Nash wins Bonelli Park US Cup round

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Katerina Nash (Luna Pro) backed up her win at the Mellow Johnny's Classic two weeks ago with another victory at Bonelli Park in California for round 2 of the US Cup on Saturday in California.  Nash won the cross country race ahead of her teammate Catharine Pendrel and Emily Batty (Trek Factory Racing).

The Czech rider dominated the elite women's cross country mountain bike race from start to finish.

Nash and her Luna Pro teammate Catharine Pendrel rode away from their competition on the first lap of the five-lap race. Behind them, Emily Batty (Trek Factory Racing) led the chase while Daniela Campuzano Chavez Peon (Mexican National Team), Georgia Gould (Luna Pro Team), Mary McConneloug (Kenda/Stan's NoTubes), Evelyn Dong (Backcountry.com) and Mikaela Kofman (Scott-3Rox) followed.

Near the end of lap three of the UCI category HC race, Nash rode the uphill A-line and got a gap on Pendrel, who opted for the longer, but less technically challenging B-line. Just a few seconds was all Nash needed to make her move. She applied pressure and quickly turned her advantage into a decisive lead.

Nash would ride the remaining laps, uneventfully, on her own at the front of the race on her way to victory.

Pendrel, once left to ride on her own, measured her effort for the duration of the race and successfully defended her second place while Batty and then Campuzano each rode solo to third and fourth places respectively.

The tightest battle was for the fifth and final podium spot. A chase group of four women formed in the final laps, including Gould, McConneloug, Dong and Kofman. While Gould and McConneloug faded as the race progressed, Dong and Kofman became stronger. In the end, Dong made a last lap move to secure herself a fifth place finish.

Bonelli Park drew an impressive 41 elite women to the start line.

After round two of four in the US Cup series, Nash continues to lead the series ahead of Pendrel and Batty.

The US Cup will continue with round 3, a UCI Category HC race in Fontana, California on Saturday, March 22.

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