From the gun, Sidney McGill took the holeshot with Helene Clauzel sitting about 5th wheel. But within a few turns, Clauzel and Manon Bakker took control, driving the pace at the front. The course, which started out thick with peanut butter-like mud, played perfectly to their superior, Euro-honed handling abilities. By the end of lap two, Clauzel and Bakker had separated themselves, though Bakker was clearly less comfortable and began to struggle with the pace.
Both riders took early pits, their tires and drivetrains clogged with heavy, clingy mud. However, Clauzel soon showcased her technical mastery, steadily pulling away from Bakker. She initially gained a 7-second lead, which extended to 15 seconds by the next lap. Clauzel’s flawless form in the challenging conditions was particularly impressive, especially coming off four dry and dusty races. She appeared far more at home and in control than anyone else on the course.
In the chase behind, Caroline Mani looked noticeably stronger than her performance last week in Rochester. Her European experience in tough conditions was apparent as she pulled clear of the group and secured 3rd place.
Meanwhile, the group of chasers featuring McGill, Katie Clouse, Raylyn Nuss, and Maghalie Rochette showed signs of strain in the grueling conditions. Their body language made it clear they were being pushed to their limits, as the group fractured and continued to lose time.
Over the remaining laps, the situation remained largely unchanged. Clauzel continued to look technically flawless out front and would finish with the win, Bakker struggled slightly but maintained her power to hold on to 2nd, and Mani used her experience to lock in a solid 3rd place finish.
The men’s race saw the course dry out significantly, with far less mud caking bikes and drivetrains. While it wasn’t as fast as the first two stops of the series, the heavy mud and slick conditions that might have been anticipated nearly evaporated. Some sections remained slippery, but it wasn’t the mudfest many had expected.
From the gun, Andrew Strohmeyer was a man on a mission. He took the holeshot and showed no signs of letting up. A minor spill on an innocuous turn during lap one briefly cost him the lead, but within a few turns, he regained control and was back at the front.
Eric Brunner, making his 2024 TREK USCX series debut, quickly responded to Strohmeyer’s early dominance and latched onto his wheel. The two powered ahead of the rest, which included Scott Funston, Dylan Zakrajsek, Curtis White, and Matteo Oppizi.
For just over two laps, Brunner held onto the pace, but Strohmeyer’s relentless push was evident. His body language showed he was digging much deeper, much earlier than in previous races, head down, mouth wide open, and shoulders rocking. Whether it was a show of strength or an attempt to test the Pan American and National Champion, Strohmeyer’s intense early effort was inflicting significant damage on the field.
Eventually, Brunner could no longer hold Strohmeyer’s pace, and Scott Funston found his groove, easing off the throttle to conserve his energy for the later stages of the race. Funston capitalized on Strohmeyer’s all-out attack, eventually catching and passing Brunner, who clearly didn’t have the same racing legs after a slower start to his season.
In the second half of the race, the gaps solidified. Strohmeyer’s body language remained the same—fully committed, pushing himself to the limit with every pedal stroke. He continued to distance himself from the rest of the field, making it clear that the win was his to lose. Funston stayed strong to secure second place, while Brunner limited his losses to comfortably round out the podium in third.
From the start, familiar faces Lauren Zoerner and Katie Clouse were elbow-to-elbow, fighting for the holeshot. Zoerner led into the grass, but it didn’t take long for Clouse to surge ahead, leading the charge down the first descent towards the ballfield.
As the field came through pit one, Manon Bakker was in control at the front, with Helene Clauzel, Maghalie Rochette, Sidney McGill, and Clouse in tow. Just a few seconds behind, Zoerner and Raylyn Nuss followed closely.
The leading quartet finished lap one together, but the biggest news came from the pit, where Caroline Mani—a perennial podium contender—was forced to abandon the race due to an ankle injury. Not wanting to risk further damage, Mani opted for rest ahead of the series finale in Waterloo, WI.
At the front, Bakker looked confident, maintaining control of the pace despite the increasingly heavy conditions. A light rain had begun to fall, making the course even thicker and more challenging.
By the end of lap two, the lead group was down to three: Clauzel, Bakker, and McGill, with Rochette trailing by 7 seconds and Clouse 12 seconds back. Clauzel led through the pit, but when she swung off, McGill hesitated to take the lead. Whether it was a tactical decision or an inability to push the pace was unclear, but within half a lap, the front group had narrowed to just Clauzel and Bakker, with McGill dropping a few seconds behind.
With three laps to go, Bakker’s confidence continued to show as she pushed the pace and opened a small gap on Clauzel. For the first time in the series, Clauzel’s body language suggested she was under real pressure.
As they approached Mansion Hill with 2.5 laps remaining, Clauzel and Bakker still led, with Rochette and McGill 12 seconds behind. Both duos eased up slightly, taking in some nutrition and preparing for the final push.
By the bell lap, the situation up front remained unchanged, with Clauzel and Bakker together. Rochette was now 31 seconds back, and McGill had dropped to 50 seconds behind, struggling to hang on.
On the final descent from Mansion Hill, Clauzel took a few risks, opening a 4-second gap on Bakker. However, Bakker clawed her way back just before the flyover and immediately retook the lead. She led onto the pavement, looking primed for the sprint win, but Clauzel found one last burst in the final 20 meters, surging up the side to take the victory by inches and keep her winning streak alive.
The men's race kicked off with an exciting duel between Scott Funston and his teammate Jules Van Kempen, while Dylan Zakrajsek took the holeshot. Funston and Van Kempen controlled the pace early on, keeping the entire field together until the signature flyover roughly halfway through the first lap. After descending into Club Row and tackling the first ascent of Mansion Hill, Funston, Eric Brunner, and Andrew Strohmeyer broke clear.
Trailing individually, Kerry Werner and Zakrajsek were each about 5 seconds behind.
As lap two began, it became clear that Strohmeyer was taking a more conservative approach than the previous day, settling into second wheel while Funston continued to drive the pace. Brunner was content to ride comfortably in the back, while Werner remained at a 5-second gap, and Zakrajsek fell further off the pace.
The next ascent up Mansion Hill saw Funston struggle, allowing only Strohmeyer and Brunner to remain at the front.
Toward the end of the second lap, Brunner demonstrated his confidence by attacking Strohmeyer and moving clear. Funston struggled to maintain an 8-second gap, while Werner had to dial back to 15 seconds behind.
On the next climb of Mansion Hill, Strohmeyer, who had rejoined Brunner, launched a significant attack, creating a quick 10-second gap over Brunner. With around twenty-five minutes into the race, Strohmeyer appeared strong, smooth, and controlled, while Brunner showed signs of strain. Many speculated this move would lead to the same outcome seen in the previous five races.
With four laps remaining, the gap had widened to 20 seconds, with Strohmeyer still looking composed while Brunner aimed to maintain contact. However, the narrative shifted dramatically with three laps to go. Funston remained in third, about 30 seconds back, while Brunner closed the 20-second gap and reconnected with Strohmeyer. For the first time in the series, Strohmeyer appeared visibly strained and in trouble.
As they descended the flyover with two and a half laps to go, Brunner took command with an 8-second lead. The gap remained steady as they reached the top of Mansion Hill, with Brunner pushing the pace at every opportunity, taking risks on the course's off-camber descents.
Coming through the line with two laps remaining, Brunner's confidence radiated as the gap grew to 18 seconds. In stark contrast, Strohmeyer’s body language shifted—his once fluid and powerful pedaling was replaced with a strained effort to regain contact with Brunner.
Entering the final lap, Brunner looked reminiscent of the rider who dominated the National Championships last December, with the gap ballooning to 38 seconds. Funston, who had trailed by 30 seconds, was now just a handful of seconds behind Strohmeyer.
Despite a crash on the descent from Mansion Hill, Brunner cruised home for the victory. Behind him, Funston made contact with Strohmeyer just before transitioning onto the pavement for the finish. However, Strohmyer managed to muster a solid kick to secure second place, while Funston finished third. Marcis Shelton rallied from a slower start to take fourth, with Kerry Werner rounding out the top five in fifth place.
Photo Credit: Bruce Buckley
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