The front row included Canadian Champion (Emily Batty), Italian Champion Eva Lechner (Clif Pro Team), USA Champion Erin Huck (Scott 3Rox Racing), and former World Champion Catharine Pendrel
(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
Hannah Finchamp (Clif Pro Team) easily handling a log barrier
(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
Rebecca Gross (KHS) hammering up the long fire road climb
(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
Kate Courtney (Specialized) riding in second place with one lap remaining
(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
Kate Courtney (Specialized) leading the race during the second lap
(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
Emily Batty (Trek) settled into third place but could not quite bridge up to the leaders
(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
Haley Smith (Norco) leading some Clif riders up the long fire road climb
(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
USA Marathon Champion Rose Grant racing in fifth place with one lap remaining
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Canadian Champion Emily Batty on a very bumpy descent
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Shana Oiwkess (Sho-Air) riding well mid-race
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Alexis Skarda (Stans No-Tubes) riding a steep singletrack climb
(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
Catharine Pendrel (Clif Pro Team) riding to a third place finish
(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
Kate Courtney (Specialized) congratulates Erin Huck (Scott 3Rox Racing) on her victory
(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
Lea Davison (Clif Pro Team) climbing out of the saddle mid-race
(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
Erin Huck (Scott 3Rox Racing) descending with the race lead and one lap remaining
(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
Maghalie Rochette (Clif Pro Team) on a steep descent with one of her team-mates trailing her
(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
Italian Champion Eva Lechner (Clif Pro Team)
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The newest member of the Clif Team, Lea Davison
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Haley Smith (Norco) took the hole-shot
(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
Conditions for the race were the best in years due to recent rains in California
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Eva Lechner leading several of her Clif team-mates up a long climb with Emily Batty at the back
(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
Erin Huck (Scott 3Rox Racing) spent much of the early part of the race chasing Kate Courtney
(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
Erin Huck (Scott 3Rox Racing) on one of the several high-speed descents
(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
Kate Courtney (Specialized) crossing a man-made log barrier
(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
The fans were out in large numbers at Bonelli Park
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A lone rider descents through the spring flowers at Bonelli Park
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Kate Courtney (Specialized) leading a select group up the backside climb during lap one
(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
Catharine Pendrel (Clif Pro Team) riding solidly in third place
(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
Some of the seven woman Clif Squad congratulating each other after the race
(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
L'Equipe says that the French cyclist is set to retire immediately, forgoing the rest of this season and the final year of his contract with Tudor Pro Cycling