Katie Compton has been the name in women's cyclo-cross in the US for the past four years, and will be looking to tie Alison Dunlap's record of five national titles in a row this year. She'll be going up against Luna's Georgia Gould, the NRC series leader, Rachel Lloyd (California Giant Berry) who took third overall in the USGP series, and the newest name in US 'cross - Laura Van Gilder.
Compton is undoubtedly a rider who has shown that she is one of the best in the world, having won three career UCI World Cup races and taken silver at last year's World Championships. But she's also shown vulnerability, falling victim to a mysterious ailment which causes her legs to cramp up unexpectedly. Compton told Cyclingnews that she hopes the problem is solved.
"I'm feeling good. I'm really looking forward to racing and getting excited for the weekend," she said. "I'm looking forward to a tough race against Georgia. It's always fun racing against her and she always makes me work that much harder and I love that. After last weekend, it looks like Rachel Lloyd is riding really well and Sue Butler as well. I think it will be an exciting race for the women, too. I'm sure I'm not the only one wishing for cold and mud."
Kirsten Frattini is the Deputy Editor of Cyclingnews, overseeing the global racing content plan.
Kirsten has a background in Kinesiology and Health Science. She has been involved in cycling from the community and grassroots level to professional cycling's biggest races, reporting on the WorldTour, Spring Classics, Tours de France, World Championships and Olympic Games.
She began her sports journalism career with Cyclingnews as a North American Correspondent in 2006. In 2018, Kirsten became Women's Editor – overseeing the content strategy, race coverage and growth of women's professional cycling – before becoming Deputy Editor in 2023.
