Day six of the 2025 USA Cycling Endurance Mountain Bike National Championships continued at Explore Park with the second wave of cross-country races. The Junior 17-18 Men and Women started the day off in the morning. Afternoon racing featured the Elite Men’s and Women’s races, while the Under-23 Men and Women closed out the day’s events in the evening.
In the Elite Men’s race, 23 athletes set out for a seven-lap race. The pace was high from the start. Defending National Champion, Bjorn Riley (Boulder, Colo.; Scott-SRAM MTB Racing), and Devon Feehan (Windsor, N.Y.; Dirt Camp Racing) gapped the field on lap one. Riley had other plans as he rode at a blistering fast pace on lap two, completing it in under 13 minutes and dropping Feehan. Riley Amos (Durango, Colo.; Trek Factory Racing - Pirelli), who was on a mission after crashing on lap one, and Monday’s Marathon Cross-Country National Champion, Cole Paton (Cashmere, Wash.; Giant), worked together to try and close the gap on Riley, consistently clocking some of the fastest lap times of the day. Amos was able to catch and pass Riley on lap six. In one of the most exciting finishes of the day, Amos rolled across the line first after clawing back from the beginning.
“I can’t believe it,” said Amos on his win. “It was just such a hard fight from the beginning, and Bjorn [Riley] got away when I made a mistake and had a big gap at one point. I just tried to stay super consistent, believe in myself, and keep riding as smooth as I could, and slowly reeled him in, and we had an amazing last lap battle.”
Results:
1. Riley Amos (Durango, Colo.; Trek Factory Racing - Pirelli)
2. Bjorn Riley (Boulder, Colo.; Scott-SRAM MTB Racing)
3. Cole Paton (Cashmere, Wash.; Giant)
Fourteen riders lined up for the Elite Women’s race and their shot at the Stars and Stripes. With six laps on tap, it was anybody's race to win.
After the first lap, a strong lead group formed with Kelsey Urban (Kentfield, Calif.; KMC Ridley), Savilia Blunk (Inverness, Calif.; Decathlon Ford Racing), Gwendalyn Gibson (Ramona, Calif.; Trek Factory Racing - Pirelli), and Madigan Munro (Boulder, Colo.; Trek Factory Racing - Pirelli) heading back into the woods together. Coming off a short track win earlier in the week, Blunk looked determined to secure another title. As the second lap began, Blunk, Gibson, and Urban emerged from the trees with a clear advantage, while Munro trailed about a minute behind. The three riders stayed together, trading positions until lap five when Urban launched an attack that created a small gap. It ultimately came down to a sprint to the finish between her and Blunk. On the final climb, Urban held her speed and edged out Blunk to take the win. Blunk secured second, and Gibson rounded out the podium in third.
Results:
1. Kelsey Urban (Kentfield, Calif.; KMC Ridley)
2. Savilia Blunk (Inverness, Calif.; Decathlon Ford Racing)
3. Gwendalyn Gibson (Ramona, Calif.; Trek Factory Racing - Pirelli)
The Under-23 Men’s race was the last event of the day, with 54 riders vying for the Stars and Stripes. As the riders loaded into the start grid, pop-up showers were still in the forecast, and the risk of rain was increasing. After lap one, a group of eight had settled in, but just as they headed out on their second lap, it began to rain. By the time they came around again, the group had dwindled down to a group of three, which included Dan English (San Ramon, Calif.; TRINITY Racing), Ivan Sippy (Durango, Colo.; Segment 28), and Jack Spranger (Sammamish, Calif.; Bear National Team). The group fell apart by the fourth lap. Sippy managed to pull away for lap five, while English and Austin Beard (Grand Junction, Colo.; Segment 28) were hot on his heels just seconds behind him.
On the final lap, English joined Sippy and the duo pulled away from Beard. Fans eagerly awaited the riders on the final stretch, excited to see who would emerge from the woods first. English and Sippy came out of the woods together, fighting for first. English crossed just one second ahead of Sippy to win the Stars and Stripes jersey. Sippy earned second, and Beard rounded out the podium in third.
Results:
1. Dan English (San Ramon, Calif.; TRINITY Racing)
2. Ivan Sippy (Durango, Colo.; Segment 28)
3. Austin Beard (Grand Junction, Colo.; Segment 28)
The Under-23 Women went off in the early afternoon with 23 riders ready to battle for the National Title. Bear National teammates Makena Kellerman (Escondido, Calif.; Bear National Team) and Bailey Cioppa (Durango, Colo.; Bear National Team) quickly took over at the front and worked to build a gap over the competition. They continued to work together until lap five when Kellerman rode away from Cioppa, crossing the line solo to win the National Title. Cioppa earned silver, while Greta Kilburn (Burlington, Vt.; Bicycle Express Racing) rounded out the podium with bronze.
When asked what this win means to her, Kellerman said, “This is a really special win for me. I feel like I’ve worked hard this season, and I really wanted to represent the Stars and Stripes next year. I’m so excited and I can’t wait to be your National Champion!”
Results:
1. Makena Kellerman (Escondido, Calif.; Bear National Team)
2. Bailey Cioppa (Durango, Colo.; Bear National Team)
3. Greta Kilburn (Burlington, Vt.; Bicycle Express Racing)
The junior men were the first to roll out with 120 starters, powering up the start hill, each with the goal of winning a National Title. In the first lap of five, an elite group formed which included Kian Reid (Wenatchee, Wash.; Bear National Team), Oliver Welcker (Boise, Idaho; Bear National Team), Rowan Nistal (Boise, Idaho; Bear National Team), Benjamin Bravman (Golden, Colo.; Bear National Team), and Mason Salazar (San Diego, Calif.; Rouleur Devo p/b DNA Cycling). Heading into lap three, Salazar took over the pace with Nistal, Reid, and Bravman in tow. Nistal and Bravman led the pack into the final lap where Nistal created a 35-second gap to cross the finish solo, winning the National Title. Bear National Team swept the podium with Bravman claiming silver and Reid earning bronze.
When asked about the race, Nistal said, “The course is pretty slick today, you know we got a lot of rain yesterday, so I think a lot of us were taking it pretty easy on most of the course and some of the corners.” He continued, “I kind of just let other people control [the race] for the first three and a half laps, I tried to hide from the wind. Then halfway through the second to last lap I made my move, got in front of everybody and did my own pace. Ben and I came out with one to go, and then he made a little mistake, and I got away for the rest of the race.”
Results:
1. Rowan Nistal (Boise, Idaho; Bear National Team)
2. Benjamin Bravman (Golden, Colo.; Bear National Team)
3. Kian Reid (Wenatchee, Wash.; Bear National Team)
Sixty-five junior women lined up, ready to take on four laps of the cross-country course. The field strung out immediately on the start hill. Heading into the second lap, Ingrid McElroy (Danville, Pa.; Bear National Team) had a small advantage on the lead group, with Elisabeth Knight (Moab, Utah; Rouleur Cycles) being the only rider able to keep the pace. Lily Agnew (Charlottesville, Va.; CRC Jr) and Zanna Logar (Davis, W.Va.; The Gravity Collective) pushed hard to bridge up to the leaders, creating a group of four heading into the final lap. On the last lap, McElroy launched a final attack, distancing the group and riding to the line solo to take her second National Title of the week. Agnew had a strong ride to grab silver, with Knight rounding out the podium.
Results:
1. Ingrid McElroy (Danville, Pa.; Bear National Team)
2. Lily Agnew (Charlottesville, Va.; CRC Jr)
3. Elisabeth Knight (Moab, Utah; Rouleur Cycles)
Full results from Saturday’s events can be found here.
Sunday is the final day of the 2025 USA Cycling Endurance Mountain Bike National Championships and will feature the Junior Men and Women 15-16 and the Masters Men categories.
Click here for the full event schedule.
