WTB employee Mark Weir’s home was ravaged by a fire two days after Christmas. Weir was at home with his wife and son, but was unable to stop the flames. Fortunately the Weir family escaped without injury. WTB wishes the best to Mark, Suzie and Gus, the next few months will undoubtedly be a tough chapter in their lives.
Katie Compton may be the most dominant American rider in the history of cyclocross, but that doesn’t mean that it comes easy for the 32-year-old. This past weekend, at the fourth round of the cyclocross world cup in Kalmthout, Belgium, Compton encountered a number of setbacks and just barely managed to remain the overall world cup leader. The course was blanketed in fresh snow, complete with ruts and frozen snow. Compton had a bad start, then suffered a crash trying to move through mid-pack traffic. By the end of the race, Compton moved up to third place. This race was a stark contrast to Compton’s dominant style, but illustrates the grit and perseverance needed to stay competitive at the top level.
Katie Compton has won every American cyclocross race she has entered this year. And her world cup track record is nearly as remarkable. Compton is currently leading the world cup series (she’s the first American in history to do so) and she is the heavy favorite to win the prestigious world champion title. It should come as no surprise that Compton easily conquered the U.S. cyclocross national championship this past weekend in Bend, OR, claiming her sixth straight national title. Compton took off from the start of the hour-long race and easily distanced herself from the rest of the field. As expected, the other ninety women were racing for second place. Meredith Miller took the second spot, crossing the line almost a minute after Compton.
In other news, WTB-sponsored junior prodigy Coryn Rivera claimed her 25th national title in Bend. The 17-year-old has been winning on the road, on the track and cyclocross. We can only wonder what the future holds for Rivera.
WTB’s own Kenny Burt (#386) placed 26th in the master’s race, Kona’s team saddles, Coryn Rivera’s victory salute in Bend.
WTB riders Jamie Goldman and Brian Miller took 2nd and 3rd at the Andrew Taylor Showdown, while gravity-racer grom Christian Wright (above) demonstrated his ability to throw down on the huge jumps. The event took place at the SF Bike Expo and competition was stacked with all the big names. Check out pictures in Marketing Intern Max Houtzager’s Photo Gallery on WTB’s Facebook page and coverage on Pinkbike and Vital MTB.
