CYCLOCROSS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Our North American season celebrating the elements of cyclocross came to a close as Katie, Curtis and Raylyn all toed the start line for the chance to claim the stars & stripes.
The cyclocross community wiggled their way from Virginia, up to New York, back down to Maryland, halfway across the country to Wisconsin, over to Ohio, back out to the east coast in Massachusetts, out to the fresh mountain air of Montana (woof we’re catching our breath just typing that out)… we were excited to end our campaign in the Midwest of Kentucky. Louisville is a city very familiar to the sport of cyclocross where they’ve hosted World Championships, Pan American Championships, and now three National Championships. Needless to say, Louisville knows how to throw a cyclocross party.
The crew arrived to Louisville with a true Nationals buzz in the air. The cyclocross weather gods were keeping us on our toes and the weather forecast would fluctuate from day to day. The freeze-thaw kept the moisture in the ground and conditions would change throughout the day - with the looming rain clouds on the weather apps that appeared over Saturday.
We kicked off our Nationals week with a special pre-ride on Thursday with the kids of Kansas and the Steve Tilford Foundation crew! Curtis White took the kids around - stopping at critical parts of the course to talk about methods of tackling the course. The best way to kick off our weekend with positive energy and kids eager to learn! (Special shout-out to Sev for winning the 13-14 race!)
CX NATIONALS
The U.S. Cyclocross National Championships unfolded with dynamic and challenging conditions that kept everyone on their toes. The course transitioned from muddy pre-ride terrain to drier lines, forcing last-minute tire changes as riders headed to the start line. The race began at a blistering pace, with a group of five establishing itself through the first lap. By mid-race, the group had slimmed down to four, with Katie, Raylyn, and Vida driving the action. On lap four, Katie and Vida surged ahead, breaking free to battle for the top spot, while Raylyn dug deep to secure her position in the fight for third. With two laps to go, Raylyn was able to drop her opponent, securing the final step on the podium. Up front, Katie and Vida pushed each other to the limit until the final lap, where Katie’s legs cramped on the stairs. Though gutted to fall short of the title, Katie delivered an incredible performance, leaving everything on the course. We’re immensely proud of Katie’s fierce effort and Raylyn’s tenacity to claim third.
CX NATIONALS
The Men’s U.S. Cyclocross National Championships saw dramatic course changes as the previously muddy terrain transformed into fast, tacky conditions—prompting last-minute tire adjustments for many riders. The race began with a high pace, and a group of five riders quickly formed at the front, battling for position through the opening laps. A pivotal moment came when a group of three riders attacked on the climb leading into pit 2, leaving Curtis just off the move. Undeterred, Curtis bided his time, saving energy for a decisive push. With two laps to go, he unleashed a massive effort, digging deep in a bid to bridge back to the leaders and secure a spot on the podium. Despite his valiant chase, Curtis crossed the line in a hard-fought and respectable 4th place, showcasing his resilience and determination on a fiercely competitive day.
After Nationals concluded our mechanics spent the Sunday packing up all of our bikes and equipment for Raylyn and Katie to fly directly to Europe to begin Part 2 of our season as we tackle the World Cups.
Enjoy the post race gallery below - all by images: Kenza Barton Schlee
