Katerina Nash celebrates after winning Cyclo-cross Planet Bike Cup 2011 – Cycling Update
Luna Pro team’s Katerina Nash put in a tremendous performance in the Exergy Cyclo-cross US Gran Prix (USGP) Planet Bike Cup to take her fourth consecutive victory on Saturday, September 24. The race started and finished in Sun Prairie.
The 33-year-old Czech National Champion took a total of 40 minutes and 34 seconds to cover the distance of the race and gain a lead of 17 seconds ahead of Georgia Gould (USA). Meredith Miller (California Giant Cycling) was in third place with a difference
of 28 seconds.
After winning the stage, Nash told Cyclingnews, "It was a fast start today and I got a little gap on the group, they stayed together, and I was riding by myself. Close to the end of the race my teammate Georgia put in a good attack and split up the group
and finished second."
The route of the stage was difficult for the cyclists as it contained a twist, barriers and some difficult turns. During the first half lap, Nicole Duke (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com) was in good form and was quickly passed by River City team’s Sue
Butler as she managed to gain a lead and chase Nash.
A group of seven chase cyclists managed to get away including, Nash, Georgia Gould, Teal Stetson-Lee, Meredith Miller (Cal Giant-Specialized), Ashley James (KCCX Elite), Emily Batty (Subaru-Trek), Mo Bruno Roy (Bob's Red Mill) and Kaitlin Antonneau. Nash
took a lead of 10 seconds ahead of the other cyclists while she continued her efforts and extended her lead by 20 seconds.
However, the four cyclists Duke, Miller, Gould, Harlton and Chloe Forsman worked hard together in the front of the field while in the fourth lap, Miller took a chance and attacked to gain a lead to bridge across to Nash.
Nevertheless, Nash extended her lead in the second lap and the two cyclists Gould and Miller rode roughly five seconds apart while the new group formed including, Harlton, Batty and Forsman.
Batty and Forsman showed some good mountain skills over the high climbs but in the final lap, Nash increased her pace and continued her efforts to first place ahead of the other cyclists without any difficulty.
She further added, "The USGP series is the only full series that I am competing in so it is important to me to do well."
The two cyclists Kelly Benjamin and Pam Hinton did not finish the stage while the three cyclists Kimberly Flynn, Kari Studley and Kim Thomas did not start the race.
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