November 19/16 17:18 pm - Supercross Cup Day 1 results, Rochette wins

Posted by Editoress on 11/19/16
 

Maghalie Rochette takes a commanding win, Jack Kisseberth victorious in a sprint finish

New this year to the Vittoria Northeast Cyclocross Series presented by Cycle-Smart, Supercross Cup featured technical off-cambers mixed into a flowy grass track. In the Elite Women's Category 2 (C2) race, Canadian National Champion Maghalie Rochette (Clif Pro Team) added another commanding win to her resume over second-place Crystal Anthony (Maxxis-Shimano Pro Cyclocross). Group racing would rule the day in the Elite Men's race, with Jack Kisseberth (JAM/NCC) overtaking Curtis White (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com) in a sprint finish.

Women
Coming into the weekend, Rochette was ranked 14th on the USA Cycling Professional Cyclo-cross Calendar (Pro CX) standings for elite women. Day one of Supercross Cup will make her second C2 win on the Pro CX schedule.

Rochette established her lead early, taking charge of the pace from the beginning of the first lap. Rochette, Anthony, and Rebecca Fahringer (Amy D. Foundation) would establish significant gaps, leaving the rest of the field to duke it out for fourth place. The three would maintain their positions from lap one and remain there until the finish.

Rochette commented on the physical demands of the course. "It was super hilly and it was actually fun because there was a lot of off-cambers and the descents were super fast so that was pretty cool, but it was definitely hard. We were kind of battling each other but battling the course as well because it was so hilly and physically hard. It was more everyone for themselves. That's why I didn't hesitate at the first lap. I got a little gap on the steps and then I saw that I was alone and I just attacked after that because I thought like, it's not windy and it's so hilly that it's not worth riding in a group so I just tried to get away from the front and ride as smooth as I can."

Men
In the Men's C2 race, group tactics would come into play until the very final turns. After a great deal of back and forth between the leaders, including an impressive attack by Cooper Willsey (Furman University Cycling Team) in the final lap, but he couldn't catch and pass Travis Livermon (Maxxis-Shimano) who finished third. Kisseberth would lead into the final turns, out-kicking White.

Kisseberth played it smart to hold on for his first UCI win. "That was the deepest I've gone in a race. My stomach was not doing too good and Curtis (White) was drilling it. (Travis) Livermon was drilling it. I didn't think I was gonna hang for most of it but it worked out. Thank God the finish was after a downhill, because those guys were drilling it up the hills. The sprint into the finish is pretty short, so I knew after pit two if you're leading that you're gonna win the race. I knew I had a gap, I checked a little earlier and it was probably a couple seconds, five seconds, that's all you need really."

Second place White retains the Vittoria Series overall lead and currently sits third in the ProCX Men's individual standings.

Results from Day 1 at Supercross Cup, a UCI C2 held at Stoney Point, NY USA