Worst Le Meilleure at 2020 World Cup Nommay – Report, Results

The second to last round of the World Cup awaited in the French city of Nommay today. Dutch national champion Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Alpecin-Fenix) was leading in the World Cup standings with a one-point advantage on Katerina Nash (Clif Pro Team).

The start would be quite important as a set of stairs awaited behind the first corner.

Ellen Van Loy (Telenet Baloise Lions) was the rider with the holeshot. After some gear troubles in the start Alvarado moved up to second position but then crashed.
Annemarie Worst (777) soon took the lead in the race with French national champion Marion Norbert Riberolle (Experza Pro CX) holding onto Worst’s wheel.

One lap into the race, Worst and Norbert Riberolle passed the finish line with a 3-second advantage on Alvarado and 7 on Van Loy.

Alvarado soon closed the gap, while Van Loy kept losing ground. At the end of Lap 2, it was Katie Compton (KFC Racing p/b Trek/Knight) who came through in 4th with a 10-seconds arrear.

French rider Marion Norbert Riberolle got off to a fast start. 2020 World Cup Nommay. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

While 15-time American champion Compton tried to battle her way back to the front, current national champion Clara Honsinger (Team S&M CX Sellwood Cycle Repa) faced a crash in the third lap. Compton moved up and joined the two leaders by the end of Lap 3.

Katie Compton moved up to join the lead group. 2020 World Cup Nommay. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

In the fourth lap, Norbert Riberolle’s bid for the podium was set back when she had an issue with her rear derailleur. It was a sad situation for the French national champion after an outstanding performance so far.

Marion Norbert Riberolle had an unfortunate mechanical. 2020 World Cup Nommay. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Worst, Alvarado and Compton entered the last lap with an 18-seconds advantage on Luxemburg national champion Christine Majerus (LUX).

Alvarado lifted the pace, and Compton seemed to struggle a bit. Compton recovered, however, and then put in a surprise attack of her own while Alvarado was tightening her shoes for the upcoming sprint.

Worst, however, wanted to lead out the sprint and battled her way back to first position for the final stretch. Worst then put down a very strong sprint that delivered her the victory.

“The lap was more tricky than during the recon,” Worst said (translated). “It was more slippery than I thought. We matched each other and were looking to each other. It was very exciting. I had confidence in my sprint because I didn’t lose many recently. Also my back held on, that’s nice in view of the World Championships.”

Annemarie Worst took the win in a sprint. 2020 World Cup Nommay. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Alvarado took second and kept her lead in the World Cup and Compton took third.

Katie Compton finished third on Sunday. 2020 World Cup Nommay. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

American champion Honsinger (Team S&M CX) finished 6th, Rebecca Fahringer (Kona Maxxis Shimano) finished 14th, Katie Clouse (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld) 17th, Hannah Arensman (JA King Cyclocross) 33rd, Samantha Runnels (Squid x Eliel) 38th, Emily Werner (AMY D FOUNDATION) 49th and Rebecca Gross (Zero D Racing) 62nd.

Maghalie Rochette (Specialized / Feedback Sports) was the first Canadian finisher in 11th. Ruby West (Pivot Maxxis P/B Stans NoTubes) finished 37th and Claire Steciuk (HARDWOOD NEXT WAVE) 68th.

Although Alvarado kept her lead in the World Cup, she saw Worst closing in to 5 points. The last round of the World Cup, next week in the Dutch city of Hoogerheide, already promises to be an exciting one.

World Cup Nommay Results: Elite Women