As the 2015 Elite Women's World Cyclocross Championship is practically open for the taking by a large number of racers, the folks here at Cyclocross Magazine won't be making any hard-and-fast predictions, but we will be highlighting ten favorites as well as some outside contenders. With the weather now verging on the likelihood of snow the day before the Elite Races, the fast course of Tabor will also provide a few areas that will likely cause some spills, especially if the notorious Czech ice comes into play.
Also, don't miss our Elite Men's Preview of Tabor.
The Americans to Watch:
The start of the Elite Women’s 2015 Cyclocross National Championship. © Cyclocross Magazine
After not being able to make a showing at Nationals, Meredith Miller will be recovering just in time for Worlds, and it’s worth noting that she was the top female finisher last time Tabor held the championship.
Rachel Lloyd has been on absolute fire, even as she battled back from a rough cold in the two weeks before Austin. She finished above all other Americans at Hoogerheide, and her ninth place at Milton Keynes guaranteed her a spot for Tabor. A top ten is possible for the Cal-Giant rider, with a top five not far out of question.
Kaitlin Antonneau, a big-name protege of Compton and rising star for Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld, never shies away from a battle, and she’s had a few big European results, including her second place at Eschenbach, to add to her silver at Nationals behind Compton. She could easily be the leading American at Tabor with her legs and skill set.
Elle Anderson began the season with a bang, including a fifth place at Valkenburg, and has hung on to some respectable results as the season continued on. Sickness had hit her harder than most, but on the other hand, no American has more European experience than Anderson this season. She will likely look to bounce back after missing a top ten in Austin.
Crystal Anthony’s late season wins at the Resolution Cup and NBX, as well as her notching the final spot on the extended podium at Nationals, saw her take the only open spot left to make the World’s team. Last year, a tough early mechanical had her running to the pits at Hoogerheide, so it will be interesting to see how the orange-helmet Optum rider takes the start in Tabor.
