Americans poised to lead cyclo-cross season
The cyclo-cross season has only just begun, with the first of six World Cups held last weekend. With the results after that competition, the UCI has released the updated World Ranking list.
American Katie Compton, the winner of the women’s competition at the first round of the World Cup, leads the women’s ranking with 400 points, 20 points ahead of fellow American Laura Van Gilder and a wide 140 points ahead of Czech
Katherine Nash in third. Compton and men’s World Cup winner Zdenek Stybar have both been riding an undefeated season so far, with each of them winning six times in as many races. Stybar, Nash’s countryman, leads the men’s world rankings, but is joined by three
Americans in the top five.
"Cyclo-cross racing that we have in the States is great," said Timothy Johnson, third-place in the men’s world rankings. "We have a lot of support and the races are getting bigger and better each year, but the athletes need to race with the best more often
so by the time the Worlds do come we're ready for it, or as ready as we can be.”
Stybar lead with 440 points, 63 ahead of Johnson’s Cannondale teammate Jeremy Powers and 140 ahead of Johnson himself. Rounding out the men’s top five are French rider Francis Mourey and another American, Ryan Trebon. Rounding out the women’s top five are
Belgium's Daphny Van den Brand and Sanne Van Paassen, who finished behind Compton at the World Cup. Compton is not expecting to hold on to the lead for the entire season.
"We're spending more time at home this year so Katie can rest and train at home," said her husband Mark Legg. "We're cutting back on the racing after the last couple year's experience. We have to race US Nationals in early December, with a hard November
it doesn't allow Katie to train. This year she can train in November. [There's] no problem giving up the World Cup [lead], we're 100 percent committed to winning Worlds this season."
This year, the UCI made some changes to the rules and the points scheme in cyclo-cross competition. World Cups are now worth less compared to national events, which has benefited American and Belgian cross cyclists, the two nations that host the most events.
A World Cup win is now worth 200 points as opposed to 300 last year, while the points awards for Category 1 and Category 2 national races have been increased by a third, from 60 to 80 and 30 to 40 respectively.
"I think for the US riders that race a lot in the US, they will have a real advantage now because I think there are a handful of guys who will be able to win six cat 1 and five cat 2 races,” said American cyclist Jonathan Page. “I think in all of Europe,
there are probably only the same amount of guys or a couple more, that can win the max.”
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