Katie Compton (Trek-Panache) has been in a league of her own since winning her first US championship 13 years ago in Portland, Oregon. Sure, she has had some strong challengers in past years, including Georgia Gould (Clif Bar Pro Team), Meredith Miller and Rachael Lloyd, but they all knew they were up against the best US cyclo-cross racer of all time.
Compton has backed away from a full World Cup schedule this season after many years of battles that led to success in the World Cup overall, but some bitter disappointments at the world championships. Ironically, this year may be Compton’s best shot at a World Championship win. Not only has she done less exhausting travel, but she has also finally unlocked some secrets to better health, so far avoiding the kinds of injuries that have plagued her entire career.
It is fair to say that Compton has never looked better on her bike, and seems to be having more fun than in many years.
Cyclingnews recently caught up with the US champion, who remarked, "Yes, it’ll be my 13th attempt at winning an Elite national championship, and I’m really looking forward to racing. I’m feeling well and the training has been good. Usually I’m pretty tired at this point in the season, but since we followed a different schedule this season and have been home during Christmas, I have more energy and excitement to race.”
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Compton added, “I'm looking forward to these nationals more now than I have in quite a few years. It sounds like Hartford could be cold and wet or snowy and that'll make for some exciting racing.”
Despite her somewhat laid-back travel schedule, Compton is currently ranked fourth in the world UCI rankings. She won the Jingle Cross World Cup, the Pan-American Continental Championships and nine other UCI races. Generally speaking, if Compton did not win domestically, it was because her long-time rival Katerina Nash (Clif Bar Pro Team) did.
The US women have been strong for several years now. They currently have five women ranked in the top 20 UCI racers and eight in the top 30. Ellen Noble (Aspire Racing), who is currently ranked 11th, will be seeking to defend her under-23 title in Hartford. Gould will be absent this year due to expecting a child.
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