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Elite Women: Compton Dominates and Doubles

Day 2 of Ruts N’ Guts saw brighter skies and warmer temperatures in Broken Arrow, Okla., but a familiar face on the top step of the podium. The weekend sweep was made by 12-time U.S. National Cyclocross Champion Katie Compton (KFC Racing p/b Trek/Panache).

Katie Compton leads from the start on Day 2 of 2016 Ruts 'N Guts. © Christina Luera / Cyclocross Magazine

Katie Compton leads from the start on Day 2 of 2016 Ruts ‘N Guts. © Christina Luera / Cyclocross Magazine

“This course, you think it’s kind of flat, but it’s not the case at all,” said Compton, who continues to lead the USA Cycling Professional Cyclocross (Pro CX) standings for Elite Women. “It’s technical, and twisty. There are enough mountain-bikey sections; I think you can easily get a couple of bike length’s gap. And if you go hard after those sections, it’s easy to stay off the front and keep a gap.”

Katie Antonneau (Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld.com) leads Crystal Anthony (Maxxis-Shimano) and Sunny Gilbert (Michelob Ultra/Big Shark) 2016 Ruts 'N Guts. © Christina Luera / Cyclocross Magazine

Katie Antonneau (Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld.com) leads Crystal Anthony (Maxxis-Shimano) and Sunny Gilbert (Michelob Ultra/Big Shark) 2016 Ruts ‘N Guts. © Christina Luera / Cyclocross Magazine

The opening lap at Chisholm Trail South Park saw Amanda Miller (Boulder Cycle Sport/YogaGlo) set a blistering pace from the gun, taking the holeshot from Amanda Nauman (SDG – Muscle Monster). Nauman would hit the deck hard in the third corner and never see the front of the race again, dashing her hopes of repeating as champion from last year.

Katie Compton on here way to doubling up at the 2016 Ruts 'N Guts Day 2. © Christina Luera / Cyclocross Magazine

Katie Compton on here way to doubling up at the 2016 Ruts ‘N Guts Day 2. © Christina Luera / Cyclocross Magazine

Miller continued on the front for the first two opening laps, really stretching the field out. It was only Compton who could bridge up and eventually make the pass. Compton would hold the lead for the next four laps to take the win. Rebecca Fahringer (Amy D Foundation) would finish third for the second time this weekend as well as Sunny Gilbert (Van Dessel) taking forth. Katie Antonneau (Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld.com) finished fifth.

Elite Women's podium Day 2 of Ruts 'N Guts. Katie Compton (first), Amanda Miller (second) and Rebecca Fahringer (third). © Christina Luera / Cyclocross Magazine

Elite Women’s podium Day 2 of Ruts ‘N Guts. Katie Compton (first), Amanda Miller (second) and Rebecca Fahringer (third). © Christina Luera / Cyclocross Magazine

“We drive home to Colorado tomorrow, and then I will have almost four weeks at home” Compton said about her plans leading up to the U.S. Cyclocross National Championships in Hartford, Conn. in early January. “It will be nice. We’ll be home for Christmas. I go back East for Nationals and then head over to Europe for a last World Cup and World’s. For me it is a different schedule this year.”

Elite Men: Ortenblad Finishes in a Bunch Sprint and Repeats

A visibly exhausted Tobin Ortenblad (Santa Cruz Factory Racing) crossed the line and literally rode into the sunset as he secured the sweep at Ruts N’ Guts. Like Saturday at Chisholm Trail South Park, it would come down to a bunch sprint of three men on Sunday.

The selection was made much earlier on the now-reversed course with a group of five grabbing the early lead. Danny Summerhill (Maxxis-Shimano) and Kerry Werner (Kona Factory CX Team) went shoulder to shoulder through the holeshot. Summerhill would lift the pace early to create the gaps, but leading into the third lap he was walking up the finishing chute carrying his broken machine.

Close-up of the Elite Men's start on Day 2 of the 2016 Ruts 'N Guts event. © Christina Luera / Cyclocross Magazine

Close-up of the Elite Men’s start on Day 2 of the 2016 Ruts ‘N Guts event. © Christina Luera / Cyclocross Magazine

Werner, Travis Liverman (Maxxis-Shimano), Ortenblad and Todd Wells (SRAM/TLD), the surprise strongman of the day, would stay away for most of the race until one lap to go. That was when James Driscoll (Raleigh Clement) finally tracked the leaders down, but it was clear he had spent everything to make that bridge. Wells began to drift off the back with Driscoll, leaving the final turn to Ortenblad, Werner and Liverman.

Elite Men on the flyover - Day 2 of the 2016 Ruts 'N Guts. © Christina Luera / Cyclocross Magazine

Elite Men on the flyover – Day 2 of the 2016 Ruts ‘N Guts. © Christina Luera / Cyclocross Magazine

Ortenblad had the better line and legs to take the win. Just behind was Liveman in second, who passed Werner in the final sprint to the line. Wells just missed the podium in fourth place, with Driscoll on his wheel for a very strong fifth.

Troy Wells (Team Clif Bar) leads Yannick Eckmann (Boulder CycleSport/YogaGlo) - Day 2 of the 2016 Ruts 'N Guts. © Christina Luera / Cyclocross Magazine

Troy Wells (Team Clif Bar) leads Yannick Eckmann (Boulder CycleSport/YogaGlo) – Day 2 of the 2016 Ruts ‘N Guts. © Christina Luera / Cyclocross Magazine

“I could see Driscoll chasing,” Ortenblad said about the four-man battle in the Sunday C2 contest and Driscoll making a charge. “I knew if Driscoll caught on it would be even harder to win. So I just tried to stay toward the front. But, I really didn’t have the legs to push the pace today. So I was lucky to hold on today and be able to outmaneuver guys in the end.”

Elite Men's podium Day 2 of Ruts 'N Guts. Tobin Ortenblad (first), Travis Livermon (second) and Kerry Werner (third). © Christina Luera / Cyclocross Magazine

Elite Men’s podium Day 2 of Ruts ‘N Guts. Tobin Ortenblad (first), Travis Livermon (second) and Kerry Werner (third). © Christina Luera / Cyclocross Magazine

This was Ortenblad’s fourth win of the Pro CX year in C2 events. He also had a double-win at CXLA at S. El Monte, Calif. Ruts N’ Guts marks the eighth and final weekend of racing with a combination of C1/C2 events. The Pro CX season concludes next weekend with C2 races at North Carolina Grand Prix in Hendersonville, N.C. and Resolution Cross Cup in Garland, Texas.

2016 Ruts N Guts Day 2 Results - Elite Women

PlaceBibNameTeam
129COMPTON KatherineKFC racing p/b Trek&Panache
24MILLER AmandaBoulder Cycle Sport/YogaGlo
35FAHRINGER RebeccaAmy D Foundation
47GILBERT SunnyMichelob Ultra/Big Shark
53ANTONNEAU KaitlinCannondale/Cyclocrossworld.com
66ANTHONY Crystalmaxxis-shimano pro cyclocross
79RUNNELS SamanthaRidebiker p/b Sho-Air
813GHENT ChristaEvol Elite Racing
98GOKEY-SMITH ChristinaMatrix/RBM
1010MOORE CatherineTrek CXC
111NAUMAN AmandaSDG - Muscle Monster
1222MANESS PaytenRenewed Cyclocross
1320DOUGHERTY FionaBicycle World
1412STEPHENS LaurenSpeedy Ace Training
1521GINSBACH SarahTopo Designs Cycling Club
1611ZOERNER AshleyAlpha Bicycle Company Vista Subaru

2016 Ruts N Guts Day 2 Results - Elite Men

PlaceBibNameTeam
13ORTENBLAD TobinSanta Cruz Factory Racing
230LIVERMON TravisMaxxis-Shimano Pro Cyclocross
34WERNER KerryKona Factory CX Team
419WELLS ToddSRAM/TLD
52DRISCOLL JamesRaleigh Clement
69VAN DEN HAM MichaelGarneau - Easton Cycling
77KRUGHOFF AllenBoulder Cycle Sport/YogaGlo
813HAIDET LanceRaliegh Clement
914KAISER CodyLangeTwins / Specialized
1010WELLS TroyTeam CLIF BAR
118ECKMANN YannickBoulder CycleSport/ YogaGlo
1220FIX BrannanAlpha Bicycle Company - Vista Subaru
1324WELLS JakeStan's NoTubes Elite CX
1415DECKER CarlGiant Factory Off Road Team
1517JUILIANO AndrewVOLER/CLIF/HRS/ROCK LOBSTER
1621PURVIS John
1712RICHEY CraigGarneau - Easton Cycling
1818PARBO JoachimBiciclista
1922LASLEY JacobSPCX pb RK Black
2027CLOUTIER TylerRenewed Professional Cyclocross
2125POSTIER DylanRenewed Cyclocross
2211HECHT GageAlpha Bicycle Company - Vista Subaru
2343STEPHENS MatBicycles Plus Racing
2441JOHNSON KyleTeam Yacht Club
2542BROMLEY ColinPHENOM p/b Phobio
2628SANDUSKY RobMatrix/RBM
2716MACKEY SkylerKCCX Elite Cyclocross Team
2823SELANDER Bjorn
2926DRUMMOND ChrisSPCX p/b RK Black
3031SUMMERHILL DanielMaxxis-Shimano
3146BADDICK ChrisBoulder Cycle Sport/YogaGlo
3240STABY BrianCX Nation
3344WATKINS BenSPCX p/b R.K. Black