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.
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™.
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)
Further into the first lap, Greaser would still maintain her lead, with Kemmerer and Anthony pairing off to chase.
However, soon thereafter, Greaser would begin to lose time.
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:
Within half a lap, a gap had grown as Anthony continued to power ahead and Greaser slowly faded.
Kemmerer caught Greaser within a lap, but unforced errors from Kemmerer would allow Greaser to briefly stay ahead:
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.
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.
Fahringer would roll in a moment later for 3rd. Greaser held on for 4th, and Elliot 5th.
