The Big Picture: Supercross Cup Day 1 (Elite Women)

Crystal Anthony (Boulder Cycle Sport/YogaGlo) finished with a solo win at day 1 of the Supercross Cup, attacking immediately to counter an early error. Behind her, course conditions would provoke an all-race battle for the 2nd and 3rd spots, with a mud-slicked and challenging course forcing errors and several riders swapping placings. Ultimately, Arley Kemmerer (Level Eleven Racing) would ride into 2nd place, followed by Rebecca Fahringer (Amy D. Foundation) for 3rd.

© 2015 John Kavouris www.johnkavouris.com
© 2015 John Kavouris www.johnkavouris.com
Variations on a theme, 1.
Variations on a theme, 1. © 2015 John Kavouris www.johnkavouris.com

Finally. Finally! The mud-gods of the northeast responded favorably to my prayers for wetter course conditions and my sacrificial embrocating. Day-of conditions were sunny and comfortable, but a prior day’s rain left the course with several muddy sections in every flavor imaginable, including: Tacky, Greasy, Peanut Butter, and Belgian Slop™.

Start line.
Start line. © 2015 John Kavouris www.johnkavouris.com
Greaser takes the early lead.
Greaser takes the early lead. © 2015 John Kavouris www.johnkavouris.com

As usual, Jenna Greaser (JAM Fund/NCC/Vittoria) struck first to take an early lead from the gun. She was followed by Kemmerer and then Anthony, Natasha Elliott (Red Truck Garneu p/b Easton Cycling), Fahringer, and Brittlee Bowman (House Industries/Withings/SimpleHuman)

Anthony, Elliott, Fahringer, and Bowman.
Anthony, Elliott, Fahringer, and Bowman. © 2015 John Kavouris www.johnkavouris.com

Further into the first lap, Greaser would still maintain her lead, with Kemmerer and Anthony pairing off to chase.

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© 2015 John Kavouris www.johnkavouris.com

However, soon thereafter, Greaser would begin to lose time.

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Here, Greaser lost momentum and is forced to dismount and run, while Anthony and Kemmerer ride it. © 2015 John Kavouris www.johnkavouris.com

A lap later and Anthony had put in an effort to catch Greaser. At the base of another steep uphill, Greaser and Anthony got tangled. Both quickly found themselves on the dirt, but Anthony was significantly quicker to get back on her bike, using the opportunity to distance herself from Greaser:

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© 2015 John Kavouris www.johnkavouris.com

Within half a lap, a gap had grown as Anthony continued to power ahead and Greaser slowly faded.

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© 2015 John Kavouris www.johnkavouris.com

Kemmerer caught Greaser within a lap, but unforced errors from Kemmerer would allow Greaser to briefly stay ahead:

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© 2015 John Kavouris www.johnkavouris.com
At the steep uphill and stair run-ups, Greaser tries for a lap to hold onto an advantage.
At the steep uphill and stair run-ups, Greaser tries for a lap to hold onto an advantage. © 2015 John Kavouris www.johnkavouris.com
Variations on a theme, 2.
Variations on a theme, 2. © 2015 John Kavouris www.johnkavouris.com

Meanwhile as Kemmerer finally made the pass on Greaser, Fahringer was charging to make up ground. She quickly leapfrogged Greaser and caught Kemmerer within a lap. With 1 to go, Kemmerer would bobble again, this time at the base of a long stair-set.

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© 2015 John Kavouris www.johnkavouris.com
Fahringer gets a free gap at just the right time.
Fahringer gets a free gap at just the right time. © 2015 John Kavouris www.johnkavouris.com
Variations on a theme, 4.
Variations on a theme, 3. © 2015 John Kavouris www.johnkavouris.com

I made my way to the finish to see Anthony post-up for the win and waited to see if Fahringer would have capitalized on that gap…

From around the bend, an upset! Fahringer’s advantage was no more, with Kemmerer arriving in 2nd and seeming very pleased with the successful chase and improved podium spot.

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© 2015 John Kavouris www.johnkavouris.com

Fahringer would roll in a moment later for 3rd. Greaser held on for 4th, and Elliot 5th.

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© 2015 John Kavouris www.johnkavouris.com
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© 2015 John Kavouris www.johnkavouris.com
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© 2015 John Kavouris www.johnkavouris.com
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