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Maghalie Rochette dominates opening day of Supercross Cup

Canadian champion takes strangle hold on the race early and did not relent

November 19, 2016
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Maghalie Rochette took charge early and held on for a dominant win on the opening day of the Supercross Cup in Suffern, N.Y. on Saturday. The third round of the Northeast Cyclocross Series took place under sunny skies with dry and fast conditions.

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The Canadian cyclocross champion was front and center as the elite women took off with Rochette taking the early lead leaving Crystal Anthony and Becca Fahringer behind to chase.

Riding clean laps, Rochette opened up a comfortable gap to her two nearest chasers. With three laps to go Rochette continued to set set a smooth tempo as she rode clean laps holding onto her lead.

Hearing the bell, Rochette held a 20-second lead over Anthony with three riders behind in podium contention. Rochette had plenty of time to raise her arms to celebrate her victory as she took her third win in as many weeks after winning on the opening day of the Northampton International last weekend and taking the Canadian title the Saturday before that. Fahringer recovered after sliding out in a corner to take third with Kathryn Cumming in fourth.

With the win, Rochette moves into the Northeast Cyclocross Series lead.

In the elite men’s race, Jérémy Martin got off to a strong start. With seven laps to go, the Canadian national cyclocross champion lead the race but slipped out opening the way for Jake Kisseberth to take the head of the race. Martin chased back and retook the lead but the racing was fast and furious with any minor mistake proving costly. A group of five formed containing Martin but the Canadian champion lost contact with the leaders after a bobble on an off camber section that proved costly.

With just over three laps to go, Curtis White put down the hammer trying to distance the three remaining riders. Kisseberth was able to respond and with one lap to go Travis Livermon and Cooper Willsey had joined the leaders with Martin now out of the picture. Kisseberth lead into the races final turns with White close behind and in a two-up sprint, Kisseberth took the win with Livermon coming across in third.

Racing continues in Suffern tomorrow with the series final weekend the NBX Gran Prix of ’Cross scheduled for Dec. 3 and 4.