Compton triumphs at Tabor World Cup

Katie Compton (Trek Cyclocross Collective) rode to victory in the second round of the cyclo-cross World Cup in Tabor.

The American held off a late challenge from British champion Nikki Harris and her Young Telenet-Fidea teammate Pavla Havlikova, who finished second and third respectively.

"It was hard today and really hot, too, so I definitely struggled out there," said Compton. "I attacked a little early but was able to maintain it."

With round one winner Marianne Vos opting not to race, Compton’s win saw her move to the top of the leader board in the overall women’s World Cup. Compton had finished a distant second behind Vos in Valkenburg the previous weekend but the defending World Cup champion now leads the overall standings with 110 points. Harris sits in second with 95 points, while Havlikova is one place further back with 75 points. Vos drops to sixth with 60 points.

"I want to win the overall again - that's my goal," said Compton. "I want to have a strong world championship, too, but I definitely like being consistent and on the podium a lot. I just want to win as many races, or get on the podium, as I can."

Compton, who finished second in Tabor last year, came to the fore on the second of five laps with Harris, Havlikova, Christel Ferrier-Bruneau (Faren-Kuota), Sanne Cant (Enertherm-BKCP) and Ellen Van Loy (DNCS-Pro 2012 Cycling Team) initially able to keep pace with the nine-time American champion.

Harris was clearly in form, the British champion having attempted to put Compton under pressure early on the opening lap, and mid-way through the second lap only Harris and Havlikova remained in contact with Compton.

They had no answer, however, when Compton stamped on the pedals once more and by the end of the lap the duo trailed the American by four seconds.

The predominantly grass parcours with its twists and turns and numerous short undulations had a familiar American-style feel for Compton who felt right at home on the fast circuit.

"I think on the downhills I was getting a little bit of time each lap and I was definitely trying to keep the pressure on on the uphills and they (Harris and Havlikova) were staying right there. I had just enough gap to stay on the pedals the whole time and not let up - it was hard."

Compton would steadily add seconds to her lead each lap and entering the fifth and final circuit she led Harris and Havlikova by 10 seconds while Cant continued alone in fourth at 32 seconds. American Meredith Miller (Cal Giant Berry Farms-Specialized) had been moving up throughout the race and when she heard the bell for the final lap she had advanced to fifth place at 40 seconds back.

A mechanical incident on the final lap forced Compton to lose a few seconds but her lead was sufficient enough to compose herself and surge once more without being caught by her two tenacious pursuers. Compton would solo to her first World Cup win of the season with Harris outsprinting Havlikova for second place six seconds later.

Ferrier-Bruneau managed to catch and outsprint Cant for fourth at 37 seconds while Miller finished alone in sixth at 47 seconds.

It would be an excellent day for the Americans as Kaitlin Antonneau (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com) also cracked the top-10 with a ninth place result while Arley Kemmerer (C3-Twenty20 Cycling) placed 15th.

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Full Results
1Katie Compton (USA) Trek Cyclocross Collective0:43:41
2Nikki Harris (GBr) Young Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team0:00:06
3Pavla Havlikova (Cze) Young Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team0:00:07
4Christel Ferrier-Bruneau (Fra) Faren Kuota0:00:37
5Sanne Cant (Bel) Enertherm-BKCPRow 4 - Cell 2
6Meredith Miller (USA) Cal Giant Berry Farms-Specialized0:00:47
7Ellen Van Loy (Bel) DNCS-Pro 2012 Cycling Team0:00:54
8Lucie Chainel (Fra) BH-SR Suntour-KMC0:00:56
9Kaitlin Antonneau (USA) Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com0:01:05
10Sophie de Boer (Ned) Young Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team0:01:11
11Helen Wyman (GBr) Kona Factory Racing0:01:19
12Gabriella Durrin (GBr) Rapha-Focus0:01:41
13Martina Mikulaskova (Cze) TJ Stadion Louny0:01:59
14Marlene Morel Petitgirard (Fra) VCC Morteau-Montbenoit0:02:33
15Arley Kemmerer (USA) C3-Twenty20 Cycling0:02:39
16Nadja Heigl (Aut) RLM Wien0:02:48
17Caroline Mani (Fra) Raleigh-Clement0:02:55
18Tereza Medvedova (Svk) ZP Sport0:02:56
19Lana Verberne (Ned) Orange Babies Cycling Team0:03:10
20Annefleur Kalvenhaar (Ned) Giant Dealerteams0:03:32
21Karla Stepanova (Cze) Kona Cycling Point0:03:40
22Nikola Noskova (Cze) KC Kooperativa SG Jablonec0:03:45
23Jessica Lambracht (Ger) Stevens-1A-Crossteam0:03:49
24Margriet Helena Kloppenburg (Den) Endura Lady Force0:04:07
25Asa Maria Erlandsson (Swe) Varbergs MTB-Cube0:04:22
26Lisa Heckmann (Ger) VC-Racingteam0:04:42
27Ayako Toyooka (Jpn) Panasonic Ladies0:04:48
28Janka Stevkova (Svk) CK Epic Dohnany0:05:52
29Zuzana Vojtasova (Svk) CK Banska Bystrica0:06:02
30Jana Czeczinkarova (Cze) Remerx-Merida Team Kolin0:06:12
31Martina Kukulova (Cze) Stevens Bikes-Emilio Sport0:06:32
32Luisa Beck (Ger) Maxx-Solar Cycling0:06:50
33Livia Hanesova (Svk) CK Banska Bystrica0:08:45
DNFAgnes Naumann (Ger) Saikls CrossteamRow 33 - Cell 2
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World Cup standings after round two
1Katie Compton (USA) Trek Cyclocross Collective110pts
2Nikki Harris (GBr) Young Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team95Row 1 - Cell 3
3Pavla Havlikova (Cze) Young Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team75Row 2 - Cell 3
4Christel Ferrier-Bruneau (Fra) Faren Kuota75Row 3 - Cell 3
5Sanne Cant (Bel) Enertherm-BKCP61Row 4 - Cell 3
6Marianne Vos (Ned) Rabobank Liv/Giant60Row 5 - Cell 3
7Helen Wyman (GBr) Kona Factory Racing60Row 6 - Cell 3
8Ellen Van Loy (Bel) DNCS-Pro 2012 Cycling Team56Row 7 - Cell 3
9Lucie Chainel (Fra) BH-SR Suntour-KMC45Row 8 - Cell 3
10Meredith Miller (USA) Cal Giant Berry Farms-Specialized44Row 9 - Cell 3
11Kaitlin Antonneau (USA) Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com42Row 10 - Cell 3
12Gabriella Durrin (GBr) Rapha-Focus39Row 11 - Cell 3
13Caroline Mani (Fra) Raleigh-Clement36Row 12 - Cell 3
14Annefleur Kalvenhaar (Ned) Giant Dealerteams35Row 13 - Cell 3
15Marlene Morel Petitgirard (Fra) VCC Morteau-Montbenoit32Row 14 - Cell 3
16Arley Kemmerer (USA) C3-Twenty20 Cycling32Row 15 - Cell 3
17Sophie de Boer (Ned) Young Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team31Row 16 - Cell 3
18Martina Mikulaskova (Cze) TJ Stadion Louny29Row 17 - Cell 3
19Jessica Lambracht (Ger) Stevens-1A-Crossteam18Row 18 - Cell 3
20Elena Valentini (Ita) Selle Italia-Guerciotti17Row 19 - Cell 3
21Nikola Noskova (Cze) KC Kooperativa SG Jablonec16Row 20 - Cell 3
22Nadja Heigl (Aut) RLM Wien15Row 21 - Cell 3
23Tereza Medvedova (Svk) ZP Sport13Row 22 - Cell 3
24Githa Michiels (Bel) Toka Print MTB Team13Row 23 - Cell 3
25Lana Verberne (Ned) Orange Babies Cycling Team12Row 24 - Cell 3
26Alice Maria Arzuffi (Ita) Selle Italia-Guerciotti12Row 25 - Cell 3
27Karla Stepanova (Cze) Kona Cycling Point10Row 26 - Cell 3
28Ayako Toyooka (Jpn) Panasonic Ladies9Row 27 - Cell 3
29Yara Kastelijn (Ned) RTC Buitenlust8Row 28 - Cell 3
30Margriet Helena Kloppenburg (Den) Endura Lady Force7Row 29 - Cell 3
31Asa Maria Erlandsson (Swe) Varbergs MTB-Cube7Row 30 - Cell 3
32Lotte Eikelenboom (Ned) DRC De Mol6Row 31 - Cell 3
33Lisa Heckmann (Ger) VC-Racingteam5Row 32 - Cell 3
34Laura Verdonschot (Bel) VZW Lotto-Ladiescycling4Row 33 - Cell 3
35Janka Stevkova (Svk) CK Epic Dohnany3Row 34 - Cell 3
36Esmee Oosterman (Ned) WRV De Peddelaars3Row 35 - Cell 3
37Zuzana Vojtasova (Svk) CK Banska Bystrica2Row 36 - Cell 3
38Karen Verhestraeten (Bel) Up Cycling Team2Row 37 - Cell 3
39Jana Czeczinkarova (Cze) Remerx-Merida Team Kolin1Row 38 - Cell 3

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