Nash triumphs in Bend

Katerina Nash (Luna) once again proved her dominance in the US scene, taking another commanding victory, this time over the California Giant Berry duo Meredith Miller and Teal Stetson-Lee. The win, her fourth of seven races so far, sealed her overall win in the Exergy USGP series.

However large her lead was in the end, Nash's usual from-the-gun aggression wasn't apparent in Bend, as Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld's Nicole Duke was able to stay with the Czech champion until an untimely crash ended her challenge at the front.

"Nicole got away a little on the first lap and I had to close it," Nash said. "Then I kept a little gap but I eliminated it with a crash and had to start all over again. It was nice to ride with someone, though. She was definitely strong."

Nash said she has taken some time away from racing to train, and that her cyclo-cross specific skills had suffered for it. "If you don't race they go away quickly. The skills were a little rusty, but second half of the race was better."

The loose, gravel turns took their toll on a number of riders, and even without last year's mud and snow, Nash and the rest had to keep concentration or suffer the consequences.

"I tried to do my best on this course, it was interesting. It was pretty busy, it kept me focused the whole time. Crashing early, you have to focus even more."

Duke, who stayed with the Czech champion until the mid-point of the race, was eventually relegated to the chasing group after a mid-race crash.

Stetson-Lee chased her way into third position after a slow start, putting in a stunning second lap in which she moved up from ninth to third position.

"I kind of shocked myself," she said of the acceleration. "I think it comes down to having put really good training in, and it's paying off. In the second lap I was watching how the others were riding, and I was feeling strong. I put in an attack, and picking the riders off built my confidence."

She put up a brilliant fight for second but was disappointed to see the duel and when Duke slid out in a dusty corner.

"Duke pulled ahead of me on the last section of the last lap and then she went down in the corner. It would have been a battle royale, because she still had a lot left," Stetson-Lee said.

It was a heart-breaking moment for Duke, who looked set to step onto a Exergy USGP podium for the second time this season until she realized her derailleur was broken. She had to run her bike in, being passed by three riders and ultimately taking seventh.

Meanwhile, Miller had fought hard to bridge up to her teammate, and was able to enact a last-lap strategy to take second place. "I caught them before the steep section on the back side, and I had in my mind I was going ot run past them on the stairs, and then Nicole went down, so that's what I ended up doing [with Stetson-Lee]. I busted my butt up the stairs because from there it's really hard to come by anyone. Then I was able to pull it off."

With her second place, Miller moved herself even on points with the absent US champion Katie Compton in the series. She is now poised to take over the second placed spot behind Nash in Sunday's finale.

Nicole Duke speaks about her mishap

Meredith Miller recounts the last lap

Full results

Swipe to scroll horizontally
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna Pro Team0:43:36
2Meredith Miller (USA) California Giant Berry Farms/Specialized0:00:19
3Teal Stetson-Lee (USA) California Giant Berry Farms/Specialized0:00:20
4Julie Krasniak (Fra) Rapha-Focus0:00:53
5Susan Butler (USA) Hudz Subaru0:01:05
6Kaitlin Antonneau (USA) Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld.Com0:01:22
7Nicole Duke (USA) Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld.Com0:01:35
8Amanda Carey (USA) Kenda/Felt0:01:36
9Pepper Harlton (Can) Juventus Cycling Club0:01:47
10Andrea Smith (USA) Ladiesfirst Racing0:01:54
11Maureen Bruno Roy (USA) Bob'S Red Mill/Seven Cycles0:02:15
12Alice Pennington (USA) Team S&M0:02:25
13Katherine Sherwin (USA) Stan'S Notubes Elite Cyclocross Team0:02:31
14Kelsy Bingham (USA) Roosters/Bikers Edge0:02:33
15Coryn Rivera (USA) Team Exergy Twenty120:02:35
16Sage Wilderman (USA) Unsponsored0:02:46
17Serena Bishop (USA) Silverado Jewelry Gallery P/B Sunnyside Sports0:03:02
18Heather Clark (USA) Bend Memorial Clinic Total Care Racing Team0:03:38
19Courtenay Mcfadden (USA) Cycling Northwest0:03:47
20Sarah Maile (USA) Ventana Mountain Bikes0:03:55
21Devon Gorry (USA) Team Rambuski Law0:03:59
22Jessica Cutler (USA) Cucina Fresca0:04:14
23Kari Studley (USA) Team Redline0:04:23
24Beth Ann Orton (USA) Team S+M0:04:39
25Tina Brubaker (USA) Vanilla Bicycles/Speedvagen Racing0:04:48
26Rebecca Blatt (USA) Rebecca Blatt0:04:53
27Kristi Berg (USA) Cycle U-Popcap0:04:56
28Anna Dingman (USA) Cycleution0:04:57
29Melanie Lewis (USA) Cycle U-Popcap0:05:08
30Joele Guynup (USA) Condo Group/Shimano/Marin0:05:33
31Jenni Gaertner (USA) Raleigh America0:05:42
32Courtney Dimpel (USA) Team Rambuski Law0:05:59
33Shannon Gibson (USA) Stan'S Notubes Elite Cyclocross Team0:06:10
34Katrina Baumsteiger (USA) Team Rambuski Law0:06:38
35Marsa Daniel (USA) Team Group Health0:06:49
36Alexandra Burton (USA) Upper Echelon Fitness0:07:19
37Karen Oppenheimer (USA) Yard Sale Cyclocross0:07:37
38Patricia Dowd (USA) USARow 37 - Cell 2
39Jadine Riley (GBr) GBRRow 38 - Cell 2
DNFRebecca Gross (USA) Tough GirlRow 39 - Cell 2
DNFMarne Smiley (USA) Bob'S Red Mill CyclocrossRow 40 - Cell 2
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Exergy USGP series standings after 7 rounds
1Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna Pro Team314pts
2Meredith Miller (USA) California Giant-Specialized190Row 1 - Cell 3
3Katherine Compton (USA) Rabobank-Giant Off-Road Team190Row 2 - Cell 3
4Kaitlin Antonneau (USA) Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld161Row 3 - Cell 3
5Nicole Duke (USA) Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld157Row 4 - Cell 3
6Caroline Mani (Fra) CC Etupes138Row 5 - Cell 3
7Georgia Gould (USA) Luna Pro Team132Row 6 - Cell 3
8Susan Butler (USA) River City Bicyles-Ridley125Row 7 - Cell 3
9Chloe Forsman (USA) Race Club 1197Row 8 - Cell 3
10Teal Stetson-Lee (USA) California Giant-Specialized89Row 9 - Cell 3
11Mical Dyck (Can) Pro City Racing82Row 10 - Cell 3
12Katherine Sherwin (USA) Stans's NoTubes Elite Cyclocross Team74Row 11 - Cell 3
13Pepper Harlton (Can) Juventus Cycling Club64Row 12 - Cell 3
14Maureen Bruno Roy (USA) Bob's Red Mill p/b Seven Cycles52Row 13 - Cell 3
15Kelsy Bingham (USA) Roosters-Bikers Edge46Row 14 - Cell 3
16Laura Van Gilder (USA) C3 p/b Mellow Mushroom43Row 15 - Cell 3
17Alice Pennington (USA) Team S&M37Row 16 - Cell 3
18Andrea Smith (USA) LadiesFirst Racing33Row 17 - Cell 3
19Julie Krasniak (Fra) Team Rapha Focus30Row 18 - Cell 3
20Amanda Carey (USA) Kenda-Felt29Row 19 - Cell 3
21Emily Batty (Can) Subaru-Trek25Row 20 - Cell 3
22Coryn Rivera (USA) Marian University21Row 21 - Cell 3
23Devon Gorry (USA) Team Rambuski Law12Row 22 - Cell 3
24Linda Sone (USA) Cycle-Smart/Flanders11Row 23 - Cell 3
25Rebecca Gross (USA) Tough Girl10Row 24 - Cell 3
26Kari Studley (USA) Team Redline10Row 25 - Cell 3
27Meghan Korol (USA) Bob's Red Mill Cyclocross8Row 26 - Cell 3
28Sunny Gilbert (USA) Michelob Ultra - Big Shark Racing8Row 27 - Cell 3
29Ashley James (USA) KCCX Elite8Row 28 - Cell 3
30Annajean Dallaire (USA) Racin' for Riley p/b Alderfer Bergen8Row 29 - Cell 3
31Nicole Thiemann (USA) Team CF7Row 30 - Cell 3
32Sage Wilderman (USA)6Row 31 - Cell 3
33Heather Irmiger (USA) Subaru-Trek6Row 32 - Cell 3
34Serena Bishop (USA) Silverado Jewlry Gallery4Row 33 - Cell 3
35Crystal Anthony (USA) LadiesFirst Racing4Row 34 - Cell 3
36Heather Clark (USA) Bend Memorial Clinic Total Care Racing Team3Row 35 - Cell 3
37Jennifer Gaertner (USA) Raleigh America3Row 36 - Cell 3
38Courtenay McFadden (USA) Cycling Northwest2Row 37 - Cell 3
39Sarah Maile (USA) Ventana Mountain Bikes2Row 38 - Cell 3
40Lisa Hudson (USA) Feedback Sports2Row 39 - Cell 3
41Jeanne Fleck (USA) Velo Duluth - Twin Ports Cyclery2Row 40 - Cell 3
42Katy Curtis (Can) Cyclemeisters2Row 41 - Cell 3

Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*

Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets

After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59

Join now for unlimited access

Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1