Global Cyclocross Queen – Queenstown Down, Napier To Go!
International cyclocross superstar Katie Compton is gearing up to ride the New Zealand Cyclocross National Championships in Napier this weekend, fresh from her weekend win in Queenstown on a course she has pronounced the most beautiful in the world.
Compton, one of the world’s most successful cyclocross athletes with 12 World Cup wins and three world championship medals to date, took out first place as a guest rider in the first National Series elite women’s race last Sunday, held in Queenstown as part of the Winter Festival.
The 33-year-old American, the highest ranked cyclocross rider ever to compete in New Zealand and the USA elite women’s title holder for the last eight years running, travels to Napier this week for the New Zealand National Championships, and to run a clinic for aspiring cyclocross riders.
Cyclocross involves an action-packed, down and dirty 40-60 minute lap race through mud, sand and even snow with riders having to hoist their bikes over a series of obstacles throughout the course. Laps are usually around 3km in length.
“With a backdrop of the Remarkables mountains, the Queenstown course is the most beautiful I have seen anywhere in the world and certainly as challenging as any. So I’m excited to see what Napier has to offer, and excited to pass on my experience at the clinic for local riders,” Compton says.
Compton says cyclocross is a fast and furious sport just made for adventurous Kiwis. She should know – she is married to one, with husband Mark Legg-Compton placed third in the men’s elite race in Queenstown. “New Zealand is a great international cyclocross destination in the making and I have no doubt it is only a matter of time before we see a world champion from here,” Compton says.
The view is shared by Compton’s sponsor, One Square Meal. One Square Meal, a world-first, patented nutritionally balanced meal bar, is part of the Cookie Time Limited portfolio. CTL co-owner Michael Mayell says One Square Meal brought Compton to New Zealand to help grow the sport.
“Cyclocross is the fastest growing two-wheeled sport in the US and attracts huge crowds in Europe. Kiwis are great bikers, with world champions already in a couple of disciplines, and I’m sure we’ve got a cyclocross world champion waiting in the wings,” Mayell says.
Queenstown Mountain Bike Club race series organiser Carey Vivian says having a rider of Compton’s stature in action is extremely exciting for the National Series and for sports fans.
“Katie really is an inspiration to see in action. She is not only an icon in cyclocross, but also in the work she does with the Paralympics movement, where she has competed for gold both at the Athens Paralympics and the 2004 Paralympics World Championships by piloting a tandem with blind partner Karissa Whitsell,” Vivian says.
Andrew Barlow, NZ Cyclocross Series coordinator and Championships event director, says cyclocross has a big future in New Zealand. The key to success lies in getting younger riders into the sport. “We have to start with nurturing top cyclocross riders in juniors and then develop them to the elite ranks. Our New Zealand riders also need to travel to Europe and the US where cyclocross has a high level of competition so they can build on the experience needed to be globally competitive.”
“Overall though I think many of our young riders will be naturals at putting the skills from mountain biking together with strength from road riding and I can see gold for sure! Kids participation in the sport is fast growing and, given the safe off-road tracks, it’s a winner with parents too,” Barlow says.