Annemarie Worst (777 CX) won for a second consecutive day at Rochester Cyclocross taking the C2 victory in the rain and mud on Sunday. Maddie Munro (Trek Factory Racing) finished second, holding off a late charge by third-placed Caroline Mani (Alpha Groove Silverthorne).
Sidney McGill (OneBike Racing) struggled on the last lap but held on to fourth, while Raylyn Nuss (Steve Tilford Foundation) was fifth.
“It started raining and raining, so everything changed. It was really slippery,” Worst said after the finish about how the course changed in one day.
The Belgian dominated the C1 race on Sunday with sunny and dusty conditions. In 24 hours the Rochester Cyclocross became more of Rochester ‘Mudcross’ as heavy rains turned Saturday’s dusty dirt trail into slippery mud and puddles.
Caroline Mani (Alpha Groove Silverthorne) took the holeshot, with Worst in fourth position, just behind Sidney McGill (OneBike Racing) and Hannah Arensman (Ignition p/b Rigd-Leitner). The speed was noticeably slower as the riders picked their way across the mud to find new lines.
Worst then took the lead in the first series of turns, leading the bunch up the Belgian stairs, Lizzie Gunsalus (Steve Tilford Foundation) tagging directly on her wheel. Mani had slipped back in the main group.
The steep embankment near the Erie Canal at The Wall Run-Up proved extremely challenging, only Worst digging her shoes into the mud to make the climb cleanly, and the majority of the peloton slided backwards, literally, not able to get traction. A huge bottleneck formed with riders grasping trees and course tape to pull themselves up the climb.
Worst continued to ride on with only McGill and Maddie Munro (Trek Factory Racing) in tow. They completed the first lap in 19 minutes, two minutes slower than Saturday. Emily Werner (Ken’s Bike Shop) rode 15 seconds in lone fourth after the first lap, while Mani with Lauren Zoerner (Alpha Bicycle Co – Groove Silverthorne) trailed as a tandem.
On the second brutal climb up ‘mud hill’ at The Wall, Worst again dug in the mud on the right side of the hill to come out in front, Munro and McGill taking the left side near the trees to stay in touch. Well behind, almost a minute back, Gunsalus and the others had more success on the climb and continued forward momentum this time around.
Worst began to crank up the pace on a flat section, as she and her companions all made bike changes in the pits. From there, Worst began to gain space, Munro hanging…
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