Katie Compton wins 2011 Fidea Scheldecross Antwerp
Katie Compton (Rabobank-Giant) fought her way back from a pair of early mechanicals to win the Fidea Scheldecross Antwerp on Saturday.
Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.
Katie Compton (Rabobank-Giant) fought back from a pair of early mechanicals to win the Fidea Scheldecross Antwerp on Saturday.
After a good start, a couple of technical issues — a clipped skewer that caused a slipped wheel followed by a loose set of handlebars — had the U.S. national champion visiting the pits.
“One of the Fidea girls clipped and opened my skewer on the first tight turn after the start so I rode with my wheel slipping out for a section before I hit the sand, then ran to the pit for number 2 bike,” Compton told VeloNews. “Then I had my bars slip as soon as I dropped into the next sand section, so I had to ride that a long way to the next pit. Just bad luck more than anything else.”
Despite the problems Compton managed to stay close to the action.
Hanka Kupfernagel (Stevens) “was drilling it at the front and I thought for sure I was really going to have to work hard the whole race to catch back on,” said Compton. “She was running really well, too.”
But the U.S. champion caught Kupfernagel on the second lap in the long, switchbacked sandy section, and then rode away from her. “I didn’t see if she finished, so maybe she had a mechanical,” Compton said.
Belgian champion Sanne Cant (Boxx) tried to match Compton, but finally cracked and fell off the pace.
“I cruised after that and just tried to run the sand well and be smoother,” said Compton. “It was a good day to work on the sand skills.”
Cant hung on for second with Sophie de Boer (Telenet-Fidea) third.
Quick results
- 1. Katherine Compton, Rabobank-Giant /li>
- 2. Sanne Cant, Boxx Veldritacademie
- 3. Sophie De Boer, VZW Young Telenet Fidea
- 4. Nikki Harris, VZW Young Telenet Fidea
- 5. Gabriella Day