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Keough victorious at Jingle Cross as Rochette nabs 9th

Marianne Vos leads World Cup after two rounds

September 29, 2018
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American Kaitlin Keough, second place to Sanne Cant in last year’s UCI Cyclocross World Cup, won on home soil Sunday in Jingle Cross’s second race of the 2018-2019 series. In taking her first World Cup triumph, Keough beat out last week’s winner Marianne Vos, 2016 Cup winner Sophie de Boer and Brit Evie Richards. Canada’s Maghalie Rochette picked her way through the field from 16th to 9th.

The Course

A little bit of rain sprinkled just before the start near Iowa City to make the conditions greasy. The women would face four laps of the 3.1-km course. Mount Krumpit was the most daunting feature on the course.

Early Laps

Italy’s Eva Lechner claimed the hole shot and immediately pried out a lead. Vos joined her out front and took over as the Italian had some difficulties. Vos finished Lap 1 three-seconds in front of Lechner, de Boer, Keough and Richards. Vos, de Boer and Keough took new bikes and the rain continued to gunk up the machinery. Rochette was top Canadian at 16th, +0:54.

On Lap 2, de Boer and Keough separated themselves from the other chasers before Keough grabbed the lead. Vos crashed and the American forced a bigger gap, with de Boer moving into second.

Latter Half

The top three riders all hopped on fresh bikes going into Lap 3. Keough kept her gap as de Boer put some space between herself and her compatriot Vos. Rochette was up to 12th.

Keough led de Boer by 23-seconds when she heard the bell. Rochette kept rising, tipping into the top-10 for the first time. Vos took over second spot but a mistake allowed not only de Boer but Richards to pass her.

Keough was thrilled with the win, especially after her 19th last week in Wisconsin. Vos had to punch her way past de Boer to make the podium as Richards claimed the runner-up spot. Rochette finished in 9th place.

Vos leads Richards by 15-points at the top of the rankings.

The third round of the World Cup is in Bern, Switzerland on October 21.

2018-2019 UCI Cyclocross World Cup Round 2, JingleCross, Iowa, Elite Women

1) Kaitlin Keough (USA) 40:55
2) Marianne Vos (The Netherlands) +0:31
3) Sophie de Boer (The Netherlands) +0:37
9) Maghalie Rochette (Canada) +1:42
35) Dana Gilligan (Canada)
39) Siobhan Kelly (Canada)