Michael van den Ham and Christel Ferrier-Bruneau podium at Pan American championships
In their new championship jerseys, van den Ham and Ferrier-Bruneau earned third place results at the Pan Am championships in Louisville, Kentucky
Resplendent in their new Canadian national championship jerseys, Michael van den Ham (Garneau-Easton) and Christel Ferrier-Bruneau (SAS Macogep Aquisio) rode to third place at the Pan American cyclocross championships in Louisville, Kentucky on Sunday. It was American national champions Stephen Hyde (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) and Katie Compton (KFC Racing) who defended their continental championship titles.
Stephen Hyde powers to victory
Out of the gate, Tobin Ortenblad (Santa Cruz / Donkey Label Racing) and van den Ham took off establishing a lead in front of a select chase group containing Hyde, Jeremy Powers (Aspire Racing), Kerry Werner (Kona Factory CX Team) and Hector Riveros Paez (Stan’s NoTubes).
At the conclusion of the second lap, the front two were brought back and a lead group of six rode together. Hyde’s attack came on the fourth lap on the courses first climb. Hyde gained a gap of five seconds as the rider on his wheel wasn’t smooth through a turn slowing the whole group. The American champion was opportunistic and put the pressure onto the chasers.
Powers chase was determined but faded into the later portion of the race during which Hyde extended his lead lap after lap. Behind, Powers was joined by Ortenblad and Van den Ham but the former American and continental champion was unable to follow the pace. Ortenblad distanced van den Ham in the final sections of the last lap, enough to take second. The Canadian champion rolled over the line in third.
Compton starts strong and doesn’t look back
In the women’s race, three-time Pam-Am champion Compton. She used a good start and an early attack to put the entire field on the back foot. Katie Keough (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com) responded with Canadian champion Christel Ferrier-Bruneau (Sas Macogep Aquisio) doing everything in her power to stay in the race. The Canadian champ made the catch but would be chasing again.
Compton rode up a steep technical climb to distance Keough and that was the race as the American champion extended her lead with the gaps growing between the riders in the latter portion of the race. Ferrier-Bruneau held onto to take third. Maghalie Rochette (Clif Bar Team) was sixth.
