Katy Curtis (CMC/Bow Cycle) finishes 4 seconds clear of Natasha Elliott(Image credit: Jon Safka/Cyclingphotos.ca)
Natasha Elliott crosses the line in 2nd.(Image credit: Jon Safka/Cyclingphotos.ca)
Katy Curtis wins Toronto UCI Cross, Day 1.(Image credit: Jon Safka/Cyclingphotos.ca)
Katy Curtis leading Natasha Elliott with less than one lap remaining.(Image credit: Jon Safka/Cyclingphotos.ca)
Race winner Katy Curtis in full flight.(Image credit: Jon Safka/Cyclingphotos.ca)
Melissa Bunn, local favorite chasing in 4th place(Image credit: Jon Safka/Cyclingphotos.ca)
Amanda Sin leading a small chase group.(Image credit: Jon Safka/Cyclingphotos.ca)
Katy Curtis.(Image credit: Jon Safka/Cyclingphotos.ca)
Pepper Harlton leads Carter through the sand pit as Elliott struggles in behind.(Image credit: Jon Safka/Cyclingphotos.ca)
Marney Smiley on the run up.(Image credit: Jon Safka/Cyclingphotos.ca)
Pepper Harlton over the barriers on the first lap.(Image credit: Jon Safka/Cyclingphotos.ca)
Katy Curtis followed by Pepper Harlton (Juventus).(Image credit: Jon Safka/Cyclingphotos.ca)
Natasha Elliott leading on first lap.(Image credit: Jon Safka/Cyclingphotos.ca)
Women's Start.(Image credit: Jon Safka/Cyclingphotos.ca)
Natasha Elliott & Derrick St. John .(Image credit: Jon Safka/Cyclingphotos.ca)
Toronto UCI Cyclocross Day 1 Elite Women's Podium.(Image credit: Jon Safka/Cyclingphotos.ca)
Elite Women's Podium, Toronto UCI Cross, Day 1.(Image credit: Jon Safka/Cyclingphotos.ca)
Katy Curtis (CMC BOW- Cycle) plowed away from a small but quality field through the sand pit to take a solo victory in round one of the Toronto Cyclo-cross at Centennial Park on Saturday. Natasha Elliott (Garneau Club Chaussures-Ogilvy) was forced to settle for second place ahead of Pepper Harlton (Juventus) in third.
“I think I’m a cross racer now,” Curtis said. “I’ve always liked the idea of cross and started racing out west last year. Pepper Harlton dragged me out here this weekend. I’d say I was a bit of an unknown today. I think this kind of technical course suited me and I really liked the sand pit.”
The start list may have appeared thinned in comparison to the previous years when the event was a member of the North American Cyclo-cross Trophy (NACT) series. Although it is not apart of the series this year, many of the top Canadian riders were in attendance including defending champion Natasha Elliott (Garneau Club Chaussures-Ogilvy, Olympian Leigh Hobson (Hub Racing) and a trio of mountain bikers Amanda Sin (3 Rox Racing), Pepper Hartlon (Juventus) and Katy Curtis (CMC Bow Cycling).
Curtis took the race by the reins and assumed a leading position in the opening lap. The headstrong move came to a surprise to her competitors who were not aware of her cyclo-cross ability. She went on to initiate several attacks against her two lead rivals Elliott and Harlton.
Elliott won both events last year but struggled to stay with the two mountain bikers and spent the majority of the race closing gaps and clawing her way through each lap.
“I got a late start to training because I was really sick most of the this year with a parasitic infection,” Elliott said. “I took a lot of time off and started training in July. I’m having problems with my starts and I’m trying to work my way into it. I’m trying to build fitness as the season goes on.”
A chase group formed behind that included Hobson, Melissa Bunn and Sophie Matte (Stevens Racing p/b The Cyclery), Laura Bietola and Amanda Sin (3 Rox Racing).
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Harlton lost a few seconds through the sand pit and a few more after an untimely bobble on the off-camber hill at the start of the last lap. “I came out of the sand pit bad and I was trying to chase back on. I had a bit of adrenaline going and went through the corner a bit too hard. It was good to get the bugs out and the intensity going so I am happy with today.”
Curtis sprinted ahead of Elliott to take the lead through the sand pit on the last lap. She sprinted out of the sand with a slim lead, just enough to hold off Elliott for the win.
“I could never get in front on the sand and whoever got there first would slow down and because there was only one line there was no where to go,” Elliott said. “It affected the end of the race. I tried to get in front there but Katy got a good gap there, she had a good race.”
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Full Results
1
Katy Curtis (Can) CMC/Bow Cycle
0:42:27
2
Natasha Elliott (Can) Garneau Club Chaussure-Ogilvy
0:00:04
3
Pepper Harlton (Can) Juventus
0:00:24
4
Melissa Bunn (Can) Stevens Racing p/b The Cyclery
0:02:26
5
Leigh Hobson (Can) The Hub Race Team
0:03:09
6
Amanda Sin (USA) 3 Rox Racing
0:03:22
7
Marne Smiley (USA) Scott/Ollett Coaching
0:03:33
8
Sophie Matte (Can) Stevens Racing p/b The Cyclery
0:04:55
9
Laura Bietola (Can) 3 Rox Racing
0:06:06
10
Christiane Knobbe (Ger) 7thgroove/Re:Form Body Clinic
0:06:49
11
Emily Fisher (Can) Cycle Solutions/Angry Johnny's
0:08:30
12
Emily Flynn (Can) Emd Serono
0:08:41
13
Briana Illingworth (Can) True North Cycles Race Team
Kirsten Frattini has been the Editor of Cyclingnews since December 2025, overseeing editorial operations and output across the brand and delivering quality, engaging content.
She manages global budgets, racing & events, production scheduling, and contributor commissions, collaborating across content sections and teams in the UK, Europe, North America, and Australia to ensure audience and subscription growth across the brand.
Kirsten has a background in Kinesiology and Health Science. She has been involved in cycling from the community and grassroots level to professional cycling's biggest races, reporting on the WorldTour, Spring Classics, Tours de France, World Championships and Olympic Games.
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