Rochette solos to victory in RenoCross

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Nash, Gomez Villafane round out podium

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Maghalie Rochette (CX Fever) wins Reno Cross(Image credit: Jonathan Devich)

Maghalie Rochette (CX Fever p/b Specialized) took the hole shot in RenoCross and never looked back: benefitting from a bobble by Katerina Nash (Luna), the Canadian opened a gap and never relinquished her lead, coming to the line with the victory nearly a full minute ahead of Nash, with Sofia Gomez Villafane (Pivot) in third just behind.

"I know Katerina really, really well and I know she's a fighter, I know she's strong and I know that she's one of the best riders in the world. I was expecting a really tough battle against her," Rochette said. "I knew that I had to bring my A-game if I wanted to have a chance against her. I think something happened to her at the start and that's how I got away."

Nash said she tripped on a barrier just after the start on the opening lap and was unable to get back on terms with Rochette.

"That was not only very embarrassing because it was right in front of everybody but definitely not a good start to a race. I went way back and I had to work my way up. I think I tried a little too hard and just had to settle in a manageable pace," Nash said.

Nash did, however, make her way through the rest of the field, holding off a chasing group led by Gomez Villafane (Maxxis pb Stans/DNA Cycling), with Crystal Anthony, (LIV Cycling) and Samantha Runnels (Squid Squad). Clara Honsinger (Team S&M Pro CX) bridged up to the chasing group, spurring an attack from Gomez Villafane that led to her podium placing.

"I think when we made it into four, I wanted to split it, and then I just wanted to go a little bit faster, see if we could catch Katerina, the race had just started and I didn't want to settle already for third," Gomez Villafane said. "I ended just just riding off the front. I rode my own race, pedaled my little butt out on the flats and got to recover on the turns."

Rochette said she will leave for the Jingle Cross and Trek World Cup rounds in Iowa and Wisconsin, respectively, with a lot of confidence thanks to her victory.

"I'm happy about the start of my season and it helps me to know that my training is on the right path. I'm happy about it, I'm excited."

Full results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Maghalie Rochette (Can)0:44:30
2Katerina Nash (Cze)0:01:03
3Sofia Gomez Villafane (Arg)0:01:14
4Clara Honsinger (USA)0:01:24
5Crystal Anthony (USA)Row 4 - Cell 2
6Samantha Runnels (USA)0:01:36
7Sarah Sturm (USA)0:02:09
8Caroline Nolan (USA)0:02:12
9Haley Batten (USA)Row 8 - Cell 2
10Cassandra Maximenko (USA)0:02:35
11Serena Gordon (USA)0:02:52
12Jennifer Malik (USA)0:02:53
13Rebecca Gross (USA)0:03:05
14Hannah Finchamp (USA)0:03:36
15Kristen Legan (USA)0:03:45
16Emily Kachorek (USA)0:03:56
17Beth Ann Orton (USA)0:04:17
18Monica Lloyd (USA)0:04:27
19Amanda Nauman (USA)0:05:06
20Gabriella Sterne (USA)0:06:18
21Chelsea Weidinger (USA)0:06:35
22Turner Ramsay (USA)0:06:45
23Campbell Steers (USA)0:06:48
24Petra Schmidtmann (USA)0:06:50
25Lisa Cordova (USA)0:07:40
26Ivy Audrain (USA)Row 25 - Cell 2
27Nicole Jorgenson (USA)Row 26 - Cell 2
DNSCaroline Mani (Fra)Row 27 - Cell 2
DNSCourtenay Mcfadden (USA)Row 28 - Cell 2
DNSRuby West (Can)Row 29 - Cell 2
DNSAnne Usher (USA)Row 30 - Cell 2
DNSTori Riemersma (USA)Row 31 - Cell 2

 

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