Compton solos to Koksijde World Cup victory

US champion Katie Compton (Trek Cyclocross Collective) did what she had to do at the third World Cup round of the season amid the dunes of Koksijde, Belgium. In sunny weather conditions, Compton rode away from her rivals halfway through the first lap and never looked back. It’s the second World Cup win of the season for Compton and she extends her lead in the overall standings to thirty points over Nikki Harris (Young Telenet-Fidea), who placed third on Saturday afternoon.

Compton didn’t arrive at the North Sea coast with a perfect mindset and she admitted that she’d expected the opposition to be stronger. “I did. I got a gap and tried to maintain my rhythm. The gap kept growing, In the US, Katerina Nash is giving me a hard time. She’s making me work for it. Too bad she and Marianne Vos are not here. I like to chase,” Compton smiled. It was a strange sensation to take such an easy win considering that she didn’t feel comfortable on the bike. “It was running more than riding; it was heavy sand. I was lacking power. I felt clumsy out there. I was tired,” a jet-lagged Compton said.

Things looked different at the very beginning. As the race got underway there was no sign of Compton at the front. Dutch rider Sabine Stultiens (Rabo Women) took a great start and gapped European champion Helen Wyman (Kona). “I always have a good start but she went really hard. I wanted to go fast but not that fast,” Wyman said.

In the background Compton was in eighth place. She started moving up and most of the time, that worked out fine. When trying to pass Harris on a technical drop, however, things went a little awkwardly. “I rode into her but didn’t intend to do that,” Compton admitted. A little later, Compton overtook Wyman too, while Stultiens faded back.

Suddenly Compton, Wyman and Harris were leading the race. After the Herygers-dune Wyman was no longer able to hold the wheel. “Helen didn’t go as fast as she should’ve gone. Katie was gone,” Harris said. Both British women failed to come back while Compton increased her gap on the section in between the sand sections.

From there, Compton kept increasing her lead up to a massive one-minute advantage. Behind her, Sanne Cant (Enertherm-BKCP), Stultiens and Sophie de Boer (Young Telenet-Fidea) joined the chase group. Halfway through the second lap, Cant accelerated. Wyman lost her wheel and Harris wasn’t able to make up for that lost ground. Wyman went from leading the chase to trying to chase back on. “I went too hard in the first two laps. I hoped to get a gap and then recover but that didn’t work out. You’ve got to try,” Wyman said.

The small gap between Cant and Harris remained relatively stable for the remainder of the race. “I was hoping she made a mistake but that didn’t happen. It’s not bad because now I’ve been on the podium in every World Cup round,” Harris said.

For her part, Cant wasn’t too worried about a comeback from Harris. “I had things under control. In the sand I tried to gain some seconds. Too bad I didn’t win but someone was clearly stronger today. I should be pleased because it’s my best-ever World Cup result,” Cant said.

The next World Cup round is held in Namur, Belgium on December 22 with Compton defending her comfortable lead. “I’ll try to hold it. I don’t want to deal with jet-lag again so we’re staying here. I’ll do the Scheldecross, Overijse, Mallorca, then the World Cup rounds and the Christmas races,” Compton said.

Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Katie Compton (USA) Trek Cyclocross Collective0:43:32
2Sanne Cant (Bel) Enertherm-BKCP0:01:08
3Nikki Harris (GBr) Young Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team0:01:22
4Sabrina Stultiens (Ned) Rabobank Liv/Giant0:01:55
5Sophie de Boer (Ned) Young Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team0:01:56
6Helen Wyman (GBr) Kona Factory Racing0:02:31
7Pavla Havlikova (Cze) Young Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team0:02:42
8Martina Mikulaskova (Cze) TJ Stadion Louny0:03:17
9Loes Sels (Bel) DNCS-Pro 2012 Cycling Team0:03:25
10Ellen Van Loy (Bel) DNCS-Pro 2012 Cycling Team0:03:40
11Reza Hormes-Ravenstijn (Ned) Orange Babies Cycling Team0:03:42
12Lucie Chainel (Fra) BH-SR Suntour-KMC0:03:54
13Gabriella Durrin (GBr) Rapha-Focus0:04:07
14Annefleur Kalvenhaar (Ned) Giant Dealerteams0:04:56
15Laura Verdonschot (Bel) VZW Lotto-Ladiescycling0:05:05
16Githa Michiels (Bel) Toka Print MTB TeamRow 15 - Cell 2
17Crystal Anthony (USA) Optum Pro Cycling p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies0:05:51
18Marlene Morel Petitgirard (Fra) VCC Morteau-Montbenoit0:05:55
19Christine Majerus (Lux) Sengers Ladies Cycling Team0:06:20
20Karen Verhestraeten (Bel) Up Cycling Team0:06:31
21Monique Van De Ree (Ned) Cyclelive Plus-Zannata0:06:58
22Lotte Eikelenboom (Ned) DRC De Mol0:07:09
23Nikola Noskova (Cze) KC Kooperativa SG Jablonec0:07:16
24Asa Maria Erlandsson (Swe) Varbergs MTB-Cube0:07:24
25Katrien Thijs (Bel) Up Cycling Team0:07:31
26Jessica Lambracht (Ger) Stevens-1A-Crossteam0:07:42
27Evy Kuijpers (Ned) RTC BuitenlustRow 26 - Cell 2
28Stephanie De Croock (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-BioracerRow 27 - Cell 2
29Christine Vardaros (USA) Team StevensRow 28 - Cell 2
30Lisa Heckmann (Ger) VC-RacingteamRow 29 - Cell 2
31Martina Kukulova (Cze) Stevens Bikes-Emilio SportRow 30 - Cell 2
32Hannah Payton (GBr) Team CTCRow 31 - Cell 2
33Agnes Naumann (Ger) Saikls CrossteamRow 32 - Cell 2
34Liv-Susanne Bachmann (Ger) Stevens-1A-CrossteamRow 33 - Cell 2
35Mercedes Pacios Pujado (Spa) Blue Motors PontsRow 34 - Cell 2
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Elite women World Cup standings after round 3
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Katherine Compton (USA) Trek Cyclocross Collective170pts
2Nikki Harris (GBr) Young Telenet - Fidea140Row 1 - Cell 3
3Sanne Cant (Bel) Enertherm - BKCP111Row 2 - Cell 3
4Pavla Havlikova (Cze) Young Telenet - Fidea103Row 3 - Cell 3
5Helen Wyman (GBr) Kona90Row 4 - Cell 3
6Ellen Van Loy (Bel) Dncs / Pro 2012 Cycling Team78Row 5 - Cell 3
7Christel Ferrier-Bruneau (Fra) Faren Kuota75Row 6 - Cell 3
8Sophie De Boer (Ned) Young Telenet - Fidea66Row 7 - Cell 3
9Lucie Chainel-Lefevre (Fra) BH - SR Suntour - KMC64Row 8 - Cell 3
10Marianne Vos (Ned) Rabo Women Cycling Team60Row 9 - Cell 3
11Gabriella Durrin (GBr) Rapha - Focus57Row 10 - Cell 3
12Martina Mikulaskova (Cze) TJ Stadion Louny55Row 11 - Cell 3
13Annefleur Kalvenhaar (Ned) Giant Dealerteams52Row 12 - Cell 3
14Marlène Morel Petitgirard (Fra) Vcc Morteau Montbenoit45Row 13 - Cell 3
15Meredith Miller (USA) Cal Giant Berry Farms - Specialized44Row 14 - Cell 3
16Kaitlin Antonneau (USA) Cannondale P/B Cyclocrossworld.Com42Row 15 - Cell 3
17Sabrina Stultiens (Ned) Rabo Women Cycling Team40Row 16 - Cell 3
18Caroline Mani (Fra) Raleigh - Clement36Row 17 - Cell 3
19Arley Kemmerer (USA) C3 - Twenty20 Cycling32Row 18 - Cell 3
20Githa Michiels (Bel) Toka Print MTB Team28Row 19 - Cell 3
21Loes Sels (Bel) Dncs / Pro 2012 Cycling Team24Row 20 - Cell 3
22Nikola Noskova (Cze) KC Kooperativa Sg Jablonec24Row 21 - Cell 3
23Jessica Lambracht (Ger) Stevens - 1A - Crossteam23Row 22 - Cell 3
24Reza Hormes (Ned) Orange Babies Cycling Team20Row 23 - Cell 3
25Laura Verdonschot (Bel) Vzw Lotto - Ladiescycling20Row 24 - Cell 3
26Elena Valentini (Ita) Selle Italia Guerciotti17Row 25 - Cell 3
27Nadja Heigl (Aut) Rlm Wien15Row 26 - Cell 3
28Lotte Eikelenboom (Ned) Drc De Mol15Row 27 - Cell 3
29Crystal Anthony (USA) Optum P/B Kelly Benefit Strategies14Row 28 - Cell 3
30Asa Maria Erlandsson (Swe) Varbergs MTB / Cube14Row 29 - Cell 3
31Tereza Medvedova (Svk) ZP Sport13Row 30 - Cell 3
32Karen Verhestraeten (Bel) Up Cycling Team13Row 31 - Cell 3
33Christine Majerus (Lux) Sengers Ladies Cycling Team12Row 32 - Cell 3
34Lana Verberne (Ned) Orange Babies Cycling Team12Row 33 - Cell 3
35Alice Maria Arzuffi (Ita) Selle Italia Guerciotti12Row 34 - Cell 3
36Monique Van De Ree (Ned) Cyclelive Plus - Zannata10Row 35 - Cell 3
37Karla Stepanova (Cze) Kona Cycling Point10Row 36 - Cell 3
38Ayako Toyooka (Jpn) Panasonic Ladies9Row 37 - Cell 3
39Yara Kastelijn (Ned) Rtc Buitenlust8Row 38 - Cell 3
40Margriet Helena Kloppenburg (Den) Endura Lady Force7Row 39 - Cell 3
41Katrien Thijs (Bel) Up Cycling Team6Row 40 - Cell 3
42Lisa Heckmann (Ger) Vc - Racingteam6Row 41 - Cell 3
43Evy Kuijpers (Ned) Rtc Buitenlust4Row 42 - Cell 3
44Stephanie De Croock (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Bioracer3Row 43 - Cell 3
45Janka Keseg Stevkova (Svk) CK Epic Dohnany3Row 44 - Cell 3
46Esmee Oosterman (Ned) WRV De Peddelaars3Row 45 - Cell 3
47Christine Vardaros (USA) Stevens Cycling Team2Row 46 - Cell 3
48Zuzana Vojtasova (Svk) CK Banska Bystrica2Row 47 - Cell 3
49Jana Czeczinkarova (Cze) Remerx - Merida Team Kolin1Row 48 - Cell 3

 

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