Gould takes cross country win over Batty

Georgia Gould (Luna) rode another of her patented "solo time trials" to extend her lead in USA Cycling's US Pro XCT series. Emily Batty (Subaru Trek), who recently celebrated her 23rd birthday, rode uncontested for second place. Lea Davison (Specialized) continued her solid season by taking third place. Heather Irmiger (Subaru Trek) was fourth, and Kelli Emmett (Team Giant) was fifth.

The race was contested at Mt. Morris, a small ski area situated about 90 minutes east of Green Bay, Wisconsin. The course is very twisty with many short steep climbs. Riders were treated to a trip through the lush, green "Fern Gulch" once per lap.

Heather Irmiger claimed the hole-shot and led the elite women up the first long climb. But Gould entered the descent first and never looked back from that point on.

"This is a great fun course," said Gould. "Some days you can't get out of your own way and some days you're on it. Today was a day that I was on it. It was Rock Star Day."

Batty and Davison quickly became the only chasers that seemed to have any chance of reeling in Gould. "Georgia set a wicked pace out there," said Batty. However, within one lap, Gould had a one-minute lead and extended it from that point on.

In a bizarre coincidences, three of the front row women raced with casts on their left hands due to thumb injuries. Davison, Irmiger, and Chloe Forsman (BMC Development) all sported almost identical casts. The three posed for some photos after the race.

Judy Freeman (Kenda Felt) put in an impressive ride and finished sixth. Krista Park (NoTubes Cannondale), who has been busy overseas racing World Cups this season, finished seventh. Kathy Sherwin (NoTubes) rode solidly for an eighth place finish.

Mexico sent its national team of 10 riders to the Subaru Cup. The highest place woman was Laura Lorenza Morfin in 10th place.

Racers gave the course high marks. "This is the funnest course ever. It is the closest US race to the course in Ontario, Canada," said Batty.

"It was the best crowd ever even with the hecklers," said Gould. "The whole course is World Cup caliber. There's plenty of passing, plenty of technical challenges, and plenty of fans. I think this might be my favorite course."

Full Results

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Elite women
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Georgia Gould (USA) Luna Pro Team1:44:36
2Emily Batty (Can) Subaru-Trek0:02:55
3Lea Davison (USA) Specialized Usa0:05:48
4Heather Irmiger (USA) Subaru-Trek0:07:07
5Kelli Emmett (USA) Giant Factory Off-Road Team0:08:37
6Judy Freeman (USA) Kenda0:09:01
7Krista Park (USA) Notubes/Cannondale0:12:36
8Kathy Sherwin (USA) Notubes Elite Women's Team0:13:35
9Chloe Forsman (USA) BMC Mountainbike Devo Team0:14:29
10Laura Lorenza Morfin (Mex) Mexican National Team0:14:30
11Zephanie Blasi (USA) Notubes Elite Women's Team0:15:18
12Nina Baum (USA) Notubes Elite Women's Team0:15:30
13Jenna Rinehart (USA) Specialized0:15:32
14Sarah Kaufmann (USA) Elete Electrolytes0:16:43
15Abigail Strigel (USA) Trek Stores Of Madison0:18:43
16Erica Zaveta (USA) BMC Mountainbike Devo Team0:19:23
- 1 LapBryna Blanchard (USA) Windham Mountain Cycling TeamRow 16 - Cell 2
- 1 LapCarolyn Popovic (USA) Team CFRow 17 - Cell 2
- 1 LapKaila Hart (USA) No Tubes Elite WomensRow 18 - Cell 2
- 1 LapSusan Stephens (Can) Quiring CyclesRow 19 - Cell 2
- 1 LapSusan Butler (USA)Row 20 - Cell 2
- 1 LapKim Eppen (USA) Mercy-SpecializedRow 21 - Cell 2
- 1 LapShannon Gibson (USA) Notubes Elite Women's TeamRow 22 - Cell 2
- 1 LapMelanie M Colavito (USA) Missing Link - SpecializedRow 23 - Cell 2
- 1 LapMeghan Korol (USA) Momentum Racing/Pro BikesRow 24 - Cell 2
- 1 LapLisa Krayer (USA) Adventure 212/SpecializedRow 25 - Cell 2
- 1 LapDaniela Campuzano (Mex) Mexico National TeamRow 26 - Cell 2
- 2 LapsMaren Cosens (USA)Row 27 - Cell 2
- 2 LapsSusan Juedes (USA) Rb Firefighter ApparelRow 28 - Cell 2
- 2 LapsRebecca Blatt (USA) Embrocation Cycling JournalRow 29 - Cell 2
DNFKelsy Bingham (USA) Team JamisRow 30 - Cell 2
DNFRosara Joseph (NZl) Rabobank Giant Off-Road TeamRow 31 - Cell 2
DNFSara Kylander-Johnson (USA) Trek Coop/KuhlRow 32 - Cell 2
DNFMolly Throdahl (USA)Row 33 - Cell 2
DNFErin Vicary (USA) Quiring CyclesRow 34 - Cell 2

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