Sue Butler (Monavie-Cannondale) leads the elite women's field.(Image credit: Matthew J. Clark/StraightEIGHT Films)
Helen Wyman (Kona) leads Sue Butler (Monavie-Cannondale).(Image credit: Matthew J. Clark/StraightEIGHT Films)
Helen Wyman (Kona) suffered a flat tire while in the race lead with Sue Butler and would finish the day in 4th place.(Image credit: Matthew J. Clark/StraightEIGHT Films)
Alison Dunlap (Luna)(Image credit: Matthew J. Clark/StraightEIGHT Films)
Sue Butler (Monavie-Cannondale) en route to victory in the Rad Racing Gran Prix.(Image credit: Matthew J. Clark/StraightEIGHT Films)
Kari Studley (Velo Bella)(Image credit: Matthew J. Clark/StraightEIGHT Films)
Sue Butler (Monavie-Cannondale) soloed to victory in the Rad Racing Gran Prix.(Image credit: Matthew J. Clark/StraightEIGHT Films)
The women's elite podium (L-R): Barbara Howe, 5th; Alison Dunlap, 2nd; Sue Butler, 1st; Kari Studley, 3rd; Helen Wyman, 4th.(Image credit: Matthew J. Clark/StraightEIGHT Films)
Alison Dunlap (Luna)(Image credit: Matthew J. Clark/StraightEIGHT Films)
Race winner Sue Butler (Monavie-Cannondale) tackles a run up.(Image credit: Matthew J. Clark/StraightEIGHT Films)
Alison Dunlap (Luna) would finish the day in 2nd place.(Image credit: Matthew J. Clark/StraightEIGHT Films)
Wendy Williams (Hudz/Subaru), left, and Barbara Howe (Vanderkitten) crest a run up.(Image credit: Matthew J. Clark/StraightEIGHT Films)
Sue Butler (Monavie-Cannondale) leads Alison Dunlap (Luna) at the top of the run up.(Image credit: Joe Sales)
Helen Wyman (Kona) and eventual race winner Sue Butler (Monavie-Cannondale) shoulder their bikes on the run up.(Image credit: Joe Sales)
Sue Butler (Monavie-Cannondale) didn't disappoint her fans when she captured a solo win at the Rad Racing Gran Prix. Six-time national champion Alison Dunlap (LUNA Chix) made a valiant effort to challenge Butler but was forced to settle for second place ahead of Kari Studley (Velo Bella) in third.
British national champion Helen Wyman (KONA) had an untimely puncture whilst leading the race in the opening laps. Her mechanical landed her outside the top 20 places but with two laps to go she used her world-class form and technical skills to claw her way back into fourth place.
Butler's victory, coupled with her second place in the previous day's Star Crossed, moved her into the North American Trophy Points series lead ahead of Dunlap. Wyman started the day in the lead but her flat tyre caused her to slip into third place overall.
Defending champion Wendy Simms was not registered to compete in this year's event. She is taking time off of professional 'cross racing to start a family at her home in British Columbia, Canada. Though Simms was missed as a regular call to the line, riders like Wyman, Dunlap, Butler and Barbara Howes (Vanderkitten) rolled up to fill the void.
The sun bore down on the 20 elite women who lined up to contest the Rad Racing Gran Prix, a beautiful day for a cyclo-cross race although some would argue that the rain and mud witnessed in the previous night's Star Crossed make for far more exciting cyclo-cross.
After her stellar performance last night, Wyman opened up the race by setting a fast pace on the front, sensing Butler's presence over her shoulder. Butler latched onto Wyman's wheel and the pair's efforts began to put pressure on the tough competition behind them.
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The women approached the grueling 80m run up en masse but it was Wyman and Butler who were the first to the top and opened up a gap of several bike lengths that grew to approximately 15 seconds on chasers Dunlap and Studley.
An untimely flat caused Wyman to lose valuable time and places behind Butler and the two chasers Dunlap and Studley. A second chase group formed to include Wendy Williams (Hudz/Subaru), Barbara Howe (Vanderkitten), Alice Pennington (Veloforma) and Jenni Gaertner (Vertical Earth).
Butler increased her solo advantage to a healthy 30 seconds with three laps remaining, a tough gap to close for the lone chaser Dunlap and a further 10 seconds back to Studley. Wyman eventually worked her way back into fourth place.
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Results
1
Sue Butler (USA) Monavie-Cannondale.Com
0:39:57
2
Alison Dunlap (USA) Luna
0:00:39
3
Kari Studley (USA) Velo Bella
0:01:10
4
Helen Wyman (GBr) Kona
0:01:27
5
Barbara Howe (USA) Vanderkitten
0:01:36
6
Wendy Williams (USA) Hudz/Subaru
Row 5 - Cell 2
7
Jenni Gaertner (USA) Vertical Earth
0:01:51
8
Alice Pennington (USA) Veloforma
0:02:06
9
Rhonda Mazza (USA) Team S&M
0:02:35
10
Emily Van Meter (USA) Hudz/Subaru
0:02:55
11
Lisa Curry (USA) G.A.S./Intrinsik
0:02:56
12
Megan Faris (USA)
0:02:57
13
Kristi Berg (USA) Redline Bicycles
0:03:03
14
Jadine Riley (GBr) Team Group Health
0:03:21
15
Joele Guynup (USA) Island Racing Club
0:03:50
16
Shannon Holden (USA) Vanderkitten
0:04:01
17
Lea Stralka (USA) Byrne
0:04:13
18
Serena Bishop (USA) Sunnyside Sports
0:04:25
19
Lee Smith (USA) Team Group Health
0:06:08
20
Audrey Brown (USA) Team S&M
0:07:15
21
Megan Elliott (USA) Black Mountain Bicycles
0:09:12
DNF
Sarah Stewart (Can) Total Restoration Cycling Team
Kirsten Frattini has been the Editor of Cyclingnews since December 2025, overseeing editorial operations and output across the brand and delivering quality, engaging content.
She manages global budgets, racing & events, production scheduling, and contributor commissions, collaborating across content sections and teams in the UK, Europe, North America, and Australia to ensure audience and subscription growth across the brand.
Kirsten has a background in Kinesiology and Health Science. She has been involved in cycling from the community and grassroots level to professional cycling's biggest races, reporting on the WorldTour, Spring Classics, Tours de France, World Championships and Olympic Games.
