Canadian champion Maghalie Rochette wins at the Northampton International Day 1
Using a technical wooded section to get a gap, Rochette powered away to victory for her first win in the maple leaf kit
A week after earning the elite women’s Canadian national cyclocross title, Maghalie Rochette (Team Clif Bar) won on Day 1 of the second round of the Northeast Cyclocross series in Northampton, Massachusetts. With 47 women on the startline, Rochette would take the win ahead of Emma White (Cannondale powered by Cyclocrossworld) who finished in second and Crystal Anthony who came across the line in third.
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Rochette got the hole shot and a group of four quickly formed off the front with the Canadian champion accompanied by Anthony, White and Ellen Noble. The group sped through the first lap doing the 3.2 km circuit in nine minutes.
White and a Rochette together, a bit of a gap to Noble and Anthony #ProCX pic.twitter.com/dMmRrraonw
— Northeast Cyclocross Series (@NECXSeries) November 12, 2016
With three laps to go, Rochette and White had gapped the other two with White in the lead but Rochette was always close behind. White attempted a number of accelerations forcing Rochette to answer and prevent gaps from opening up.  With two laps to go the pair had 15 seconds on Anthony as Noble fell off the pace of the podium contenders.
As Rochette and White excited the technical wooded area, Rochette had a gap and pushed the pace to extend it to a couple of seconds. With one lap to go, she was clear of White.
Maghalie Rochette with the win! #ProCX @NohoCX @TeamClifBar pic.twitter.com/tV97VheNHi
— Northeast Cyclocross Series (@NECXSeries) November 12, 2016
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With plenty of time to celebrate, the Canadian champion crossed the line celebrating her first win in her fresh maple leaf kit. On Sunday, the racers tackle almost the exact same course in the reverse.
In the men’s race, Canadian men’s cyclocross champion Jérémy Martin (Focus CX Team Canada) was the top Canadian in fifth as Curtis White (Cannondale) road to victory.
The Northeast Cyclocross series continued next weekend in Suffern, NY at the Suppercross Cup before wrapping up the first weekend in December at NBX Gran Prix of ’Cross in Warwick, Rhode Island.
