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Maghalie Rochette sweeps Rochester giving CX Fever successful launch party

Ahead of North American UCI Cyclocross World Cups, Maghalie Rochette is flying with two wins to open the season

September 10, 2018
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A week after officially launching her CX Fever cyclocross specific racing project, Maghalie Rochette dominated the opening UCI race of the North American calendar. Rochester Cyclocross was Rochette’s first opportunity of the season to show her commitment to cyclocross over mountain biking was justified and she did so in style sweeping the weekend’s two UCI races.

Her chief rival on the weekend was Ellen Noble who has been racing mountain bikes while balancing her cyclocross ambitions after joining the Trek Factory racing program for 2018. The temperature in Rochester, NY was significantly cooler than in past years to the enjoyment of spectators and racers alike but with dry conditions, the racing was dusty and fast.

Saturday UCI C1

Noble took the holeshot on Saturday speeding off the start line in Genesee Valley Park. Only Rochette could follow and the pair worked together to establish a comfortable lead on the chasers. Rochette launched an attack early on the fourth of sixth laps but Noble closed the gap and chased back but there was no respite as Rochette went again and this time dispatched Noble. The next two laps were about padding out that lead but she could not let up with Noble chasing hard.

By the finish line, Rochette had enough of a gap to post up crossing the line 21 seconds ahead of Noble. In the race for third place, Crystal Anthony out foxed Caroline Mani. Canadians Ruby West finished in seventh with Jenn Jackson in ninth.

Sunday UCI C2

The scrip on Sunday was similar with Noble getting off the startline fastest with Rochette. Kaitie Keough chased in third. Noble faltered on lap two sliding out in a corner allowing Rochette to ride clear with an eight second-gap over Keough. West was having a good start riding in third position but the race was far from over.

Rochette padded her lead to thirty seconds by the third lap but Noble chased back to second place from seventh. In the end, Rochette would seal her second victory of the weekend with Noble 32-seconds back and Keough in third. West slid to 11th by the finish line.

The UCI Cyclocross World Cup season gets underway on Sept. 23 in Waterloo, Wisconsin. On Sept. 29 the series heads to Iowa City for the Jingle Cross World Cup.