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

Heavy overnight rains had all photographers wringing their hands in excitement. However, the sun and hundreds of amateur riders took away any hopes of mud-covered faces at the finish line ala Paris Roubaix. By 1:30 p.m., at the start of the Women’s Elite C2 race, the course was fast and tacky, and fans were happy to chase their favorite crossers around the Trek Factory backyard.

An international front row included the Clauzel sisters Helene and Perrine, (France), Caroline Mani (French, living in the U.S.), Ellen Van Loy, (Belgian), as well as Americans Raylyn Nuss, Erika Zaveta and Katie Keough. Notably absent from the front row included past World Cup winner Katerina Nash and recent Olympic mountain bike gold medalist Jolanda Neff, who were lined up per their points in the fifth row (Nash) and the very back (Neff).

At the whistle, the field stormed down the paved start-finish lane and onto the grass, the French taking the holeshot in 1-2 and 3 with Helene Clauzel first around the corner, followed by her sister Perrine and Mani, with Nash stuck in midfield and Neff literally at the very back.

The Cluazel sisters at the front. 2021 Trek CX Cup, Elite Women. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

The Cluazel sisters at the front. 2021 Trek CX Cup, Elite Women. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

Mani showed her great form coming off a strong summer of training and great results in the early U.S. UCI races, battling at the front with the Clauzel sisters. Helene would eventually distance herself from the other two as she wound through the woods, past the Secret Bar, over the logs, rocks and other features that make the backyard course unique.

Helene Clauzel started quickly, and only got passed by Neff. 2021 Trek CX Cup, Elite Women. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

Helene Clauzel started quickly, and only got passed by Neff. 2021 Trek CX Cup, Elite Women. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

While the French racers battled up front, both Nash and Neff were showing World Cup maturity by patiently making their way through the field, both of them connecting with Mani and the elder Clauzel sister, Perrine, with only a handful of laps to go. Neff made contact first, rolling right through Mani and Perrine, and on to Helene.

Neff and Clauzel. 2021 Trek CX Cup, Elite Women. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

Neff and Clauzel. 2021 Trek CX Cup, Elite Women. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

A bit later Nash made contact with Mani. Mani dug deep staying with Nash into the final lap, the two leaving Perrine Clauzel behind.

Meanwhile, up front, Neff connected with the younger Clauzel sister and made haste to leave her behind, showing the strength that comes from her late summer mountain bike adventures and a gold medal.

“I just rode,” said Neff after the race. “The legs just showed up to the party. It’s more fun when they do that!”

Back row, no problem for Neff. 2021 Trek CX Cup, Elite Women. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

Back row, no problem for Neff. 2021 Trek CX Cup, Elite Women. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

“It’s a very mountain bike-friendly course. It’s very good entertainment,” Neff said. “There’s never a dull moment on this course. It’s corner, up-down, wooden logs, rocks, stairs, downhill, uphill. There’s always something going on. You can’t get bored.”

After Neff, Helene Clauzel took the second step on the podium, but the battle for third was not done.

Mani leads Nash. 2021 Trek CX Cup, Elite Women. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

Mani leads Nash. 2021 Trek CX Cup, Elite Women. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

“I had seen that Caroline (Mani) was a little slower on the downhill by the factory (Trek Factory HIll), I went around her before we descended on our last lap,” said Nash, who landed on the third step. “At the bottom, I had a bike length on her and just went for it back up the hill and to the line.”

Nash leads Mani and Van Loy through the barriers. 2021 Trek CX Cup, Elite Women. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

Nash leads Mani and Van Loy through the barriers. 2021 Trek CX Cup, Elite Women. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

Mani finished fourth. Ellen Van Loy rode a strong and steady race, picking off tired racers, and finished fifth. Perrine Clauzel came in for sixth.

From last to first was no problem for the Olympic Gold Medalist Jolanda Neff. 2021 Trek CX Cup, Elite Women. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

From last to first was no problem for the Olympic Gold Medalist Jolanda Neff. 2021 Trek CX Cup, Elite Women. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

Looking ahead to Sunday, Neff is reserved.

“On Sunday, I will have to start at the back as well,” said Neff. “There will be much, much, much more competition like a World Champion is here (Lucinda Brand), and Marianna Vos. I think I always knew I had a better chance of it Friday. I had to make the best of it today.”

L to R: Helene Clauzel, Jolanda Neff and Katerina Nash. 2021 Trek CX Cup, Elite Women. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

L to R: Helene Clauzel, Jolanda Neff and Katerina Nash. 2021 Trek CX Cup, Elite Women. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

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

Full results are below.

2021 Trek Cyclocross Cup Results: Elite Women, UCI C2

RankBibNameAffiliationTimeSplit TimeLaps
145Jolanda NEFFTrek Factory Racing48:33.7:07.7
22Helene CLAUZELAS Bike Cross Team48:54.7:07.7
330Katerina NASHClif Pro Team49:16.6:57.7
41Caroline MANIPactimo fierce team49:25.7:07.7
57Ellen VAN LOYVondelmolen-De Ceuster cycling49:51.7:23.7
63Perrine CLAUZELAS BIKE CROSS TEAM50:15.7:36.7
74Raylyn NUSSSteve Tilford Foundation Racing50:37.7:10.7
89Madigan MUNROTrek Factory Racing50:40.7:16.7
98Kaitlin KEOUGHCannondale/Cyclocrossworld.com50:51.7:18.7
1018Sidney MCGILLPedalhead Race Room51:06.7:28.7
1111Caitlin BERNSTEINEaston Overland / MCGOVERN CYCL51:28.7:33.7
1213Anna MEGALETrek Cyclocross Collective51:55.7:26.7
1315Austin KILLIPSPratt Racing52:06.7:29.7
1419Marion NORBERT RIBEROLLEStarcasino CX Team52:09.7:38.7
1514Sunny GILBERTBlue Competition Cycles p/b Bui52:10.7:28.7
1610Harriet HARNDENTrek Factory Racing52:35.7:44.7
1712Emily WERNERKens Bike Shop52:53.7:32.7
1849Lauren ZOERNERAlpha Bicycle Company-Groove Si53:00.7:36.7
1928Lizzy GUNSALUSCannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.53:25.7:55.7
205Erica ZAVETAThe Pony Shop p/b KPMG53:34.7:59.7
2138Anna DOROVSKIKHOrion Racing53:58.7:51.7
2216Regina LEGGETrek Cyclocross Collective54:16.7:41.7
2334Maria LARKINDonkey Label Racing p/b FK Law54:39.7:57.7
2437Nicole BRADBURYTeam Hamilton54:45.7:51.7
2541Erin FELDHAUSENTrek Cyclocross Collective54:53.7:48.7
2640Elizabeth SHELDONCXHAIRS DEVO : TREK BIKES55:16.7:54.7
2727Stephanie TAPLINCascadia Wheel Co. Factory Team55:25.8:19.7
2846Siobhan KELLYBlack Dog Racing55:47.8:09.7
2939Rebecca GROSSZero D Racing39:33.7:47.5
3043Kelly LAWSONHardwood Next Wave39:57.8:09.5
3117Julie BROUWERSVondelmolen-De Ceuster cycling39:57.8:06.5
3247Molly CLARK-OIENParallel 44 Racing p/b Sanford40:17.8:15.5
3342Emily PAYONKBissell-ABG-Giant40:17.8:18.5
3448Katelyn WALCROFTHardwood Next Wave41:01.8:56.5
3526Leslie ETHRIDGEORNOT Elite Off-Road Team41:01.8:17.5
3644Corey COOGAN CISEKVeloRevolution=WP Cycles41:04.8:21.5
3733Caitlin NEUMAN41:04.8:10.5
3831Aubrey DRUMMONDLindenwood University41:24.8:33.5
3932Risa HUSTADTacoCat Racing32:54.7:48.4
4035Ryley MOSHERCompetitive Edge Racing32:54.7:39.4
4150Jordan Gwyen AUSTINxXx Racing - Athletico32:54.7:21.4
4236Abigail YATESLindenwood University19:12.10:26.2
DNS6Crystal ANTHONYLiv Racing Collective0
DNS29Michaela THOMPSONAlpha Bicycle Co. - Groove Silv0

2021 Trek CXC Elite Women’s Photo Gallery by Dave Mable:

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Sunny Gilbert is back, standing tall, smiling and making others smile. 2021 Trek CX Cup, Elite Women. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

Sunny Gilbert is back, standing tall, smiling and making others smile. 2021 Trek CX Cup, Elite Women. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

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