Nash wins Pro XCT opener at Mellow Johnny's Classic

Katerina Nash (Luna Pro Team) opened the USA Cycling US Cup Pro Series at the Mellow Johnny's Classic with a win in the elite women's cross country mountain bike race on Saturday in Dripping Springs, Texas.

The race kicked off the first round of racing in the brand new US domestic series on a sunny and warm afternoon. Nash and two of her Luna teammates, Catharine Pendrel and Georgia Gould, formed a decisive breakaway on the first lap of the five-lap UCI Category 1-level women's race, but Nash and Pendrel would prove stronger and rode away from Gould.

For the rest of the race, Pendrel and Nash traded efforts, but on the final lap, Nash proved the stronger of the two women and won sprint to the finish, two seconds ahead of Pendrel. Gould rolled in solo for third place over four minutes later.

Emily Batty (Trek Factory Racing) worked her way up throughout the race to finish in fourth place while Erin Huck (Tokyo Joe's/VC Graphix.com) put in an impressive fifth place performance to secure the final podium spot.

After round one of four of the USA Cycling US Cup, the series standings match the results of the initial race. Nash leads the series ahead of Pendrel and Gould.

The USA Cycling US Cup presented by Sho-Air Cycling Group series will continue with round 2, a UCI Category HC race at Bonelli Park in California on Saturday, March 15.

Full Results

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Elite women
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna  Pro  Team1:21:19
2Catharine Pendrel (Can) Luna  Pro  Team0:00:02
3Georgia Gould (USA) Luna  Pro  Team0:04:28
4Emily Batty (Can) Trek  Factory  Racing0:05:27
5Erin Huck (USA) Tokyo  Joe's/VC  Graphix.com0:06:02
6Rachel Lloyd (USA) California  Giant  Strawberries/Specalized0:09:10
7Maghalie Rochette (Can) Luna  Pro  Team0:09:33
8Daniela Campuzano  Chávez  Peón (Mex) DC0:09:56
9Erica Tingey (USA) Team  Jamis0:10:18
10Larissa Connors (USA) Marin  Bikes  Factory  Team0:11:12
11Christina Gokey-­-Smith (USA) Orbea  USA/  Colonels  Sho  Air0:11:27
12Shayna Powless (USA) BMC  project  Dirt  presented  by  KMC0:12:20
13Amy Beisel (USA) Tuff  Shed/Liv  Giant0:13:15
14Evelyn Dong (USA) Backcounty.com0:14:13
15Erin Alders (USA) LIV/  Giant0:15:04
16Jessica Rawlins (USA) Bicycles  Plus0:15:08
17Amanda Nauman (USA) SDG/Felt0:16:37
18Laura  Lorenza Morfin  Macouzet (Mex) Shots  and  Kisses  Turbo0:17:07
DNFLisa Uranga (USA) PACCRow 18 - Cell 2
DNFVicki Barclay (USA) Stan's  NoTubes  Elite  Women's  TeamRow 19 - Cell 2
DNSChloe Woodruff (USA) Backcountry.comRow 20 - Cell 2
DNSCheryl Sornson (USA) Team  Rare  Disease  CyclingRow 21 - Cell 2
DNSSerena Gordon (USA) All  Access  RacingRow 22 - Cell 2
DNSNina Baum (USA) Stan's  NoTubes  Elite  Women's  TeamRow 23 - Cell 2
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Elite women US Cup brief standings after one round
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Katerina Nash (Czech Republic) Luna Pro Team30pts
2Catharine Pendrel (Canada) Luna Pro Team27Row 1 - Cell 3
3Georgia Gould (United States) Luna Pro Team25Row 2 - Cell 3
4Emily Batty (Canada) Trek Factory Racing23Row 3 - Cell 3
5Erin Huck (United States) Tokyo Joe's/VC Graphix.com21Row 4 - Cell 3

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