The final C1 & C2 weekend of the 2024 TREK USCX series opened with reigning champion Maghalie Rochette seizing the hole shot and leading the charge for the first half-lap, showing signs of a return to form. But halfway through, series leader Helene Clauzel and Manon Bakker took control, slotting into first and second, with Rochette in third and Sidney McGill in fourth.
With increasing wind speeds, the high pace up front became a key factor. Riders had to race strategically to avoid paying for solo efforts later on. Clauzel and Bakker stayed together, testing each other throughout. One tactical highlight was the barriers: Clauzel dismounted and ran, while Bakker rode them. Though neither gained a clear advantage, it promised to be critical for the final lap.
Meanwhile, Rochette gradually fell back through the top ten before abandoning, seemingly suffering in the heat.
As the final lap approached, Clauzel launched a decisive attack at pit two, opening a gap. She powered through the headwind at the top of the course to claim her seventh consecutive victory, solidifying her dominance in the TREK USCX series.
Behind her, McGill earned a hard-fought third after riding solo much of the race, while Caroline Mani steadily moved up to finish fourth. Katie Clouse rounded out the top five with a strong finish.
Scott Funston grabbed the hole shot in the elite men's race, followed closely by Andrew Strohmeyer, Kerry Werner, Tyler Clark, and Curtis White. Ben Frederick, a veteran in the field, moved to the front early, while Funston led the first lap, driving the pace and splitting the field.
Absent from the start was Eric Brunner, the reigning Pan AM and US National CX Champion, while Caleb Swartz, making his series debut, joined the front group early on.
The first laps were fast, with sub-7-minute lap times, the quickest of the season. The course’s low elevation allowed riders to push their technical skills with speed, and a lead group soon formed, including Werner, Strohmeyer, Funston, Clark, Swartz, and Frederick.
Strohmeyer’s bike change on lap three and some tactical moves saw Swartz and Frederick slip off the pace. At four laps in, Swartz abandoned, leaving Funston chasing Werner and Strohmeyer, who maintained a solid 15-second gap. The leaders paced themselves smartly in the heat, staying fueled through the race's toughest conditions.
With three laps to go, Frederick moved up to fourth, while Clark held fifth. Then, with two laps remaining, Strohmeyer launched a powerful attack near Factory Hill, gaining a 20-second lead on Werner. But Strohmeyer hit the wall on the final lap, and Werner surged ahead, overtaking him just before pit two.
Werner powered through the last lap, sealing victory at the final TREK USCX C1 event of the series. His win was celebrated alongside his teammate, Caroline Mani, as both look forward to a strong finish to the season.
Under sunny skies and gusty winds, Sunday’s C2 race began with riders battling for position. Sidney McGill, Maghalie Rochette, Kaya Musgrave, and Katie Clouse led the field, with McGill taking charge through the first pit. By pit two, the front group consisted of Hélène Clauzel, Aniek Bakker, McGill, Musgrave, Rochette, and Annemarie Zoerner, with Caroline Mani trailing by six seconds.
Bakker made her move on lap two, pulling ahead, but Clauzel soon caught up, and the two opened a 10-second gap. The chasers, McGill, Rochette, and Clouse, worked to close it down but couldn’t disrupt the leaders. As the race wore on, Clauzel and Bakker remained locked in battle until Bakker faltered on Factory Hill, allowing Clauzel to break away and claim her third consecutive victory, sweeping the series.
Bakker secured second overall in the series with her consistent podium finishes. Meanwhile, Rochette capitalized on Clouse’s late crash on Factory Hill to take third, bouncing back from her DNF the day before.
Caleb Swartz came out with something to prove after his Saturday DNF, leading the charge from the start, but Ben Frederick took over by the first pit, riding high on confidence after his career-best fourth place the previous day. A 10-man lead group formed by lap two, featuring Eric Brunner, Scott Funston, Curtis White, and others.
Funston launched a decisive attack, pulling away with Brunner and White, while gaps formed as the wind continued to punish the riders. Clark was dropped, leaving Funston and Brunner at the front, with Werner chasing after a pit stop due to a puncture.
Werner fought back and rejoined the leaders with four laps to go. The trio raced together until Strohmeyer made his move on the final lap, attacking on the rise after pit one. Funston, unable to respond, watched Strohmeyer power to victory, claiming his sixth win of the series. Werner overtook Funston for second, securing his second-place finish in the overall standings.
Henry Coote stayed in contention for fourth, while Tyler Clark rounded out the top five.
Photo Credit: Bill Sheiken/CXHAIRS Media
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