US Road Championships: Kate Courtney outsprints Lauren Stephens to win elite women’s road race title

From CyclingNews.com

By Lyne Lamoureux

In a surprising finale, Kate Courtney (She Sends Racing) outsprinted Lauren Stephens (Aegis x Leaders of Enchantment) to win the elite women’s road race at the USA Pro Road Championships in Charleston, WV on Sunday.

Courtney, the reigning UCI Mountain Bike Marathon World Champion, launched her sprint with 700 metres to go, and was able to hold a small gap around the final corner and to the line. Stephens finished runner-up for the second year in a row.

Stephens’ teammate Grace Arlandson took the sprint for third out of a four-ride chase group, ahead of Kira Payer (SpeedBlock-Terœn Elite), and Ashley Frye (Competitive Edge Racing).