Van Gilder rides away with Cyclo-Smart victory

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UCI World cyclo-cross points leader Laura Van Gilder (C3-Athletes Serving Athletes) took a convincing victory at the 20th annual Cycle-Smart International held at Look Park in Northampton, Massachusetts on Saturday. Sally Annis (Crossresults.com p/b JRA Cycles) sprinted for second place ahead of Maureen Bruno Roy (Bob’s Red Mill p/b Seven Cycles) in third.

“The UCI will recalculate the World ranking after the World Cup in Koksijde in November,” Van Gilder said. “I get to keep that status for now despite the fact that other women are gaining points. I’m not following it that closely because I would imagine that I won’t be ranked number one after that particular World Cup and that’s OK. It was not a goal for me to lead the UCI ranking, it has been more of a nice surprise.”

The Cycle-Smart International is a member of the Verge New England Championship Cyclo-cross ten-round series. The double-header marks rounds five and six of the series that is currently led by Sally Annis after placing second on the day.

Former series leader Andrea Smith (Ladies First Racing) blasted off the starting rows and straight into the hole shot at the start of the UCI Elite women’s 40-minute race. A combination of efforts and attacks from the front of the field resulted in lead group of four riders that include Van Gilder, Bruno-Roy, Annis and Arley Kemmerer (C3-Athletes Serving Athletes).

“Both Mo Bruno Roy and Sally Annis were with me and then not with me a couple of times during the race,” Van Gilder said. “I think that was because of bobbles they each had that created the gaps that I was eventually able to capitalize on.”

Van Gilder and Bruno Roy looked evenly matched and set a pace fast enough to cause Annis and Kremmerer to fall off pace. Van Gilder did not wait to use her well-known sprint to take the win and instead gained a small lead over the run up with two laps to go and rode in safely with the victory.

“It is nice to have done this race twice and then come back and have a big improvement,” said Van Gilder. “I felt strong in the sand and did the run up well enough. But I felt like the long stretches suited my road power ability and I was doing the technical corners very well. All in all I was very pleased with how I rode, compared to other years here.”

Bruno Roy lost a few seconds following bobble heading into the last lap was joined by Annis. Each pushed the pace on sections of the course that best suited their individual abilities. They approached the finishing straight away together and Annis won the two-woman sprint to the line for second place.