International cyclocross superstar Katie Compton has pronounced the Queenstown cyclocross course to be the most beautiful in the world.

Compton, one of the world’s most successful cyclocross athletes with 12 World Cup wins and three world championship medals to date, took out first place as a guest rider in the first National Series elite women’s race last Sunday, held in Queenstown as part of the Winter Festival.

“With a backdrop of the Remarkables mountains, the Queenstown course is the most beautiful I have seen anywhere in the world and certainly as challenging as any,” Compton says.

Cyclocross involves an action-packed, down and dirty 40-60 minute lap race through mud, sand and even snow with riders having to hoist their bikes over a series of obstacles throughout the course. Laps are usually around 3km in length.

Compton says cyclocross is a fast and furious sport just made for adventurous Kiwis. She should know – she is married to one, with husband Mark Legg-Compton placed third in the men’s elite race in Queenstown. “New Zealand is a great international cyclocross destination in the making and I have no doubt it is only a matter of time before we see a world champion from here,” Compton says.