Anthony bounces back to win day two at Cycle-Smart International

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Sunday's UCI men's and women's races at the Cycle-Smart International at Look Park in Northampton, MA played out in slightly different fashion than they did on Saturday. Mistakes were still costly, but as Redline's Justin Lindine and C3 - Athletes Serving Athletes' Arley Kemmerer would prove, they did not rule out the chance to stand on the podium.

Jeremy Powers (Rapha - Focus) fought hard to narrowly defeat Adam Craig (Rabobank) and Justin Lindine (Redline). Crystal Anthony (CyclocrossWorld.com) avenged Saturday's defeat by winning the women's event solo ahead of the previous day's winner, Mary McConneloug (Kenda-Seven-NoTubes) and Kemmerer.

In the women's race, Saturday's third place finisher, Anna Barensfeld (pedalpowertraining.com), took the lead early and created a lead group of nine which included all the previous day's contenders including Anthony, McConneloug, Kemmerer, Cassandra Maximenko (Silverbull Targettraining), Jenny Ives (Favata TRT-UNOVELO Cross Team), Natasha Elliott (The Cyclery), and Evelyne Blouin (Ride with Rendell) . Heading into the run up on the start of the second lap, a crash by Elliott split the lead group in two, with McConneloug, Anthony, and Kemmerer assuming the lead.

Halfway into the third lap, Anthony attacked hard in the woods. Kemmerer was able to hold her wheel, but McConneloug was not, losing a crucial five seconds heading into the flat, power sections of the course.

One lap later, Anthony's pace proved to be too much for Kemmerer, who resolved to fighting for second place on the day.

Taking the bell lap, Anthony held a ten second gap over Kemmerer and McConneloug, who now rode together. Unlike the day before, Anthony rode the technical sections flawlessly and her power was unmatched on the flat, open sections of the course.

Anthony rolled in safely for the win, and just as Kemmerer, a strong rider on the road, began to prepare for the paved sprint finish, she made a mistake in the final dirt corners and watched McConneloug and her chance at a second place finish ride away.

"I was just trying to keep my head about me," said Anthony in reference to staying upright. "I just didn't focus that well yesterday and I was going down for no reason. It was a good wakeup call, you know, you have to focus when you race!"

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