 9 Photo Gallery:
Shimano direct mount disc calipers on Katie Compton’s 2016 Nationals-Winning Trek Boone. Notice the quick release rear wheel. 2016 Cyclocross Nationals. © Cyclocross Magazine
