Full 2016 USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championship coverage can be found right here.
#CXNats race reports from Wed-Saturday are brought to you in part by Verge Sport.
by Celeste Taylor
ASHEVILLE, North Carolina—Tanya Bettis (Sport Systems 505 Cycling) managed to edge out defending champion Catherine Moore (Trek Cyclocross Collective) to win her first national title in Thursday’s Masters Women 45-49 championship.
Straight out of the grid it was Cristienne Beam (Tough Girl Cycling) who took the holeshot but Moore quickly moved in to control the lead group with Katina Walker and Kristie Arend (50×15 Cycling) in hot pursuit. Walker fell behind as Bettis, who finished third last year in Austin, blasted her way into the lead group, where she would stay for the duration of the race.
Tonya Bettis en route to the Masters Women 45-49 title at the 2016 Cyclocross National Championships. © Cyclocross Magazine
On the second lap, a slight bobble on some off-camber had Bettis trailing Moore and Arend by a few seconds but it was a gap she was able to close quickly. The three riders traded attack after attack and it was Arend in the lead with Moore and Bettis battling behind her with two laps to go. A sizeable gap saw Walker and Stephanie Uetrecht (Twin Six) fighting to hold off Ali Knutson (SaltAir Cross Fever) and decide the last two spots on the podium.
Arend, last year’s sixth place finisher, was finally able to shake her chasers and create a small gap for herself when her plan of attack was derailed by an unfortunate crash with only one lap remaining. Bettis and Moore blasted by the fallen rider who spent the remainder of the race fighting to make up as much time as possible. Arend was able to close the gap considerably but her efforts weren’t enough to take home anything higher than the bronze.
Tonya Bettis takes the Masters Women 45-49 title at the 2016 Cyclocross National Championships. © Cyclocross Magazine
The bell lap saw Bettis leading Moore, though only by several seconds. Moore, racing with an injured hand that will require post-season surgery, mounted several attacks but none of them were enough to overtake Bettis, who won the title by just seconds over the defending champion.
Watch Bettis discuss her race and see full race results below.
2016 USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships Women's 45-49 Full Results
| Pl | Name | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tanya BETTIS | Sport Systems 505 Cycling | 38:23. |
| 2 | Catherine MOORE | Trek Cyclocross Collective | 38:28. |
| 3 | Kristie AREND | 50x15 Cycling | 39:39. |
| 4 | Katina WALKER | 40:02. | |
| 5 | Stephanie UETRECHT | Twin Six | 40:23. |
| 6 | Ali KNUTSON | SaltAir Cross Fever | 40:32. |
| 7 | Cristienne BEAM | 40:49. | |
| 8 | Heidi BECK | Milwaukee Bicycle Company Racin | 40:57. |
| 9 | Katrina DOWIDCHUK | Colavita Midatlantic Womens Te | 41:09. |
| 10 | Jennifer MAXWELL | Colavita Midatlantic Womens Te | 41:14. |
| 11 | Kelly CHANG | 41:25. | |
| 12 | Samantha BRODE | 42:22. | |
| 13 | Sydney BROWN | Goldenrod Pastries CX | 42:24. |
| 14 | Sarah MATCHETT | Race City Cycling | 43:03. |
| 15 | Mary COCHRAN | Bike Line | 43:23. |
| 16 | Ann KENNEDY | 43:51. | |
| 17 | Amber AUER | 44:42. | |
| 18 | Kathryn GOODY | Race City Cycling | 44:53. |
| 19 | Ann GRONINGER | Bike Law Cycling Club | 33:16. |
| 20 | Jean MILLER | Sorella Cycling p/b Hincapie Sp | 34:00. |
| 21 | Nicole WEISS | Sound Velo Cycling Club | 34:24. |
| 22 | Kendra FOLEY | 35:28. | |
| 23 | Patty SHOAF | HammerCross | 35:57. |
| 24 | Julie PAISANT | 36:11. | |
| 25 | Theresa CURRY | Cross | 36:39. |
| 26 | Cara SCHULTZ | Team Bikenetic | 37:43. |
| 27 | Michelle HORVATH | Trek Greensboro Generals | 39:59. |
| 28 | Sherri COZZA | UPMC/ Pro Bikes | 40:05. |
| 29 | Deb ICE | VO2 | 41:12. |
| 30 | Noelle FREDRICKSON | 28:35. | |
| 31 | Janet TRUBEY | North Carolina Cyclocross | 29:43. |
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