Compton cruises to second win in Ohio

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Katie Compton (Planet Bike/Stevens) claimed her second victory in as many days this time in Sunset Park Middletown, Ohio at the Java Johnny’s – Lionhearts International. The victory came a day after her win at Darkhorse Cyclo-Stampede International Cyclocross, the first of the weekend’s three race series.

As she did yesterday Sue Butler (Monavie Cannondale) out-gunned national champion Compton at the start of the Elite Women’s race and led until the up-and-back beach volleyball section, about one-minute into the race. While Butler rode through the section with no difficulty, Compton skimmed across the top of the sand with such speed that onlookers were bewildered.

Ninety seconds into the race, as they crossed the finish line following the prologue section, Compton had a 14 second lead over Butler. Behind Butler was a large gap that developed when Dee Dee Winfield (C3 – Athletes Serving Athletes) bobbled in the sand and everybody else stacked-up behind her.

The race for the win was already essentially over as Compton just powered away from everybody for the remainder of the race. The only thing that interrupted her machine-like composure was a group of fun-loving hecklers who made her laugh while loudly imploring her to, “slow down more, you’re making the race boring”. Afterward Compton would comment that she really did enjoy the moment and that part of the reason she was so relaxed was because, in her words, “this track is so much fun”.

Meanwhile, Butler rode her own race to maintain a gap over the three-way chase group behind her that contained Winfield, Barbara Howe (Vanderkitten) and Laura Van Gilder (C3- Athletes Serving Athletes). “We all knew when we came here that we were racing for second place,” said Butler.

Winfield, Howe and Van Gilder stayed together for nearly the entire race, with Winfield seeming to be slightly faster through the sand, but not enough to make a break. Just before crossing the line on the bell lap, Van Gilder went over the handlebars and flipped into the sand. Quickly back on her feet, Van Gilder chased down the other two riders and then passed straight by them.

“I had the momentum, so I used it,” she said afterward. “I didn’t want them to think that I was just flailing back there. I wanted to get to the sand first on the last lap because I knew even if I made a mistake there, I could probably hold them up and keep them behind me.”

Van Gilder did get to the sand first, but did not make another mistake and took the third-place position. Behind her, teammate Winfield out-sprinted Howe for fourth.