While she skipped Cross Vegas last year due to injury, Nash is no stranger to the top step of the podium and clearly was out to start the season strong. She remained in control for the rest of the race, and it was fellow mountain biker (and current short track and cross country National Champion) Lea Davison who came in for second, followed by another regular on the MTB World Cup circuit, Nash’s teammate Catharine Pendrel. “I’m good at having and coming back from bad starts,” Pendrel admitted, referencing an early race crash. “So that worked to my advantage here.”
Behind Pendrel, Meredith Miller, recovered from last season’s foot injury and recently retired from road cycling, surged to drop the remnants of the pack and snag the fourth place spot. Behind her, Giant’s Kelli Emmet and CrankBrothers’ Chloe Woodruff added to the MTB domination. Behind them, Rapha-Focus’s Gabby Day and Cal-Giant’s latest addition, Elle Anderson, came in for seventh and eighth, respectively. Rolling in for ninth was Olympian and chef Georgia Gould, who crossed the line holding a rubber chicken.
Nash had plenty of time to celebrate and take in the crowd. © Cathy Fegan-Kim
