Katie Compton dominates day 1 at KMC Cyclo-cross Festival
Katie Compton rides away from the field on a wet, windy circuit at Roger Williams Park to win day 1 in Providence
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Katie Compton (Trek Cyclocross Collective) took the flowers on day one of the KMC Cyclo-cross Festival in Providence, Rhode Island.
The U.S. national champion took off in the second lap on the wet, windy circuit at Roger Williams Park, and quickly built a 12-second lead.
European champion Helen Wyman (Kona Factory Racing), Courtnay McFadden (GE Capital-American Classic) and Rachel Lloyd (Cal Giant) joined forces for a pursuit, with Meredith Miller (Noosa Professional Cyclocross Team) in turn chasing them.
Wyman and Lloyd managed to give McFadden the slip, but with one lap to go Compton was still alone, 33 seconds ahead of her two pursuers. Then Lloyd slipped around Wyman and started trying to pry open a gap.
Wyman fought back, and the two dueled for the runner-up spot until Lloyd finally put a little daylight between herself and the European champ.
And a half-minute after Compton took the victory, Lloyd took the runner-up spot a half-minute down. Wyman hung on for third.
“I’m in a good spot right now,” Compton said. “I’m definitely working harder and suffering more than I usually do this time of year.”