Brunner and Gunsalus win Elite Titles on Final Day of the 2025 USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships p/b The Meteor

The 2025 USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships p/b The Meteor concluded on Sunday with the final junior and masters races in the morning, with the marquee elite events in the afternoon. Temperatures dropped overnight into the single digits and froze the ground. 

With defending champion Andrew Strohmeyer (Mount Airy, Md.; CXD Trek Bikes), opting to stay in Europe, the elite race was wide open. The 28 rider field featured top names including former National Champion Eric Brunner (Boulder, Colo.; Competitive Edge Racing), Men’s Collegiate Varsity winner Ivan Sippy (Grand Junction, Colo.; Colorado Mesa University), three-time National Champion Todd Wells (Durango, Colo.; TWL), and Kerry Werner (Vinton, Va.; Velo Mafia Racing p/b Bikeflights), who will retire after today’s race. The racing was aggressive from the green light, with Dylan Zakrajsek (Grand Junction, Colo.; Competitive Edge Racing) taking the holeshot. Race favorite Brunner had a rough start but quickly found the front halfway through the opening lap and attacked. Sippy and Brody McDonald (Escondido, Calif.; Milligan University) kept Brunner within eyeshot for a couple laps, with Werner a few seconds back from the chasing collegiate duo. Brunner was untouchablethough and rode solo to the finish to reclaim the national title. Sippy and McDonald traded moves in the fight for second, before Sippy attacked heading into the final lap and held on for silver. McDonald rounded out the podium. 

After the race, Brunner went on to say, “It felt great on the course today. My goal was to go out fast and was able to get up to the front quickly. I just wanted to scare everybody from the beginning, and I was able to do it!” 

Results:

1. Eric Brunner (Boulder, Colo.; Competitive Edge Racing),

2. Ivan Sippy (Grand Junction, Colo.; Colorado Mesa University)

3. Brody McDonald (Escondido, Calif.; Milligan University)

After taking a win at Pan Ams earlier in the year, and in the Collegiate Varsity race on Thursday, Lizzy Gunsalus (Ashland, Mass.; CCB p/b Levine Law Group) was one of the favorites going into today’s elite race. From the start, Gunsalus set the pace with Lauren Zoerner (Chapel Hill, N.C.; Competitive Edge Racing) following close behind. Zoerner, Cassidy Hickey (Grand Junction, Colo.; Colorado Mesa University), and Alyssa Sarkisov (North Potomac, Md.; CXD Trek Bikes) tested Gunsalus with several early attacks. Katherine Sarkisov (North Potomac, Md.; CXD Trek Bikes) bridged up to the front group, forming a lead group of five. The lead changed hands several times over the first half of the race as every rider in the group was hungry for the win. The repeated attacks proved too much for Zoerner, who dropped from the lead group with three laps to go. As the laps ticked down, the four leaders were glued together, and the race was still wide open. Gunsalus put the pressure on going into the final lap and opened a sizeable gap. The Sarkisov sisters worked hard to bring Gunsalus back, but they ran out of room. Gunsalus held on to take the win and her first elite Stars and Stripes Jersey. Katherine Sarkisov claimed silver, only a bike length behind, with her sister Alyssa riding in for third. 

“It’s unreal, I did three races this week and won three national titles,” said Gunsalus. “It is my first elite national title, and I couldn’t be happier!”

Results:

1. Lizzy Gunsalus (Ashland, Mass.; CCB p/b Levine Law Group)

2. Katherine Sarkisov (North Potomac, Md.; CXD Trek Bikes)

3. Alyssa Sarkisov (North Potomac, Md.; CXD Trek Bikes)

A competitive group of 46 riders toed the line ready to put the power down for 40 minutes. Ethan Brown (Fishers, Ind.; Midwest NXT) was aggressive from the start, attacking on the stairs during the opening lap and splitting the group. Pan American Champion Noah Scholnick (Williamsport, Penn.; Finkraft Junior Cycling Team), Matthew Crabbe (Buford, Ga.; Finkraft Junior Cycling Team), and Jacob Hines (Cantonsville, Md.; Finkraft Junior Cycling Team) were able to match pace. Scholnick responded to another surge from Brown and countered quickly to open a gap. Crabbe and Hines both had fumbles that cost them ground. During lap three, Scholnick had a slow run transition on an uphill, which allowed Brown to move back into the lead. Another mistake by Scholnick at the barriers gave Brown the advantage he needed to establish a comfortable gap and ride solo to the finish to win the national title. Crabbe rode a consistent race and was able to catch and pass his teammate Scholnick to secure second on the day. Scholnick held on for third. 

Results:

1. Ethan Brown (Fishers, Ind.; Midwest NXT)

2. Matthew Crabbe (Buford, Ga.; Finkraft Junior Cycling Team)

3. Noah Scholnick (Williamsport, Penn.; Finkraft Junior Cycling Team)

Thirty riders lined up in frigid temperatures for 45 minutes of racing. Daniel Miller (Saint Louis, Mo.; Pastaria Big Shark Racing) powered to the front on the first lap and quickly opened a 10 second advantage. Reigning champion Corey Stelljes (Madison, Wis.; Neff Cycle Service) drove the chase, but Miller rode a nearly flawless race and continued to build his gap each lap. Miller rode in to claim the first national title of the day. Stelljes limited his losses and finished 36 seconds back in second. Nick Van Winkle (Atlanta, Ga.; The Paceline Project p/b LC Food) fought to the line to round out the podium.

Results:

1. Daniel Miller (Saint Louis, Mo.; Pastaria Big Shark Racing)

2. Corey Stelljes (Madison, Wis.; Neff Cycle Service)

3. Nick Van Winkle (Atlanta, Ga.; The Paceline Project p/b LC Food)

Forty-six riders lined up for one of the most competitive masters classes of the weekend. A lead group of eight formed quickly. By the third lap, five riders were still pushing at the front. The group consisted of: Eneas Freyre (Redding, Conn.; TTEndurance), Adam Myerson (Boston, Mass.; Cycle-Smart/ShiftGear), Tim Strelecki (Geneva, Ill.; PSIMET Racing), Justin Robinson (Santa Cruz, Calif.; Santa Cruz Free Agent), and Steven Stefko (Fort Collins, Colo.; Miiflo Cycling Team). By the last lap, the group was still holding strong ready to battle at the line. Stefko was able to get away from the group and hit the pavement with the advantage, winning by seven seconds. It came down to a sprint to decide the medals. Reigning national champion Myerson crossed the line to score the silver medal, with Freyre taking the bronze.

Results:

1. Steven Stefko (Fort Collins, Colo.; Miiflo Cycling Team)

2. Adam Myerson (Boston, Mass.; Cycle-Smart/ShiftGear)

3. Eneas Freyre (Redding, Conn.; TTEndurance)

With 53 riders on the start line, the junior men’s field got underway for 30 minutes of racing. Chase O’Donnell (Delmar, N.Y.; Competitive Edge Racing) went straight to the front and never looked back, taking the national title by 39 seconds. Behind him, the battle turned to the remaining podium spots. Quincy Grotenhuis (Lakeville, Minn.; MNJRC) and William Lawler (Glenview, Ill.; The Pony Shop) raced for second, with Grotenhuis edging ahead to secure silver. Lawler stayed steady to claim bronze.

Results:

1. Chase O’Donnell (Delmar, N.Y.; Competitive Edge Racing)

2. Quincy Grotenhuis (Lakeville, Minn.; MNJRC)

3. William Lawler (Glenview, Ill.; The Pony Shop)

One of the largest fields of the week, 68 riders lined up with their eyes on gold. When the light turned green, Paxton Summers (Baltimore, Md.; Finkraft Junior Cycling Team) snagged the holeshot leading it out for Finkraft Junior Cycling Team. Severin McCarter (Lawrence, Kan.; Steve Tilford Foundation) took an early lead, but Luke Johnson (Waukesha, Wis.; Finkraft Junior Cycling Team) was on the chase, working to close the gap with Summers not far behind. McCarter proved too strong and soloed in for the win. Teammates Johnson and Summers followed 16- and 30-seconds back, respectively, to take silver and bronze.

Results:

1. Severin McCarter (Lawrence, Kan.; Steve Tilford Foundation)

2. Luke Johnson (Waukesha, Wis.; Finkraft Junior Cycling Team)

3. Paxton Summers (Baltimore, Md.; Finkraft Junior Cycling Team)