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Rochette queen of Kings CX

Canadian national champ sweeps Cincinnati race weekend

Maghalie Rochette looks to be on top of her preparations for the upcoming Canadian cyclocross national and Pan-American championships this year.

Rochette (Specialized X Feedback Sports), who currently holds both title jerseys, swept the women’s elite field at Kings CX in Cincinnati over the weekend. The Canadian won both Saturday’s muddy UCI C1 event and Sunday’s faster C2 race.

With her wins in Ohio, Rochette jumped up the UCI’s cyclocross rankings. The Canadian national champion now sits sixth, and is the top-ranked North American. Katie Keough (Cannondale Cyclocrossworld.com) is the next best North American in ninth.

West joins Rochette on C1 podium Saturday

Rochette wasn’t the only Canuck having a good time in Cincinnati. Ruby West was third, behind Rochette and second place Caroline Mani (Pactimo / Colorado Proud). It’s an excellent result for the under-23 national champion West, who is racing for Pivot-Maxxis this season.

Jenn Jackson (Easton-Giant p/b Transitions Life Care) just squeezed into 10th, making for three Canadians in the elite women’s top-10 Saturday.

Michael van den Ham, Canadian national champion and teammate to Jackson on the new-look Easton-Giant p/b Transitions Life Care cyclocross team, was eighth on Saturday.

Saturday’s elite men’s C1 race was won by Kerry Werner (Kona Maxxis Shimano). Lance Haidet (Donnelly Aevolo) was second, and Curtis White (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com) third.

Rochette sweeps on Sunday

After winning a muddy C1 race on Saturday, Rochette proved equally dominant in faster, power-friendly conditions in Sunday’s C2 event. In the second day of racing in Ohio, the Canadian and Pan American champion led Katie Clouse (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com). Clara Honsinger (Team S&M CX) was third.

West was 13th on Sunday, followed directly by Jackson in 14th.

Van den Ham was eighth again on Sunday. This time, Curtis White (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com) took the win. Gage Hecht (Donnelly Aevolo) was second. Kerry Werner backed up his win Saturday with a third place finish on Sunday.