NACT "Starcrossed" First of Eight Rounds.

Nash opens NACT series with a win

Katerina Nash (Luna) kicked off her cyclo-cross season with a solo victory at Starcrossed p/b Stanley, the world-class 'crosser finished with a small margin ahead of Wendy Simms (KONA-FSA) in second and Sue Butler (WN Hudz-Subaru) in third.

The twilight event marked the first of eight rounds in the North American Cyclo-cross Trophy (NACT) series as Nash's win gave her the early series lead.

This is no walk in the park. Fifty of the nation's top cyclo-cross specialists lined up under buckets of rain to start their 45-minute race. Highlighting the call ups was former Canadian national champ Wendy Simms (KONA-FSA) who has returned to competition after taking time season off to welcome her first child into the world.

Defending champion Helen Wyman was not on the start line but last year's runner up Sue Butler (WN HUDZ-Subaru) was ready for a battle against Nash, defending NACT winner Natasha Elliott (Garneau Club Chaussure Ogilvy), Kari Studley (Redline), Wendy Williams (River City Bicycles) and Barbara Howe (Ibis and the Danger Twins).

Butler WN is known for her aggressive starts and set the tone of the race early on by forging a path through the slippery mud that only Nash, Studley and Simms could follow. Nash muscled past the small group and gained a solo lead roughly 20 minutes into the race. She had an outstanding season last year, winning the Roubaix World Cup in France and placing fourth at the UCI World Championships in the Czech Republic.

Nash extended her lead to roughly 30 seconds ahead of Simms and additional seconds to Butler. Behind the three leaders a group of top ten contenders rallied together to Howe, Elliott, Studley, Williams, Devon Haskell (Bike Station Aptos), Mical Dyck (Trek Canada / Terrascape Racing), Linda Sone (Planet Bike) and Alice Pennington (Team S&M).

Result
1	Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna Pro Team	0:41:24
2	Wendy Simms (Can) Kona	0:00:19
3	Susan Butler (WN) Hudz-Subaru	0:00:38