Sunday concluded with the Junior Men, U23 Women, and Elite Men at the 2024 UCI Cyclocross World Championships. Sixteen athletes represented Team USA on the world stage, with three individuals finishing in the top 20 of their respective categories
Junior Men
David Thompson (New Canaan, Conn.; AG2R Citroën U19 Team) was the top-ranked junior in the season, having scored podiums and multiple top tens. With a front row call up, he had a great start, but crashed early on and got held up with Miles Mattern (Rochester, N.Y.; CXD Trek Bikes). Thompson was not able to move forward, but Mattern recovered well. He moved from 50th to 20th in a single lap, then was in a big group for the rest of the race fighting for 17th position. He was able to overtake the group and secure the top American finish for the day in 17th place.
After the race, Mattern said, “I didn’t have the best start. The rider in front of me pulled out of his pedal, then I hit the brakes and got hit from behind. From then on, I was running with the bike underneath me and was right toward the back in the first corner. I tried to have a first lap and move up as much as possible while also trying to stay out of trouble. It was a bit chaotic with that many riders around at the start of the race. I made good progress on the first lap then just kept chipping away trying to focus on catching some recovery where it was possible. Then be able to hit it on the key sections of the climbs. I tried to stick to wheels on the pavement and get some recovery then move through the groups.”
Henry Coote (Manchester, Mass.; Comp Edge Racing) was able to stay out of trouble and was sitting in the top 15 after the first few laps. He had a major crash ending his race early. Luke Walter (Boulder, Colo.; Boulder Junior Cycling), James Halverson (North Branch, Minn.; Minnesota Junior Cycling), Calvin Conaway (Zionsville, Ind.; Ignition Racing), and Alexander Scopinich-Burgel (Concord, Mass.; New England Devo) finished the race in 31st, 36th, 45th, and 54th, respectively.
Results
1. Celia Gery (FRA)
2. Cat Ferguson (GBR)
3. Viktoria Chladonova (SLO)
17. Miles Mattern (USA)
31. Luke Walter (USA)
36. James Halverson (USA)
45. Calvin Conaway (USA)
54. Alexander Scopinich-Burgel (USA)
DNF. David Thompson (USA)
DNF. Henry Coote (USA)
U23 Women
Six U.S. athletes started the U23 Women’s race. The groups spread out, and it quickly turned into individual racing. Lizzy Gunsalus (Dudley, Mass.; CCB Racing) was the top finisher in 18th.
She recapped her race, saying “The start was a little bit interesting. I was the second to last call up, so it was a bit of the roll of the dice. I ended up getting pretty boxed in and it was a little bit out of my control. I just tried to hold it, stay upright, and unfortunately going into the first flyover, I was probably 20th position. For me, it’s not great, I am normally confident in my starts, so I was hoping to be toward the front. As the race went on, I feel like I managed my effort very well. I felt confident in the lines I was taking and the plan that I had. I wanted a little bit more in terms of a result, but I am proud of everything that I gave. My brother in the pit for me every single lap was definitely a bonus.”
Keira Bond (Louisville, Colo.; CXD Trek Bikes), Ella Brenneman (Gibsonia, Penn.; CXD Trek Bikes), Lauren Zoerner (Highlands Ranch, Colo.; Groove Off Road Racing Team), Mia Aseltine (Littleton, Colo.; Comp Edge Racing), and Kaya Musgrave (Littleton, Colo.; Cervelo / OrangeLiving) all finished in the top 30.
Results
1. Zoe Backstedt (GBR)
2. Kristyna Zemanova (CZE)
3. Leonie Bentveld (NED)
18. Lizzy Gunsalus (USA)
20. Keira Bond (USA)
23. Ella Brenneman (USA)
25. Lauren Zoerner (USA)
28. Mia Aseltine (USA)
29. Kaya Musgrave (USA)
Elite Men
Eric Brunner (Boulder, Colo.), Scott Funston (Boulder, Colo.), and Curtis White (Delanson, N.Y.; Steve Tilford Foundation Racing) took to the starting line this afternoon in Tabor. The course conditions worsened throughout the day with some calling this one of the toughest Worlds courses they’ve ever seen.
Brunner and Funston had strong starts and were riding top 25 before a hard crash took both riders down. It took Funston a while to get back up and moving. Brunner was able to recover quickly and keep ticking off riders. White broke a wheel on lap two forcing him to abandon the race.
When asked about the race Brunner said, “It was a really tough day out in Tabor. It was probably one of the hardest courses pedaling wise, that I have ever done. It was a good race for me all things considered. I had a good start even from the 4th row and was just steady. I tried not to do too much too early. I was in 21st for a long time. Unfortunately ate it hard on the 5th lap and lost some positions there and shook myself up a little bit.”
Results
1. Mathieu Van der Poel (NED)
2. Joris Nieuwenhuis (NED)
3. Michael Vanthourenhout (BEL)
26. Eric Brunner (USA)
37. Scott Funston (USA)
DNF. Curtis White (USA)
