Racing against a true champion also makes you that much more of a champion. "I can't think of anyone who is as talented as is, as hard working as she is, as motivated as she is," Compton said. It would have worked out this way anyway."Īsked what it's like to find her career arc intersecting with that of the greatest woman cyclist of all time, Compton, 34, said it wasn't a source of frustration, but rather an honor. "Yeah, I may have lost a little bit of time with the mechanical, but I didn't lose a minute and a half. I was feeling like I should have opened up a little more, maybe should have pushed through a little harder, but I did everything I could and she was still a minute and a half up. "I wasn't feeling spectacular, and I have to be feeling spectacular to beat her. "She would have gotten me ," Compton said. There was no way that was going to happen."Ī proud and determined rider, Compton was unable to contain her emotions at the finish, though she was also philosophical about losing to a six-time world champion who is unquestionably the most talented woman to ever race a bicycle. And then the thought of not winning a medal at home was heartbreaking. Marianne had opened up a big gap, and I went into damage-control mode. "I've had plenty of practice chasing on this year, coming back from mistakes," Compton said. Compton took a frustrating third silver medal, her fourth podium appearance in seven years. Vos crossed the line 94 seconds ahead of Compton - light years in the world of international cyclocross - to take her fifth straight world title. The reigning Olympic and world road champion, who is revered by many as the Eddy Merckx of women's racing, recovered from a sub-par start to accelerate away from the rest of the women's elite field on the first of six laps.Ĭompton, who had an even worse start due to a dropped chain, was able to overtake every rider in her path, save one. However, like so many women racing on roads, velodromes and cyclocross courses around the world, Compton came up against Dutch champion Marianne Vos, a 25-year-old phenom who seems capable of winning at will, particularly when it counts most. And Compton had the overwhelming support of a patriotic crowd desperately hoping for an American victory. She had a close familiarity with the Eva Bandman Park course, at a world championship that was held, for the first time ever, on North American soil. The rainbow jersey that has eluded American Katie Compton for so many years was again just out of reach Saturday at Eva Bandman Park.įor many reasons, this championship was Compton's best chance to win a world title.ĪNALYSIS: Vos is boss | Nys is men's champĬompton was coming off her best-ever season, winning three World Cup events and the series overall, a first for any American. You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browser
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