Katie Compton and Steve Chainel win on Day 1 of 2016 Trek CXC Cup
Watch the C1 race live on Sunday
Katie Compton corners on her way to the victory
Compton celebrates her win
Michael van den Ham rides with Rob Peeters
Chainvel surrounded by Telenet-Fidea riders
Chainvel celebrates his victory
The 2016 Trek CXC Cup started off Saturday in Waterloo, Wisconsin. The course located behind the Trek factory was once again hosting the weekend’s action. The course had undergone some tweaks in anticipation of the higher caliber field which is in North America ahead of the first two rounds of the World Cup. This year’s event featured many Europeans and most of the top North American’s who are using the race as a tune-up before the two rounds of the World Cup in Las Vegas on Wednesday and next weekend in Iowa.
The organizers elected to hold the C2 race on the Saturday, which is different than most cyclocross weekends where the C1, with its higher points and payout, starts the weekend off with the C2 on the Sunday. This was interpreted by many competitors as an attempt to keep the top riders in town for the full weekend. On Saturday Jeremy Powers and Steven Hyde, two of the top American’s on the North American UCI circuit and at national’s last year, did not race. Caroline Mani of France, a World Cup podium finisher last year, did not start the Saturday race either.
The women’s race started with a fast start with Amanda Miller taking the pull position. She was soon overtaken and gapped by eventual winner Katie Compton who went solo off the front. Compton was chased by Ellen Noble who rode solo to second place. Ellen Van Loy and Miller were left to dual for the third podium spot for the remainder of the race. Maghalie Rochette had a strong start in the lead group but suffered a mechanical and dropped out early in the second lap of racing.
In the men’s field the front row of starters was full of European racers. With Powers and Hyde sitting out the race the North American defense was left to Canadian Michael van den Ham who moved up from a third-row start and the low 20s on the first lap to catch up to Rob Peeters. The two would duel for sixth and seventh spot with a late bobble placing Van Den Ham in eighth at the finish. Meanwhile, the front of the race was all about Frenchman Steve Chainel who slowly reduced the front group down to himself and three Telenet-Fidea riders. Despite several attacks from the teammates, Chainel claimed victory in an exciting last lap of racing. Telenet-Fidea riders would occupy the next five spots at the finish line.
Avg HR for yesterday’s @TrekCXCCup was 187bpm. For reference, that’s about as high as she goes! #trekcxccup
— Michael van den Ham (@MVDHcyclocross) September 18, 2016
Sunday’s C1 race is sure to be an exciting race with world champion Wout VanAert and U.S. national champion Jeremy Powers joining the field. For full results from the weekends racing visit livelynxresults.com. Watch the action live on Sunday at www.trekbikes.com
