Three Canadian women in the top 12 of muddy Waterloo World Cup

Experience prevails as Nash takes over series lead with win

Rob Sturney September 22, 2019

Maghalie Rochette, winner of last week’s World Cup opener, led three Canadians in the top-12 of Sunday’s very muddy second round in Waterloo, Wisconsin. Rochette came fifth, Jenn Jackson finished seventh and Ruby West placed 12th. Vet Czech Katerina Nash, runner-up in Iowa, was best able to handle the conditions and a well-taken win put her in the World Cup lead.

Brit Evie Richards took the lead after a clean start and pushed out her gap, something she later characterized as getting “carried away”. Rochette was back in 8th and Jackson the best-placed Canadian in fourth. Nash recovered from two crashes to chase the Brit down, pressing ahead before the end of a 13:40 opening lap, one of three 3.09 km circuits. Ruby West was 11th.

The bikes were difficult to control, with two wheel slides leading to plenty of carrying. Conditions demanded regular trips to the pit. Some athletes were running 15 psi. One carry up was so steep that riders used the barriers to climb.

Rochette moved up and swapped places with compatriot Jackson on Lap 2, while Nash made Richards chase hard 20-seconds behind.

Richards chases Nash near the end of the second of three laps.

Richards was only 13-seconds behind going into the bell lap. Behind, American Clara Honsinger, third last week in Iowa, took over third from French rider Caroline Mani. Rochette was sixth, Jackson seventh and West twelfth.

A crash on a tip-toe descent pushed Richards farther behind Nash.

Richards’ gains at the end of Lap 2 were reversed after a slip on Lap 3.

Richards’ Swiss teammate Jolanda Neff took over third from Honsinger before overtaking the Brit. Neff ran out of course to catch Nash and the Czech took her first World Cup win since Iowa in 2017.

Rochette passed Mani for fifth, while Jackson and West kept their positions.

Rochette passed Mani for fifth place behind Honsinger.

The World Cup now takes a month long break before the third round in Bern, Switzerland.

2019-2020 UCI Cyclocross World Cup Round 2, Waterloo, Wisconsin, Elite Women
1) Katerina Nash (Czech Republic) 41:55
2) Jolanda Neff (Switzerland/Trek) +0:19
3) Evie Richards (Switzerland/Trek) +0:31
5) Maghalie Rochette (Canada) +1:29
7) Jenn Jackson (Canada/Easton-Giant) +2:07
12) Ruby West (Canada) +3:05