Clara Brown Wins Women’s C3 Road Race at the 2025 UCI Paracycling Road World Championships

On the final day of the 2025 UCI Paracycling Road World Championships, the skies opened up making the races even more challenging on an already hilly course. However, that did not stop Team USA from making history. Clara Brown (Falmouth, Maine) won her first Road Race World Title, with Jamie Whitmore (Somerset, Calif.) coming in second in the Women’s C3, and Samantha Bosco (Claremont, Calif.) riding to silver in the Women’s C4 event.

Clara Brown (Falmouth, Maine) and Jamie Whitmore (Somerset, Calif.) had an incredible day on the rain-soaked streets of Ronse. From the opening lap, Brown set the pace on the climbs with Whitmore close behind as the pair rode into the second lap together at the front. Brown then created separation, forming a breakaway with Switzerland’s Flurina Rigling (C2), while Whitmore settled into the chase alongside Germany’s Marie Quellhorst. 

By lap three, Whitmore dropped the German rider and rode clear in second position. Brown was up the road with Rigling as they were working together to lead their respective categories. The rain poured down on the final lap, but the Americans held their ground, delivering a dominant 1-2 finish, Brown winning the rainbow stripes and Whitmore taking silver.

For Brown, the victory marked her second career world title, adding to her 2022 Time Trial title. “It’s hard to find words,” said Brown. “I’m just really proud of that ride and so excited to be in stripes next year. This is the combination of a lot of work, and after a mishap in the time trial, it felt really special to have that redemption today.”

Whitmore, who added a silver to her bronze medal from last year, was equally thrilled with the result. “It was a hard-fought battle, but I loved the course. It really suited me with all the hills,” she said. “At 49, I'm super stoked to know that I can still make it onto the podium. To know that Clara got first and I got second, it feels really good.”

1. Clara Brown (USA)

2. Jamie Whitmore (USA)

3. Paige Greco (AUS)

The C2 race started in the same wave as the C3. Allison Jones (Colorado Springs, Colo.) rode a strong race in the peloton to finish in fourth place in her category. 

1. Flurina Rigling (SUI)

2. Daniela Carolina Munevar Florez (COL)

3. Maike Hausberger (GER)

4. Allison Jones (USA)

Samantha Bosco (Claremont, Calif.), Grace Norman (Jamestown, Ohio), and Andrea Cherniak-Tyson (Goshen, Ind.) took on the C4/C5 road race in Ronse. The race opened with Bosco and Norman riding strong in the peloton, while Cherniak-Tyson settled into the chase. By the second lap, Bosco was pushing the pace at the front alongside Australia’s Tara Neyland, even working with riders from the C5 field, while Norman sat in the chase group with Australia’s Meg Lemon.

On lap three, Bosco held her place in the lead group as Norman battled a 1:03 gap. An attack from Neyland temporarily split the leaders, but Bosco quickly fought back, regaining contact and taking the front through the back half of the lap. As the race went on, Bosco remained locked in with Neyland, still battling at the front through lap four, while Norman continued her chase with Lemon. In the final lap, the skies opened with steady rain, making for a tough finish. Bosco crossed the line for silver, while Norman powered to fourth place.

After the race, Bosco said, “It wouldn’t be a Belgian race without some cobblestones and some rain, so it was a fast and hard race, and by the last lap, I was working through cramps and just trying to get to the finish line in the position that I had at the time.” She continued, “Any time that I can be on the podium, wearing red, white, and blue is an honor, so for me, it's just amazing to be on the podium with incredible competitors, and it gives me motivation to get that gold back next year.”

1. Tara Neyland (AUS)

2. Samantha Bosco (USA)

3. Meg Lemon (AUS) 

4. Grace Norman (USA)

5. Andrea Cherniak-Tyson (USA) 

Elouan Gardon (Acme, Wash.) started strong, holding position in the peloton through the opening lap until Franz-Josef Lässer (AUT) and Eliott Pierre (FRA) went off the front on lap two. By the midway point, the breakaway grew to five riders, while Gardon maintained his place in the main chase group.

On lap five, Gardon worked tirelessly with two other riders to try to close the 29-second gap to the leaders, but the pace up front proved relentless. When the front group split in lap six, Gardon found himself in the second chase with Daniel Abraham Gebru (NED) but was unable to make contact. After a hard-fought effort, Gardon crossed the line in sixth place.

1. Lauro Cesar Mouro Chaman (BRA)

2. Yehor Dementyev (UKR)

3. Eliott Pierre (FRA) 

6. Elouan Gardon (USA) 

To close out the World Championships, Team USA competed in the Team Relay with a squad of Ryan Pinney (Phoenix), Cody Wills (Harrisburg, Pa.), and Alfredo de los Santos (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.). Three riders would take on three laps, alternating riders each lap. 

Pinney took to the line for Team USA. The race was off to a blistering fast speed. The Netherlands took off quickly, but after the first exchange, France was off the front next and stayed there the whole race. Team USA stayed in the chase group until the second lap, the pace picked up and Wills was not able to hang on. de los Santos put the power down for his first lap to keep the team in fifth place. France gained a major lead with the chase group of Italy and Australia doing everything they could to keep themselves in podium position. After nine laps, France took a dominate win, Australia sprinted to silver, Italy bronze, and the United States rolled into fifth place. 

1. France

2. Australia

3. Italy

5. United States

USA Cycling’s participation in the World Championships is made possible through the support of dedicated donors and partners. To support the USA Cycling National Team, members can donate to the USA Cycling Foundation here. USA Cycling's supporting partner for this event includes HOVERAir, who shares our mission to elevate the sport and inspire the next generation of cyclists.