Katerina Nash (Luna) takes her second consecutive win in the women's race.(Image credit: Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us)
Katerina Nash (Luna Pro Team) wins CrossVegas for the second year in a row.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
The hard racing took its toll tonight.(Image credit: Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us)
Kelli Emmett (Team Giant) heading up the chasers.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Katerina Nash (Luna Pro Team) alone on the front of the race.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
One of the uphill 180 degree turns.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Nicole Duke (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld) recovering from a mishap at the barriers.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Lea Davison (Specialized) started at the back and passed dozens of racers to finish sixth.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Meredith Miller (Cal Giant Berry) running the barriers mid-race.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Katerina Nash (Luna Pro Team) just before she left the field for good.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Georgia Gould (Luna Pro Team) racing over the barriers.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Amy Dombroski (Crank Brothers) turned in the fastest lap of the night.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Teal Stetson-Lee (Cal Giant Berry) riding in the second chase group.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Nicole Duke (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld) running a 180-degree turn.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Women’s podium (L to R): Kelli Emmett (Team Giant) 3rd, Katerina Nash (Luna Pro Team) 1st, Amy Dombroski (Crank Brothers) 2nd, Georgia Gould (Luna Pro Team) 4th(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Amy Dombroski (Crank Brothers) came out of the chase group to take second place.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Katerina Nash (Luna Pro Team) crossing the finish line.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Katerina Nash (Luna Pro Team) having no problem holding off the chasers with one lap to go.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Marne Smiley (Bob’s Red Mill) on the run-up after the barriers.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Caroline Mani (CC Etupes) feeling the hurt put on by Nash.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Andrea Smith (Ladiesfirst Racing)(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Meredith Miller (Cal Giant Berry) found herself chasing all night.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Kelli Emmett (Team Giant) leading the chase group.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Georgia Gould (Luna Pro Team) working with Nash.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Specialized mountain biking teammates Lea Davison and Max Plaxton were planning to race at CrossVegas.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Jelly Belly brought some non-pedal bikes to Vegas this week.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Allison Mann (Rock n’ Road Cyclery) with one of her new Specialized 'cross bikes.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
CrossVegas defending champion Katerina Nash (Luna Pro Team) getting ready to race.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Mountain biking star Kelli Emmett (Team Giant).(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
California Giant Berry teammates Teal Stetson-Lee (L) and Meredith Miller (R).(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Nicole Duke wearing her Cannondale kit for the first time.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Andrea Smith (Ladiesfirst Racing) on the front row.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Amy Dombroski (Crank Brothers) waiting on the front row for the start.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
The last thing that racers wanted to see was the powerful Luna squad go off the front of the race.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Caroline Mani (CC Etupes) chasing Gould.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Georgia Gould (Luna Pro Team) leading on one of the run-ups.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Katerina Nash (Luna Pro Team) positioned nicely near the front after the start loop.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Sue Butler (River City Bicycles) leads after the short start loop.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
French champion Caroline Mani (CC Etupes) takes the hole shot.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Georgia Gould (Luna Pro Team) is always a factor at CrossVegas.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
The women get on the start line.(Image credit: Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us)
The women are off.(Image credit: Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us)
Meredith Miller (California Giant-Specialized) was happy with the wet course tonight.(Image credit: Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us)
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."
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Full Results
1
Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna Pro Team
0:37:42
2
Amy Dombroski (USA) Crankbrothers Race Club
0:00:12
3
Kelli Emmett (USA) Giant Bicycles
0:00:13
4
Meredith Miller (USA) California Giant-Specialized
0:00:17
5
Georgia Gould (USA) Luna Pro Team
0:00:20
6
Lea Davison (USA) Specialized Racing
0:01:38
7
Chloe Forsman (USA) Momentum Endurance
0:01:45
8
Pepper Harlton (Can) Juventus Cycling Club
0:01:51
9
Joyce Vanderbeken (Bel) Cycling Team Vermeeren
0:01:56
10
Teal Stetson-Lee (USA) California Giant-Specialized
0:01:59
11
Andrea Smith (USA) Ladiesfirst Racing
0:02:01
12
Nicole Duke (USA) Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld
0:02:02
13
Katheryn Mattis (USA) Bikes To Rwanda
0:02:08
14
Rebecca Blatt (USA) Team Kenda-Silverbull
0:02:13
15
Mical Dyck (Can) Pro City Racing
0:02:30
16
Rebecca Gross (USA) Velo Bella
0:02:32
17
Susan Butler (USA) River City Bicyles-Ridley
0:02:33
18
Katherine Sherwin (USA) Notubes Elite Cyclocross Team
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.
