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.
