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Providence’s KMC Cyclocross Festival: Jeremy Powers and Katie Compton win

U.S. national champions Jeremy Powers and Katie Compton dominated the opening day of the KMC Cyclocross Festival, winning their respective races by large margins in the rain and muck in Providence, R.I. With more than 10,000 spectators watching on, the best 'cross riders in North America took to the start lines to battle for the prestige and points on offer in the UCI C1 events.

Jeremy Powers
October 5, 2014
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Jeremy Powers
Jeremy Powers (No. 29) leads at the start of the elite men’s race of Providence’s KMC Cyclocross Festival. Canada’s Mike Garrigan (No. 77, left) follows. Photo: Wil Matthews

U.S. national champions Jeremy Powers and Katie Compton dominated the opening day of the KMC Cyclocross Festival, winning their respective races by large margins in the rain and muck in Providence, R.I.

With more than 10,000 spectators watching on, the best ‘cross riders in North America took to the start lines to battle for the prestige and points on offer in the UCI C1 events.

In the women’s race, a group broke away from the gun, featuring Arley Kemmerer, Rachel Lloyd, Gabby Durrin, Courtenay McFadden, Helen Wyman and Katie Compton. By the end of the first lap, Compton had ridden clear on the technical course, with Wyman, Lloyd, and McFadden chasing hard behind. McFadden was soon dropped from the chase, leaving Wyman and Lloyd to battle for second spot as Compton extended her lead. That situation remained unchanged all the way to the finish, where Compton had time to celebrate, taking the win for her Trek Factory Racing team. Lloyd eventually bettered Wyman in the contest for the remaining podium spots. Canada’s Maghalie Rochette came in seventh while Mical Dyck, also of Canada, came 15th. Rochette was the top under-23 rider.

In the men’s race, Jeremy Powers put on a similar show, riding away from the field early to take the win for his Rapha/Focus squad. Tim Johnson was next best, trailing Powers alone for most of the race to take second at the finish. Lukas Winterberg and Ben Berden duked it out for third, trading attacks in the final few laps before deciding their order in a sprint. Winterberg came out on top to join Powers and Johnson on the podium. Canada’s Michael Garrigan came in 16th, our country’s best. Andrew L’Esperance  of Norco Factory Team was the next best Canadian in 23rd.  His teammate, Ottawa’s Evan McNeely was 30th. Other Canadians in the mix included Leandre Bouchard (32nd), Peter Glassford (41st), Thierry Laliberte (42nd), Jean-Philippe Thibault-Roberge (46th), Felix Belhumeur (55th) and Thomas Gauthier (67th).

The racing continues Sunday in Providence, with UCI C2 events on tap for both the men and the women.