With round 1 winner Marianne Vos taking a well-earned break from competition, the door was open for Katie Compton in the second round of the UCI Cyclo-Cross World Cup held in Tabor in the Czech Republic. On a fast course, the American champion rode away from Telenet duo Niki Harris and Pavla Havlikova to take a clear win and take over the lead in the overall standings.

Marianne Vos won the first round of the UCI Cyclo-Cross World Cup on home soil in Valkenburg last week but with the world champion having already had a long road season, she has decided to take a short break from competition. This allowed her rivals to go for glory in the second round which was held today in Tabor in the Czech Republic.

American Katie Compton who has long held the position of being number two behind the mighty Vos, showed that she hasn't lost that position over the summer. Having already finished 2nd in Valkenburg, she was clearly the strongest in today's race.

The American repeatedly applied the pressure on the fast, dry course but the Telenet duo of Niki Harris and local hero Pavla Havlikova proved to be difficult to shake off. Shortly before, she started the penultimate lap, she was, however, able to get rid of her companions and from there, the race developed into a fierce pursuit.

The elastic never really snapped but Compton maintained her speed all the way to the finish to take the win while Harris won the sprint for 2nd uncontested. With the win Compton takes over the overall lead in the season-long competition and is now 15 points ahead of Harris in 2nd.

The next round takes place on November 23 in Koksijde.

Fast start for Harris

The race took place in beautiful sunny, dry conditions on an open, fast course that was not too tecnhically challenging. From the gun, Nikki Harris strung things out and opened up a gap on the peloton but as Ellen Van Looy and Sanne Cant both took turns on the front, the Brit was reeled in before the end of the lap. As they crossed the line for the first time, Harris led a small group that contained Cant, Van Looy, Compton, Pavla Havlikova and Christel Ferrier-Bruneau.

Compton moved to the front just as they started the second lap and started to apply the pressure. The American's fast pace put several riders in difficulty and halfway through the lap, only Harris, Havlikova and Cant remained in contention with Ferrier-Bruneau and Van Looy chasing a little behind. A third chase group was led by Helen Wyman and Lucie Chainel-Lefevre.

Harris back on the front

Compton changed bikes and moved back to third position, once again allowing Harris to set the pace. At the same time, Van Looy and Ferrier-Bruneau rejoined the leaders to form a 6-tider front group.

Compton went back to the front and upped the pace a bit further which once again put Van Looy and Ferrier-Bruneau in difficulty. When Compton upped the pace even further, Cant fell off the pace to leave Compton alone with the two Telenet riders Harris and Havlikova.

Compton applies the pressure

Just before the next passage of the finish line, Compton dropped her companions and as she stated the third lap, she was 4 seconds ahead of her two chasers with Cant being 3 seconds further adrift. Van Looy had dropped Ferrier-Bruneau while Wyman and Chainel-Lefevre were leading the next chase group.

Harris and Havlikova managed t rejoin the leader early on the third lap and Compton took a small breather as she allowed local hero Havlikova to hit the front. A little later, she hit the front and once again put the hammer down to try to shake off her companions.

Compton opens a gap

Harris was clearly hanging on for dear life but when her teammate Havlikova suddenly opened up a gap, the British champion had to go back to the front in a quest to reel in Compton who was once again the lone leader. Behind, Cant was still doing her best to get back on with Van Looy chasing hard a little further behind.

As Compton started the penultimate lap, she was 7 seconds ahead of her two chasers with Cant being 11 seconds further adrift. Van Looy was at 27 seconds while Meredith Miller had caught Ferrier-Bruneau to form the next group on the course.

The Telenet riders refuse to give up

Compton was now gradually increasing her lead over the tiring Telenet duo while Ferrier-Bruneau and Miller had overtaken Van Looy. Harris was still doing all the work in the chase group and as Compton suddenly started to tire, the duo may have got a sense of hope as they started to narrow the advantage.

As Compton started the last lap, she was 10 seconds ahead of the chasing duo which was still led by Harris. Cant was fading and was now at 32 seconds while Miller and Ferrier-Bruneau were only 8 seconds further adrift.

The final lap developed into a fierce pursuit with Compton always staying on top of things. She crossed the line with a 6-second advantage over her chasers with Harris winning the sprint for second uncontested. Herrier-Bruneau had caught Cant and the two had a veru close sprint for 4th while Miller was 6th ahead of Van Looy, Chainel-Lefevre, Kaitlin Antonneau and Sophie De Boer.

Result:

1. Katie Compton 43.42

2. Niki Harris +0.06

3. Pavla Havlikova +0.07

4. Sanne Cant +0.37

5. Christel Ferrier-Bruneau

6. Meredith Miller +0.47

7. Ellen Van Looy +0.54

8. Lucie Chainel-Lefevre +0.56

9. Kaitlin Antonneau +1.05

10. Sophie De Boer +1.11

Overall World Cup standings:

1. Katie Compton 110

2. Niki Harris 95

3. Pavla Havlikova 75

4. Christel Ferrier-Bruneau 75

5. Sanne Cant 61

6. Marianne Vos 60

7. Helen Wyman 60