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by Peloton Sports

Compton at Home at Thompson Speedway

The Elite Women’s racers were greeted to drizzle and a cold New England fall day for the first day of racing at the KMC Cross Fest in Thompson, Conn. With temperatures in the mid 50s, light rain and a stiff breeze, 33 women took the line for the C1 affair.

Emma White led out the women's field at the 2016 KMC Cross Fest UCI C1 on Day 1. photo: Wil Mathews

Emma White led out the women’s field at the 2016 KMC Cross Fest UCI C1 on Day 1. photo: Wil Mathews

After 44 minutes and 45 seconds in the five lap-race, 12-time American Cyclocross National Champion Katie Compton (KFC Racing pb Trek/Panache) of Colorado Springs crossed the line for the victory.

Ellen Noble (JAM Fund/NCC) of Kennebunkport, Maine, who is currently second in the individual points standings of the USA Cycling Professional Cyclo-cross Calendar (Pro CX), finished on the second step of the podium, with time of 45:29. The top three was rounded out by Rebecca Fahringer (Amy D. Foundation) of Concord, N.H. 1:12 behind Compton.

Overnight rain soaked the new 2.1-mile course at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park. On Friday night, part of the course was used for high school races and the Madison of Cyclo-cross. Compton rode Friday night for 25 minutes in the rain and cold in the Madison, but did not feel the effects for her win on Saturday.

“I rode the Madison just to do some openers and do the course at race pace. It’s just a fun event to do. My husband did the majority of it, so I didn’t do too much for today,” Compton said about arriving early in Thompson, Conn. “Last night the course was faster. The grassy, mud sections were much thicker today. I used the same (tire) pressure today as last night. I think the difference today were the sandy drops. Last night we had some of the off camber, but we didn’t have the sandy drops and steep run ups, but I think they were good additions.”


“She (Ellen) was riding really strong. She and I got a gap early, I think it was the first or second lap. I knew I just had to keep the gas on, and make it a hard race. I pushed the pace and made her chase,” commented Compton, a 12-time USA Cycling Elite Cyclocross national champion who last won at KMC Cross Fest in 2014 when the event was held in Providence, R.I.

Compton in control after dropping Ellen Noble. 2016 KMC Cross Fest UCI C1 on Day 1. photo: Wil Mathews

Compton in control after dropping Ellen Noble. 2016 KMC Cross Fest UCI C1 on Day 1. photo: Wil Mathews

“I have been doing the KMC Cross Fest enough times,” said Compton. “I really enjoy the race and it’s fun. I think (the new course) it’s awesome. I love racing at race car tracks. They have all the facilities here, they’ve got the garage, the bathrooms. It’s easy to wash the bikes, it’s easy to set up the tents, parking is easy. So all of it makes a cross race, especially in the rain, kind of easier.”

Compton is known to have taken a few turns behind the wheel at car tracks, and is quite familiar with them from both driving and racing in Europe.

Emma White, who took the holeshot, but could not handle a slippery descent later on first lap. She took a spill after the final off-camber section with a descent back to the track of the speedway, giving Compton and Noble the opportunity to pass. She recovered later to get into the chase group with two laps to go.

“I love racing at race car tracks. They have all the facilities here, they’ve got the garage, the bathrooms. It’s easy to wash the bikes, it’s easy to set up the tents, parking is easy. So all of it makes a cross race, especially in the rain, kind of easier.” -Compton

On those final two laps, the field was all strung out along the mix of spongy grass and race course pavement. Compton and Noble traded blows at the front, chased by Rebecca Fahringer, Emma White, Courtenay McFadden, Crystal Anthony, and Caroline Mani. McFadden finished fourth and White fifth.

At 21 years of age, Noble was the top U-23 finisher for the Elite women. White was second on the U23 podium, and Ruby West was third. “I came in for second (overall). I am really pleased. This season has been a lot of learning very quickly. It’s kind of hard to process all at once. I’m super happy with second, and be on another UCI podium, especially at a C1 is exciting,” said Noble about her overall finish in the Elite race. She does not plan to compete on Sunday in the C2 Elite Women’s race, taking a page out of teammate Jeremy Powers playbook.

“Today I tried to start a little bit more conservatively. I was still second wheel, towards the front, which is my strategy on these more slippery, technical races. I was trying to stay far up. Even if a small gap opened through a turn, I tried to remain calm, so that when Katie did go, because I knew she would really be a contender today, I’d be able to go with her,” added Noble. “So I really tried to ride within myself and ride my own pace. Eventually she got away from me. I tried to keep the pressure on and go absolutely as fast as I can.”

See video interviews in the photo/video gallery below the results.

Hyde Turns 2015 Silver into 2016 Gold

New Englander Stephen Hyde (Cannondale p/b CyclocrossWorld) eclipsed last year’s runner-up finish to win the Elite Men’s C1 race at the 2016 KMC Cross Fest. The Easthampton, Mass. native finished the eight-lap race under darkening skies in a time of 1 hour, five minutes and 25 seconds, keeping control of his Pro CX individual points lead.

Curtis White (Cannondale p/b CyclocrossWorld) controlled the front early, with Hyde and Danny Summerhill (Maxxis-Shimano) taking early spills. The cold, windy conditions never let up, and the mist turned to a light rain, making the course slippery on the off camber sections on the backside of the 2.1-mile course.

Curtis White rode with the strength of six men to take an early lead before teammate Hyde eventually took over. 2016 KMC Cross Fest Day 1, UCI C1 © Nin Lei

Curtis White rode with the strength of six men to take an early lead before teammate Hyde eventually took over. 2016 KMC Cross Fest Day 1, UCI C1 © Nin Lei

Jamey Driscoll (Raleigh/Clement) of Jericho, Vt. remained upright and fought his way to second, 19 seconds behind Hyde. Kerry Werner (Kona) edged out White at the line for third, just five more seconds off Driscoll. White claimed the top spot in the U23 category. Summerhill finished 12th.

Hyde rode with authority, riding across the run-up steps and over off camber sections while his competitors dismounted and ran, and many could not stay upright in the wet conditions. It was on the third lap that he made a move to pass Driscoll.

Hyde took advantage of Powers absence to take a commanding win at the 2016 KMC Cross Fest Day 1, UCI C1 © Nin Lei

Hyde took advantage of Powers absence to take a commanding win at the 2016 KMC Cross Fest Day 1, UCI C1 © Nin Lei

“I’m having fun racing this year,” said Hyde. “My teammates are riding really well. I wish Jeremy (Powers) was here to race today, he would have really liked this course. It would have been a really fun duel,” said Hyde, who finished second last year to Powers. “I guess from the first lap, everyone running down the big drop-in made this giant hole, where everybody was taking their first two steps. I put my front wheel right in it and flipped over. It was scary.

“I was going a little faster than he (Driscoll) wanted to go. I probably could have sat with him a little while, but we still have some racing tomorrow, and I wanted to get a really good practice in on this course. I wanted to go at a faster tempo, and that’s how it played out.”

This was Driscoll’s second Pro CX race on the podium, the last coming with a second place finish at Rochester Cyclocross. “Tonight I missed the opportunity to get on Hyde’s wheel when he took off. I just had a good, consistent race and didn’t really fade, and was able to move through people who did and hold the gap to the end.

“This course is a course of extremes. There’s just a lot of pedaling on pavement and then you were thrown into that super technical stuff, off camber and running up. And it may have been faster to run down one section, but I decided to loose a second or two to save the legs. It was cool to have that high-consequence, Euro-style features in the race. It was rare for the U.S.”

 

A flat tire took Werner out of the lead group halfway through the race. He worked his way back to the leaders on a new bike. “I had a good start,” said Werner. “Curtis went away early. I kind of figured he would bait a little bit, especially when Hyde turned it on. Hyde attacked. Then Jamie and I were riding together for third. I flatted and I went back to a group for fifth. I got a new bike, and turned it on. Curtis was fading, and I managed to get by him on the last half of the last lap. I am happy. My tire pressure choice was not the best, I ran it a little too low. Had I had a few more PSI’s, I may been able to avoid that flat and gone for second.”

“I wish Jeremy (Powers) was here to race today, he would have really liked this course. It would have been a really fun duel” -Stephen Hyde

The forecast for Sunday calls for improved conditions of overcast skies and highs in the 60s. This will be welcome for hundreds of recreational cyclists taking part in four courses of the Major Taylor Century and Gran Fondo New England. The UCI Elite Junior Men (17-18) will race for 40 minutes at 4 p.m. on Sunday, followed by the C2 race for UCI Elite Women at 5:15 p.m. and the C2 race for UCI Elite Men at 6:30 p.m. The men will race under the lights at Thompson Speedway.

“It was cool to have that high-consequence, Euro-style features in the race. It was rare for the U.S.” -Jamey Driscoll

See video interviews in the photo/video gallery below the results.

Junior Men Shine Under the Lights

After the Elite Women and Men raced, the Junior Men, in one of the few UCI Junior races in the country, raced under the lights at the Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park.

The race was a tight, suspenseful affair, with eight racers at the front of the race finishing within a minute of each other, with Boulder Junior Cycling’s Denzel Stephenson taking the win over Gunnar Holmgren (Louis Garneau Easton).

The pace was high, with some of the top Juniors turning in times similar to the Pro Men during their 42-minute race.

Photo and video gallery below the results.

The KMC Cross Fest is the fourth of eight Pro CX events in the U.S. for 2016-17. For detailed information, visit the official KMC Cross Fest web site. KMC Cross Fest organizers will produce video clips throughout the three-day event, with comprehensive race recap vidoes of the elite men and women Pro CX events and the UCI elite junior race. Follow the race on Facebook (KMCcrossfest) and on Twitter (@KMCcrossfest). Follow the Pro Cyclocross Calendar on Twitter at @USACProCX.

2016 KMC Cross Fest Full Results - Elite Women

RankBibNameAffiliationTimeSplit TimeLaps
11Katherine COMPTONKFC Racing p/b Trek/Panache44:45:009:125
23Ellen NOBLEAspire45:29:009:175
38Rebecca FAHRINGERAmy D. Foundation45:57:009:225
47Courtenay MCFADDENAmerican Classic46:13:009:205
56Emma WHITECannondale Cyclocrossworld46:23:009:195
65Crystal ANTHONYBoulder Cycle Sport/ YogaGlo47:07:009:335
72Caroline MANIRaleigh Clement47:20:009:295
84Amanda MILLERBoulder Cycle Sport/ YogaGlo47:29:009:195
910Arley KEMMERERFearless Femme47:33:009:255
1013Ruby WESTCannondale p/b CyclocrossWorld.48:37:009:385
1134Melinda MCCUTCHEONDNA Cycling - Cotton Sox48:45:009:285
1212Jena GREASERWomens Project Pedal p/b VO248:56:009:545
1319Julie WRIGHT49:31:0010:095
1411Cassandra MAXIMENKOVan Dessel Factory Team49:42:0010:155
1520Katherine NORTHCOTT49:48:009:595
1614Kathleen LYSAKOWSKIJoes Garage CX p/b BikeReg50:07:0010:195
1716Natasha ELLIOTTGarneau - Easton Cycling50:32:0010:575
189Kathryn CUMMINGJalapeno Cycling50:41:0010:095
1921Nicole MERTZNoCoast Racing powered by Intel51:02:0010:145
2018Rebecca GROSSKHS51:28:0010:145
2124Jennifer MALIKWomens CX Project51:34:0010:065
2239Turner RAMSAYKMS Cycling-Killington Mountain51:51:0010:295
2330Erica LEONARDCenturion Nextwave52:35:0010:295
2423Joanne GROGANNEXT-BMB53:02:0010:485
2517Stacey BARBOSSAColavita Midatlantic Womens Te53:15:0010:435
2626Clio DINAN53:24:0010:175
2727Erin FACCONEBack Bay Cycling Club53:44:0010:485
2832Elizabeth LUKOWSKI54:11:0011:125
2915Brittlee BOWMANHOUSE INDUSTRIES - WITHINGS - S32:21:0010:583
3047Jauron VETTERState 9 Racing32:45:0010:523
3148Elizabeth WHITEUniversity of Vermont33:17:0011:263
3231Rebecca LEWANDOWSKIRare Disease Cycling34:27:0011:173
3335Sara MELIKIANPedal Power Team-MA24:40:0012:312

2016 KMC Cross Fest Full Results - Elite Men

RankBibNameAffiliationTimeSplit TimeLaps
12Stephen HYDECannondale p/b CyclocrossWorld1:05:258:298
23James DRISCOLLRaleigh/Clement1:05:448:168
372Kerry WERNERKona1:05:498:058
44Curtis WHITECannondale p/b CyclocrossWorld1:05:498:118
55Travis LIVERMONMaxxis/Shimano1:06:358:368
69Dan TIMMERMANStans NoTubes Elite CX1:06:448:278
722Jack KISSEBERTHJAM Fund / NCC1:06:558:248
829Spencer PETROVCyclocross Alliance1:07:008:178
911Justin LINDINENBX/Narragansett Beer/Apex1:07:028:198
107Anthony CLARKSquid Bikes1:07:068:248
1116Cody KAISERLangeTwins/Specialized Title1:07:188:288
126Daniel SUMMERHILLMaxxis/Shimano1:07:228:148
1312Yannick ECKMANNBoulder Cycle Sport/ YogaGlo1:07:278:198
1410Jeremy MARTINFocus CX Team Canada1:07:288:188
1521Antonin MARECAILLEAvc Aix en Provence1:07:308:198
1613Mark MCCONNELL1:07:428:508
1724Cooper WILLSEYCannondale Cyclocrossworld1:07:479:048
188Jeremy DURRINNeon Velo1:08:008:428
1950Peter GOGUENRACE CF1:08:018:348
2015Lance HAIDETUCI CT: Team Illuminate1:08:128:548
2125Andrew JUILIANOROCK LOBSTER1:09:038:388
2217Dylan MCNICHOLASPOLARTEC1:09:098:478
2327Derrick ST JOHNVan Dessel p/b Hyperthreads1:10:119:168
2430Daniel CHABANOVHOUSE INDUSTRIES - WITHINGS - S1:10:519:318
2528Cole OBERMANRidebiker Alliance1:11:149:238
2618Robert MARIONCarpediem Racing1:11:198:538
2733Mathieu BELANGER-BARRETTEPivot Cycles/On The Edge1:11:198:538
2841Patrick COLLINSMinuteman Road Club1:11:449:198
2935Andrew BORDENSquadra Flying Tigers1:11:599:228
3062Michael OWENSCyclocrossworld1:12:259:208
@1Lap26Samuel OKEEFEHOUSE INDUSTRIES - WITHINGS - S9:356
@2Lap49Jules GOGUELY9:116
@2Lap58Michael LANDRY9:096
@2Lap57Nick KEOUGHChampion System p/b Keough Cycl9:196
@2Lap31Niklas PODHRASKISankt Ruprecht an Grub 479:156
@2Lap68Adam ST. GERMAINNEXT-BMB9:056
@2Lap32Noah BARROWCarriberra CC9:286
@2Lap59Brendan MCCORMACKCCB Racing10:006
@2Lap46Daniel FITZGIBBONSGreen Line Velo9:216
@2Lap44Samuel DRIESNo. 22 CX TEAM9:306
@3Lap47Eneas FREYRETTEndurance12:255
@3Lap60Andrew MCGOWANCharm City Cycling LLC9:515
@3Lap63Matt PERREAULT9:325
@3Lap40Ian CLARKENEXT-BMB9:495
@4Lap55Ian KEOUGHUCI CT: Astellas Cycling Team9:564
@4Lap51Abe GOORSKEYCarpediem Racing9:514
@4Lap69Jerod STONER9:304
@5Lap61Arthur MORANGreen Line Velo10:503
DNF19Grant ELLWOODBoulder Cycle Sport/ YogaGlo8:334
DNF38Nicolas CATLINSherpa Cycling9:554
DNF56Jesse KEOUGH9:562

2016 KMC Cross Fest Full Results - UCI Junior Men

RankBibNameAffiliationTimeSplit TimeLaps
133Denzel STEPHENSONBoulder Junior Cycling42:45:008:335
215Gunnar HOLMGRENGarneau Easton42:52:008:305
38Tyler CLARKKMS Cycling - Killington Mounta42:53:008:365
423Lane MAHERHands-On Cycling p/b GIANT43:07:008:335
511Kevin GOGUENRACE CF43:07:008:335
69Ross ELLWOODBoulder Junior Cycling43:16:008:395
730Brody SANDERSONCenturion Nextwave43:28:008:325
837Calder WOODRad Racing NW43:47:008:505
925Sam NOELCannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld44:16:009:095
1012Benjamin GOMEZVILLAFANE44:45:009:205
1135Caleb SWARTZTrek Cyclocross Collective45:12:009:175
1210Scott FUNSTONRad Racing NW45:32:009:105
134Camden BROOKSAP Junior Development45:38:009:115
1422Clyde LOGUEColonial Bicycle Company45:39:009:185
1513Gregory GUNSALUSAP Junior Development p/b Corne46:21:009:235
1628Vivien RINDISBACHERKMS Cycling - Killington Mounta46:29:009:255
1731George SCHULZVAN DESSEL FACTORY TEAM46:34:009:205
183Nicholas BEIRNEBetter Cycling/ Papa Johns46:37:009:125
192Ryan AITTANIEMICorner Cycle Cycling Club/AP Ju47:40:009:365
2017Gentry JEFFERSONAntietam Velo Club47:50:005
2136Daniel VAUGHNNorthampton Cycling Club47:55:005
2224Alex MCCORMACKHot Tubes Development Cycling T48:00:005
237Alexander CHRYSTALLCannondale Sports Lingo Jingo48:01:005
2438Zachary YOUNGBoltzStrong48:44:009:255
2532Donald SEIBNEXT-BMB48:46:009:345
266Alexander CHRISTIANTeam Handmade49:43:009:575
2721Scott LEONARDAngry Johnnys Cycling49:52:009:415
2834Philippe ST.LAURENTPivot Cycles-OTE49:58:009:575
2927Finnegan OCONNORCompetitive Edge Ski & Bike51:10:0011:005
3029Dylan ROCKWOODLionheart Junior Racing52:05:0010:105
315Owen BUSCHLionhearts Junior Racing52:05:0010:115
3216Thomas HULTONAWI Racing52:49:0011:005
@1Lap19Matthew JOHNSONLadies First Racing11:024
@1Lap20Leo KIRKPATRICK BAIRDKMS: Killington Mountain School11:284
@2Lap18Matthew JOGODNIKMontclair Bikery Development Te11:193

2016 KMC Cross Fest Day UCI C1 Photo and Video Gallery:

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