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The cyclocross traveling circus continued the show Friday evening under the lights in Iowa City at the Johnson County Fairgrounds for the women’s UCI C1 showdown. The feels around the venue for the day showed a lot of fatigue and low energy as racers and staff (and your CXM team of journalists) have tried to recover as the travel to, perform, and travel from Fayetteville was very taxing.

With the fatigue from travel and racing, a lot of the top riders opted to sit out the Friday night race, which left the race wide open for anyone to claim the top step of the podium. When the sun went down and the temps dipped into the 50s, the women lined up for their 51-minute, 9-lap race.

2021 Jingle Cross Day 1 Elite Women. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

2021 Jingle Cross Day 1 Elite Women. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

With a long drag race of a start, Helene Clauzel took the holeshot and led the way up to the Mt. Krumpit run-up. Having experienced the run-up during first-lap chaos, this author welcomed a hop to the other side of the fencing this evening to watch the women power up the climb.

Clauzel and Van Anrooij at the front. 2021 Jingle Cross Day 1 Elite Women. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

Clauzel and Van Anrooij at the front. 2021 Jingle Cross Day 1 Elite Women. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

By the time the women reached the top, it was clear who would take control of the race as Shirin Van Anrooij, Clauzel and former U23 World Champion Marion Norbert Riberolle formed a group of three by the time they hit the sandpit.

Clauzel and Van Anrooij. 2021 Jingle Cross Day 1 Elite Women. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

Clauzel and Van Anrooij. 2021 Jingle Cross Day 1 Elite Women. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

Dangling behind in typical fashion was Caroline Mani, followed Helene Clauzel’s sister Perrine, Rebecca Fahringer, and Lizzy Gunsalus.

By lap two Van Anrooij showed her dominance on Mt. Krumpit as she started to gap Clauzel, while Norbert Riberolle was showing her struggle on Mt. Krumpit and lost contact with the two leaders.

When Van Anrooij went into lap three she had more than enough of a gap and continued to ride flawlessly throughout the rest of the race to dominate for the win.

Shirin Van Anrooij ran away on Mt. Krumpit. 2021 Jingle Cross Day 1 Elite Women. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

Shirin Van Anrooij ran away on Mt. Krumpit. 2021 Jingle Cross Day 1 Elite Women. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

Behind her, Clauzel held second place to the end, but the fight for third was getting exciting. The chase group that formed at the start of the race had splintered off, with Mani riding in fourth, Perrine Clauzel in fifth and Fahringer in sixth. With three to go Mani hit the run-up to Mt. Krumpit with Norbert Riberolle.

Becca Fahringer finished 6th. 2021 Jingle Cross Day 1 Elite Women. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

Becca Fahringer finished 6th. 2021 Jingle Cross Day 1 Elite Women. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

Molly Clark-Oien scales a muddy Mt. Krumpit. 2021 Jingle Cross Day 1 Elite Women. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

Molly Clark-Oien scales a muddy Mt. Krumpit. 2021 Jingle Cross Day 1 Elite Women. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

If you don’t know this already, Mani can run-up with speed. By the time the duo emerged, Mani had a solid eight seconds on Norbert Riberolle and held onto third to the finish.

Caroline Mani raced back to the podium on her Fuji Jari. 2021 Jingle Cross Day 1 Elite Women. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

Caroline Mani raced back to the podium on her Fuji Jari. 2021 Jingle Cross Day 1 Elite Women. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

“I tried to be consistent and I think finally my body warmed up better in the last few laps,” Mani said after her podium finish. “[I was] just attacking the run-up, because I know I can drop people when I run. I just made a gap and kept going”

Shirin Van Anrooji was in control at the 2021 Jingle Cross Day 1 Elite Women's race. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

Shirin Van Anrooji was in control at the 2021 Jingle Cross Day 1 Elite Women’s race. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

Next up is the Saturday afternoon C2, which should be fun to see who decides to line up to race the day before the final US World Cup.

Full results below.

Our 2021 UCI Cyclocross World Cup coverage is brought to you by Bike Rags Apparel with additional support from BikeIowa.

2021 Jingle Cross Day 1 Results: Elite Women

RankBibNameAffiliationTimeSplit Time
127Shirin VAN ANROOIJBALOISE TREK LIONS51:18:005:48
28Helene CLAUZELAS Bike Cross Team51:49:005:47
312Caroline MANIPactimo fierce team52:07:005:50
425Marion NORBERT RIBEROLLESTARCASINO CX TEAM52:25:005:58
515Perrine CLAUZELAS Bike Cross Team53:04:006:20
623Rebecca FAHRINGERKona Maxxis Shimano53:45:006:07
748Sunny GILBERTBlue Competition Cycles p/b Bui53:55:005:47
837Anna MEGALETrek Cyclocross Collective53:57:005:49
932Caitlin BERNSTEINEaston Overland / MCGOVERN CYCL54:16:006:01
1039Sidney MCGILLPedalhead Race Room54:17:005:55
1142Lizzy GUNSALUSCannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.54:31:006:04
1252Taylor KUYK-WHITERSCX - HOUSE INDUSTRIES56:08:006:38
@2Lap45Lauren ZOERNERAlpha Bicycle Company-Groove Si6:10
@2Lap77Jennifer MALIKParadise Garage Racing p/b Sman6:11
@2Lap41Nicole BRADBURYTeam Hamilton6:12
@2Lap28Erica ZAVETAThe Pony Shop p/b KPMG6:21
@3Lap50Austin KILLIPSPratt Racing6:13
@3Lap69Rachel GEITERTeam Walla Walla6:45
@3Lap82Cassidy HICKEYBear National Team6:15
@3Lap66Anna DOROVSKIKHOrion Racing6:27
@3Lap62Anne USHERFast Fun Nice p/b Wattie Ink6:22
@3Lap68Sophie RUSSENBERGERTeam S&M CX6:35
@3Lap47Siobhan KELLYBlack Dog Racing6:30
@3Lap81Erin FELDHAUSENTrek Cyclocross Collective6:16
@3Lap75Caitlin NEUMAN6:19
@4Lap65Katelyn WALCROFTHardwood Next Wave6:28
@4Lap61Ellie MITCHELLNWCX Project6:32
@5Lap84Molly CLARK-OIENParallel 44 Racing p/b Sanford6:25
@5Lap70Corey COOGAN CISEKVeloRevolution=WP Cycles6:32
@5Lap63Stephanie TAPLINCascadia Wheel Co. Factory Team6:39
@5Lap74Emily LEONARDBissell-ABG-Giant6:36
@5Lap60Kelly LAWSONHardwood Next Wave6:43
@5Lap71Abby STRIGELTeam Supernice6:43
@5Lap78Robin WILLIAMSGeoff???s Bike and Ski6:53
@5Lap72Natalie SMITHUltra Violet6:46
@6Lap67Sarah LARSONBonsai Endurance / Zone 66:53
@6Lap76Molly LOHRY7:00
DNF21Raylyn NUSSSteve Tilford Foundation Racing5:59
DNF49Maria LARKINDonkey Label Racing p/b FK Law6:24
DNF73Ryley MOSHERCompetitive Edge Racing7:52