Nash repeats in CrossVegas

Katarina Nash (Luna Pro Team) claimed her second consecutive CrossVegas victory, opening her 2011-2012 cyclo-cross season with another dominating performance on an uncharacteristically soggy Las Vegas course.

Nash claimed the top spot by riding away from the field from the second lap, coming in a dozen seconds ahead of Amy Dombroski (Crankbrothers) and Kelli Emmett (Giant)

Heavy overnight rains turned the normally fast, dry grass into a spongy, power-sucking shag carpet that favoured the powerful Czech champion.

"The conditions out there today really felt like a cross race," said Nash "It was interesting to add the wet element. CrossVegas has really become the classic of cyclocross. It's great to win in front of so many enthusiastic people."

While Nash's Luna teammate Georgia Gould lit up the first lap, helping to separate the pair from a star-studded field by the start of the second lap, the American would fade from the front after a few ill-timed mistakes, leaving Nash to solo away to glory.

Gould was swept up by a hard-charging chase group led by Dombroski on the final lap and didn't have enough left in the tank for the four-rider sprint. She claimed fifth behind Meredith Miller (California Giant Berry/Specialized).

"Georgia and I were working together keeping the gap," Nash said. "Perhaps I was keeping a faster pace than Georgia could maintain today. Georgia and I didn't talk before the race. We have raced together enough times to know what to expect from each other. We did talk during the race though. We talked about working together to maintain a gap."

Dombroski said she was in a bad position when the Luna pair's winning move went away, but had good cooperation from her chase group companions.

"I realized that the two blueberries were riding away so I tried to bridge it myself and then everyone started working together. It was me, Kelli, I think Meredith was there. I thought we might catch them because they were right there but Katerina is fast."

Dombroski wasn't able to shake them in the final lap, but was able to take second in the sprint over Emmett after a concerted effort.

"I didn't know how close she was, I was just going as hard as I could."

"I was just watching everyone and seeing what their weakness were out there," commented Emmett. "I was really feeling good. I knew my fitness was good, It was just a matter of finding the right opportunity."

 

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Full Results
1Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna Pro Team0:37:42
2Amy Dombroski (USA) Crankbrothers Race Club0:00:12
3Kelli Emmett (USA) Giant Bicycles0:00:13
4Meredith Miller (USA) California Giant-Specialized0:00:17
5Georgia Gould (USA) Luna Pro Team0:00:20
6Lea Davison (USA) Specialized Racing0:01:38
7Chloe Forsman (USA) Momentum Endurance0:01:45
8Pepper Harlton (Can) Juventus Cycling Club0:01:51
9Joyce Vanderbeken (Bel) Cycling Team Vermeeren0:01:56
10Teal Stetson-Lee (USA) California Giant-Specialized0:01:59
11Andrea Smith (USA) Ladiesfirst Racing0:02:01
12Nicole Duke (USA) Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld0:02:02
13Katheryn Mattis (USA) Bikes To Rwanda0:02:08
14Rebecca Blatt (USA) Team Kenda-Silverbull0:02:13
15Mical Dyck (Can) Pro City Racing0:02:30
16Rebecca Gross (USA) Velo Bella0:02:32
17Susan Butler (USA) River City Bicyles-Ridley0:02:33
18Katherine Sherwin (USA) Notubes Elite Cyclocross Team0:03:01
19Jennifer Gaertner (USA) Raleigh America0:03:06
20Allison Mann (USA) Rock n' Road Cyclery0:03:20
21Katy Curtis (Can) Cyclemeisters0:03:33
22Kari Studley (USA) Mercy Cycling0:03:36
23Caroline Mani (Fra) CC Etupes0:03:37
24Marne Smiley (USA) Bob's Red Mill Cyclocross0:04:14
25Kelsy Bingham (USA) Roosters-Bikers Edge0:04:24
26Emily Shields (USA) SmartStop-Mock Orange Bikes p/b RidleyRow 25 - Cell 2
27Meghan Korol (USA) Bob's Red Mill Cyclocross0:04:27
28Linda Sone (USA) Cycle-SmartRow 27 - Cell 2
29Nina Baum (USA)0:04:28
30Katherine Shields (USA) SmartStop-Mock Orange Bikes p/b Ridley0:04:31
31Lisa Hudson (USA) Feedback Sports0:04:42
32Cassandra Maximenko (USA) Silverbull Centralwheel0:05:01
33Kate Scheider (USA)0:05:55
34Christina Probert (USA) The Team-Socalcross0:06:04
35Sage Wilderman (USA) Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory-Durango Devo0:06:26
36Kelly Benjamin (USA) KCCX-Fuji Elite p/b Challenge Tires0:06:40
37Jennifer Hill (USA) Rivet SG0:06:58
38Shannon Gibson (USA) Notubes Elite Cyclocross Team0:07:42
39Cristina Begy (USA) Gates Carbon Drive0:07:49
40Michele Bliss (USA) Justin's CyclingRow 39 - Cell 2
41Michelle Melka (USA) Red RacingRow 40 - Cell 2
42Megan Elliott (USA)Row 41 - Cell 2
43Dorothy Wong (USA) The Team-SocalcrossRow 42 - Cell 2

 

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Laura Weislo
Managing Editor

Laura Weislo has been with Cyclingnews since 2006 after making a switch from a career in science. As Managing Editor, she coordinates coverage for North American events and global news. As former elite-level road racer who dabbled in cyclo-cross and track, Laura has a passion for all three disciplines. When not working she likes to go camping and explore lesser traveled roads, paths and gravel tracks. Laura's specialises in covering doping, anti-doping, UCI governance and performing data analysis.

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