Cyclo X Valmont tests elite women’s sprinting legs

Catharine Pendrel, Nicole Duke, and Amanda Miller sped off the front early in the elite women’s Cyclo X race at Valmont Bike Park

So often at Front Range cyclocross races the winner crosses the finish line alone. The elite women’s Cyclo X series race at Valmont Bike Park on October 19 bucked that trend as Nicole Duke (Marin-Spy) and Boulder Cycle Sport’s Amanda Miller rounded the last turn before the start/finish straight together. About 100 meters of hypoxia stretched before them.

Amanda Miller puts the hurt on Nicole Duke in the sprint for the win at Valmont Bike Park.

When the sprint to the line began Miller wasn’t sure how it would end up, she said later. The prior Friday night at Cross of the North thirteen year-old Katie Clouse beat her in a two-up sprint, and that memory had planted a seed of doubt in her mind.

But Miller took the win, her first so far this season as a new member of the formidable black and orange team kitted team. Duke finished right behind her.

Third place Caitlyn Vestal (Feedback Sports) came in 38 seconds later for third, alone. Evol Racing’s Melissa Barker, also solo, arrived in fourth place. Both women are having very strong seasons to-date.

Kate Powlison holds off Kristin Weber in the sprint for fifth at Valmont Bike Park

Then a group of four took the last corner and stormed toward the finish line, raising a collective plume of dust as they pounded on the pedals in search of fifth place. The group consisted of Kate Powlison and Kristen Legan of Evol Racing, Kristin Weber (Boulder Cycle Sport), and Margell Abel (Natural Grocers). Legan dropped off the pace. Powlison proved best of the remaining three, but Weber was right there, back by less than a second.

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